So reads a headline today in one of Britain's newspapers. The statement, though, is very misleading. For example, census numbers indicate that almost 60% of Britons are Christians. Culturally, that may be so; in terms of genuine faith, though, it's not. Separating true faith from traditional religious affiliation is a good thing. In contrast, Islam is revealed as a rapidly growing faith, but demographics are important because Muslim families in Britain tend to be much larger. While I realize the commentator has an agenda, I take to heart the statement from a secularist that "young people may perceive Christianity as unattractive because it lacks relevance to their lives." I'd restate this: "may perceive Christian culture as unattractive." While I'm deeply in love with Jesus Christ, I find Christian culture very unattractive. Indeed, there are times when I am desperately ashamed of it. It's more a political movement than true faith, and it (wittingly or unwittingly) rejects those who won't conform. I've been called all kinds of names, even while in church, some of them painful and very barbed. On the surface, it's water off a duck's back for me; underneath, though, I find it very sad. As far as the implications on homeschooling, I really hope and pray that more families focus on the person of Christ and less on cultural obsessions of the day. Christ is someone whom every young person can embrace as relevant, even while they rebel against Christian cultural norms.
Christianity is less and less attractive because common culture is diverging from Christian culture. Western culture was Christian culture. This is no longer true. The values of Christian faith are no longer the at large values of common Western culture. At one time even non believers shared the majority of a pious CHristian's values. The secular laws were based on and interpreted within the context of Christian faith in Western nations. In order not to compromise devout Christians are finding themselves more and more separated from secular culture. Those entrenched in the world are less and less willing to abandon their secular culture and its trappings for Christian faith. Political issues have come and gone, so have intolerances. I think that there is a change in the underpinnings of what we know as Western Culture. Some of this had been brought about in the same of fairness and tolerance. On the flip side, many worldly values have been brought into the church making it less Christian, and less of a sanctuary from the world. THis makes the Church less relevant. If the church looks like the world outside and if its members live like the world outside, it is irrelevant is it not? One example would be the incredible work ethic that arose from Judeo-CHristian ethics that paved the way for the incredible prosperity that in turn made materialism and consumerism possible. Prosperity with out charity, work ethic, and duty to community and church leeds to greed and entitlement thinking. A lack of Charity, or Charity without work ethic, had brought about a real mess. Worse yet, legislated Charity had been dissasterous in all Western nations. Wisdom did not prevail, and Christians did not obey, and do charitable acts themselve from sacrifice, instead legislating that Ceasar would do them instead. Ceasar did not use CHristian morals in the determination of what and to whom to give Charity. Round and Round it all spirals. I could rant about sexuality and the compromises Christians have made regarding it, as well as Greed, Gluttony, Idolotry and other issues. I will simply say that our prosperity affords us the opportunity to fund social programs that eliminate most of the inconvenient worldly consequences of sin. These social programs equalize the lifestyles between those who live the faith and those who do not, often favoring the non believers lifestyle enabling them more opportunities for wealth accumulation ( for example DINKs)
I agree Steve. I was talking with my husband about this the other day. It seems there is more harm than good being done in the name of Christ now. As far as the western culture being Christian (in the past or present), I strongly disagree. Christianity is an eastern religion and the west has interpreted it through western eyes.
I understand that Christianity began in the East, but last time I looked, both the Near and Far East are populated by a majority of Non-Christians. It is easy to despise Western Culture, and it surely has its flaws, but no other culture has given as much freedom and prosperity to its inhabitants. No other culture has flourished, and this only because many of Gods laws were behind the mores of the culture. Not because the people were better, more ingenious, or anything like that but merely because more of God's Laws were in practice than anywhere else.
