How do you respond to the statement “Our usefulness is hindered if we are more concerned about our protection from sin than the effects of sin in the lives of others.” ? (page 132)
What do you think should be done in response to the statement “despite outsiders’ exposure to church, few say they have experienced God through church.” (Page 123)
Unchristian: What A New Generation Really Thinks About Chrstianity . . . And Why It Matters by David Kinnaman addresses the increasingly negative reputation of Christians, especially among young Americans. It is the church's task to be effective agents of spiritual transformation. In this blog, I hope we can respond to the book and to each other to help accomplish this task.
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Still haven't read the book, sorry. I do have 15 bucks to spend at barnes and noble though. I'll get it soon. I'm joining the conversation anyway.
1) I think this has been a negative thing in the Christian world - this fear of sin that has resulted in trying to protect ourselves through separating ourselves. I think a lot of time and resources has been put into making churches a sin-free safe haven. Many have gone beyond this, placing children in Christian schools or homeschooling, and avoiding spending time with people who engage in the more taboo sins. I'm not criticizing churches that are safe or Christian schools (although I do think the attempt to shelter children has often backfired and left many Christian young adults unprepared for what the world would throw at them) - I was homeschooled myself for quite a few years, but the fear of the danger of sin has been a hindrance. Indeed, we are to be wary of the devil's schemes, alert, and acknowledge that Satan is the ruler of this world. We should be careful not to fall into temptation as we are bringing someone out of sin. We have to be wise as serpents when it comes to sin. There is, however, no room for fear of sin or the evil one. Greater is the one in us. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has rid sin of its power. It is hell that is on the defense. How can we be useful to those in the dark if we are afraid of sin? We are to be the light of the world, not of the church, but a light as Jesus is - shining in the darkness, but the darkness not overcoming it. If we shield ourselves from darkness not only will the world never know the brilliance of Jesus, but we will never see how bright the light within us truly is. If we are courageously concerned about the effects of sin in the lives of others, we will be moved to act on behalf of others and lovingly reveal to them the reality of their lives - showing them by example and words a hope of a new reality.
2) I think the answer to this question has much more to do with the culture of a church than what happens in a church. Meaning the service is a lot less important than what the body of Christ looks like. I have seen a number of situations where the church was optimized for meeting God emotionally, and sometimes these environments can aid people in becoming vulnerable before God, with God. Oftentimes at churches I have been to that are like this, church becomes a building and a service for people to get an emotional experience. They then weekly seek this emotion, rather than seeking God. One has to work at developing a church culture in which being vulnerably real, intimate with God and people, and Spirit-driven transformation are an immediately evident part of the culture. Perry should answer this one though. I think Fellowship is increasingly becoming this type of church, getting closer and closer. I think he would say the primary way this happened was through him taking responsibility and prayerfully modeling the culture he wanted to create. Is that about right?
We in the church seem to have lost the idea of suffering for Christ and then counting it all joy when we do.
(thank you Jeremiah)
I feel, that the church has adopted the left behind mentality, where the end is coming. And as it comes it looks bad for the believers. So the believers hold up in a bunker and wait to be rescued by through the rapture. Heaven help those left behind.
I believe that the church has privileges and obligations to the King and the Kingdom. We have the privilege of introducing people to our King and the way of the Kingdom. The obligation is to model the Kingdom in our own hearts and lives. This to me means establishing the will to go anywhere that is graceless and loveless, believing that His light always defeats darkness.
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