The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

I am currently reading the book titled unChristian. (Thanks for the suggestion Xian ) Anyways, while I have not changed my view (at least not yet) from here:
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I will say that the data contained in the book is very telling. Maybe it's just me, but every Christian should read this book, and consider the critiques in it. Once I am done with the book I'll post more. Has anyone-else read the book? Any thoughts (whether good or bad)?

I hope you enjoy it. I've still not read it str8 through. I've read chapters sitting in the book store, but feel guilty and haven't dug into it.

I've dealt with the people that they are picturing though, for years. I'm curious what you say when you are done. I should pick it up and read it this weekend.

I'm glad you are enjoying it@!

I am currently reading it and it is really hitting me hard!

I too think that all in the church should read it and attempt to understand the generational and cultural gaps and misunderstandings.
I have just finished the "Get Saved" chapter and couldn't agree more. It seems to me that Kinnaman & Lyons are touching upon what I call "hit-and-run evangelism".

Under the chapter about hypocracy this statement on page 63-63 struck me straight to the heart,


It is a tough read and challenging to say the least. That means that I super-highly reccomend it!

Blessings,
Randy.

Xian and Randy thank you for your thoughts. One of the things that stuck out the most is the unloving spirit that Christianity is portraying. As Kinnaman points out -- while it is important to maintain the correct doctrine the way we go about says a lot. The book certainly has a lot of data to back up its claims; furthermore Christians would be foolish to just shrug off the critiques put forth in the book. One of the most resounding findings of the research is that Christians are not showing the love of Christ to unbelievers. One of the critiques that I took to heart was that we seek to reach out (for the most part) to convert, but not to have a true relationship with the individual.

If Christianity does things in an unloving manner, how can it be what it says it is (followers of Christ)?

YOU GET IT!!!!!

If our idea of LOVING our neighbor is to witness to them, and HIT AND RUN with TERRORIST accounts of God, we aren't one of the elect, we are the deselect.

What I mean by hit and run is "the way of the master" where you witness and get someone to say the magic prayer and maybe take the magic bath. THEY ARE IN. YAY GOD LOOK!!!! LOOK WHAT I DID FOR YOU!!!!!

The TERRORIST account is this, "if you don't believe what I believe, you are a sinner and that means you will die and go to hell. If you believe like I believe you can live.

How loving is that? It's no different than blowing up busses because they won't believe as you believe.

The early church, fed the poor in their neighborhood, not through third party contributions. THEY GOT THEIR HANDS IN PLAY when they loved, we don't have time for it, we'll give money to sally struthers, or BONO and let them love people. That isn't love that is guilt or pity. Get out and cook a person a meal.

Our church today is a lot of talk. And a lot less walk than it was intended I beleive. When our efforts at witnessing cause separation and factions, judge it by the fruit. If its bringing unity, judge it by its fruit.

Chapter 5 page 107

It goes on to suggest considering the following Bible verse as a description of an individual that lives with such an attitude:

James 1:26 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. Context (NET)

This book has caused me to reflect on many things that we do as the Body of Christ. For instance the book purports that the Church really has no answer for reaching out to the gay community. Most what is being done are sermons and on the political arena. Out of 1,000+ individuals interviewed only one suggested love as an answer to the "problem." More importantly, it appears that the new generation coming up is looking towards relationships with non-believers instead of an all day call out sinning parade, but the church for the most part appears to have hardly any support systems for such an outreach. While I certainly believe that God is sovereign and that He will not His church die; I think the book is a reminder from God in what we are called to do as the Body (perhaps this does not describe everything we are too do, but it certainly describes a vital part of how we are to handle things).

>>>> only one said love......

That doesn't surprise me. I think the Church has moved a long ways from the LOVE aspect. That isn't to say no one in the church loves. But I don't think we really focus on what Love means in context. And no body seems to care that it must be demonstrable love to be Agape.

How would someone understand they were missing love in their life, if the church never demonstrates what love really is. It's not just an emotional high in the presence of someone. It's not just happiness. It's not warm fuzzies. It's commitment.

I don't see the church today committing to loving the world. It doesn't say that those that we fed, that are in the church, we fed HIM. There is no contingency in our faith tho whom we are to love. OUR job is to love, HIS job is to call and elect and justify and all of that. We are to carry the gospel, but even that gospel was led with love.

Anyway.... this book hits me because I've talked with those that mirror their observations for years. It's great and I'm so glad some of you have perused it and seen some of what they say.

I hope more reads it!