I would agree that there's a link. Maybe we can expect the rise of China in today's world: There are more Christians in China today than there are people living west of the Mississippi (or in the UK and BeNeLux countries combined), and the number continues to grow at a rapid pace - praise God. In the West, we've corrupted the message, singing the praises of individual rights, paying homage to wealth and 'freedom and democracy' and all the trappings that come with it. We worship in grand buildings, using expensive equipment, looking and smelling nice, driving there in expensive cars after enjoying lavish vacations, while certain pastors live in mansions and fly in private jets, leading their admiring TV audiences in an expensive dance. If we don't get along with other groups, let them create their own churches and denominations - a world of hyphenated churches. We divorce, we openly rebel against leaders, and we dare to kill those who enter our homes uninvited. We spend our time and our money praising politicians who share our views, even when they flagrantly indulge their own selfish passions. All these things are our right, you know. Isn't the ultimate goal of God to make us happy in this world? Meanwhile, millions cry themselves to sleep tonight because of extreme poverty and hunger while we 'play' at being Christians. Yes, of course, I'm using hyperbole to exaggerate wildly to make a point, but millions - many of them brothers and sisters in Christ - are crying themselves to sleep. As for the next generation, I pray earnestly that they reject Christian culture and cling to the person of Christ - the one who loved his enemies, gave himself up for those who hated him, and embraced the outsider and the alien while challenging the religious leaders. Jesus, a dark-skinned Middle Eastern carpenter, with hardly a physical possession to his name, is the one to love, to admire, and to follow.
Exactly. Western thought and Eastern thought are very different. Westerners have interpreted the Bible (an ancient Eastern text) through Western eyes and this has been accepted as the "right" interpretation of current Christian culture. By Western culture do you mean USA culture, or first world culture? Personally, I find history to demonstrate that the first world culture has made its prosperity on the backs of the poor in nations or people groups that cannot fight back. I see that from the start of our own nation with the Native Americans and slavery.
I didn't read all the responses, but I don't think this is a new phenomenon. Christians have behaved badly for centuries. Look at all the murders that were done in the name of getting rid of heretics. Look at the way people in just the past century used the Bible to defend prejudice towards black people. I think that people sin and Christians have a way of making it look like they aren't sinning when they are sinning. I have been guilty- I am sure. I am struggling with my faith right now, so I am NOT the best example. Although, my lifestyle hasn't changed much and people most likely don't know any that I am going through this. However, if anyone looks to another person to see how to follow Christ, they are already on the wrong path. It is human to look at other people's behavior, but if a person wants to be a Christian, there is only one example to look at. I feel funny speaking about this. That is why I mentioned the struggle. Part of my is still hanging on and I still have the same "arguments" for my faith (weak as it is). Part of me feels that I shouldn't comment on this stuff because of this problem.
I LOVE this. It reminds me of a quote: Gandhi said: ""I like your Christ, but not your Christians". As we stay here in our comfortable homes with air conditioning and heat and clothes and shoes and good food and clean water, we often forget that many are not so fortunate to have even one of these items on a regular basis. I feel ashamed of myself often because of the comfort level I have versus many in the world.
You have more right than I, and certainly than the majority, to comment because you're not satisfied with the status quo and are willing to kick against it. I may be a contrarian by nature, but there are still plenty of 'default' attitudes and behaviors that I need to challenge. We can learn a lot from Gandhi. If you ever get the chance, you may enjoy the books of E. Stanley Jones. He was an American missionary to the intellectual classes of India, and he knew Gandhi well. The only times we should be ashamed are when (i) we think so much of ourselves that we never even notice the suffering of others, or (ii) we realize but choose to do nothing about it. Jesus said that the poor will always be with us, which means the rich will be too. In other words, the divide between rich and poor is deliberate: It's there as an opportunity for Christ's followers to demonstrate graphically to the world that we love him more than we do our own creature comforts. The early church gave all their wealth and belongings to the church elders, who ensured that no-one had need. Dare we do the equivalent today?
I know what you mean about the status quo. I have seen our church try to match in some ways what other churches are doing. I believe they do some of this to draw people into the church. I almost cringed when they started a project a few years ago to make a youth center. This center has video games and and some cool chairs and tables and such and I don't even know what else. I just can't help thinking, "why not go out and help the neighborhood and do things as a group." Sure, that wouldn't be that "attractive" to some of the youth, but in the long run, it would be better. I am almost sick of the whole "church" thing anyway. It seems there is always a new idea, a new program, a new look, a new tool, or a new project to try to lure people in and to entertain the ones already there. I would like to see the church, not just members of one church building but the whole church, to step out and reach their neighbors. We don't even have to shout it from the rooftops. If enough people do loving- truly loving- things for their neighbors then others will notice.
The chairs and the programs and the expensive lures must have had their parallels in Jesus' time and been part of the reason he became angry with the priests and money-changers. They made the temple a place of business, a marketing program, a power base, something to benefit from financially - instead of following the directives of God to help the widows and orphans and aliens living among us and to love our enemies. The religious leaders then so loved their flowing robes and to be seen praying in public - just as much as today's TV evangelists. And today's self-appointed leaders - from pseudo-church organizations and radio pulpits and bookstores - pull the strings of 'Christian culture' to wield their power. Dare not conform? Then we'll shame you into it! In one sentence, I was once called (in church, I may add) a "papist, liberal, and heretic", as if that would scare me into conforming - all because, as a scientist, I believe the earth is ancient. How many of us have faced that holy "hmmm?" used to imply we can't be believers because we won't just fall in line? How many strings are pulled by the puppeteers during so-called public prayer, which is often little more than cloaking personal opinions in some false holy garb? In my experience, there are so many good humble believers who refuse to rock the boat for fear of bringing disrepute against the gospel of Christ - and I love them so much for that. Why can't I trust in the way they do? They just get on with it and do the real work of the church, unsung and unheralded. Invariably, they are the ones who clean the bathrooms and sweep the floors, doing the time-consuming little things while no one notices. I am so much in the debt of their example. How do we break free from the confines of Christian culture? Democracy has seduced us so much that our time and money now goes to politics. Our highly-tuned victim mentality has reached such a level that losing an election seems worse than the persecution the real church faces in the more forlorn parts of the globe. Scientists and Democrats are hated species who don't belong in church, and heaven help illegal immigrants in desperate need, for example, or those who, genetically, are gay. The litmus tests applied at the church door are many and complex. The irony is that, if we turned away from Christian culture and followed the person of Christ, our young people would see and join us. I've seen this happen in other countries, where the next generation is so well-prepared to assume church leadership. We don't need the fancy programs and music to attract them. We don't need charismatic preachers either. We just need to be obedient in following the living Christ and proving how much we love him in our private and self-giving deeds. Sorry for the sermon! As you can tell, I am so very frustrated by Christian culture because it's so unChristian. As Embassy put it, it does much more harm to the cause of Christ than good. But, of course, the Spirit of God will change things: He always does, whether we like it or not.
And I must give credit to a dear (and departed) friend of mine. He'd see a pack of Testamints for sale in a Christian bookstore (mints embossed with printed Bible verses: "great witnessing tool!") and ask "do they sell underwear with Bible verses displayed?" That way, while Christian young people do things they shouldn't, at least they can be a great witness!? It may be a cynical thing to say, but in many ways it's a vivid picture of today's Christian culture.
I just love Christian Bookstores. It is amazing the amount of consumerism, and the cleverness therein. I usually leave feeling quite cynical. I really love the way people will put signs up that say "John 3:16" at ball games or have bumper stickers with that on the cars and trucks. I wonder if they think a totally unaware non-believer will see that and get a message from it. Perhaps it is only meant as a reminder to Christians to brush up on memory verses. I am actively involved in a church. There are many activities that take place and a few that leave me with questions about the purpose, usefulness of such. I guess that fellowship amoung CHristians in not a wrong thing if that is all that takes place. Fortunately the church I attend gives several times the average to mission, local, national and globally. Even though I have a church I can live with, I do not give all of my charity through it. We also sponsor several families around the world and give directly to some missionaries we have met along the way. It is through these things that I feel the most in touch with missions.
Have you noticed how difficult it is now to purchase just a book? It often comes with a bible study program and maybe a series of videos. When I read a book, I usually agree with some things and disagree with others. I certainly don't view it as something on which to base a bible study. At our church, we once had a discussion about this and whether there's value in paying for a billboard with bible verses. Upon thinking about it, we came to the same conclusion as you: Ultimately, it would be for the benefit of fellow believers only. Same here. I'm glad our church provides so much support to believers overseas. I'm firmly of the opinion that, when Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians that we should give until there is equality, that we should take vacations only when believers overseas can, that we should do all we can do ensure that, if we have a good education and healthcare, then so should fellow believers in other countries, and so on.
