“People are expressing more hostility, doubt, frustration and skepticism toward Christianity — and this is particularly true among young people.”
That’s the informed conclusion of David Kinnaman in a story titled “Avoiding unChristian Preaching” on The Barna Group website (http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Perspective&PerspectiveID=30).
This statement comes on the heels of the organization doing 'extensive research' with Americans ages 16 to 29 regarding their views on Christianity.
I believe this is a message the modern church needs to hear.
Mr. Kinnaman further states, 'In just a decade, the perception of evangelicals has become eight times less favorable among young non-Christians when compared to the image held by Boomer non-Christians.'
And while I believe this perception of Christians is at least partially because of the constant negative portrayals of us in the mainstream media, I also believe that we — Christians — are largely to blame for the negative way in which we are seen.
While we are confronting the culture with the Gospel, I think we have often forgotten to consider how we are being received by the world around us.
I think the church has sometimes forgotten that faith produces humility: 'Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up' (James 4:10). And it is only in our humility that we can effectively communicate the Gospel.
Mr. Kinnaman asks two important questions in his article: 'How does a messenger of God strike the right balance between grace and truth? How does a teacher of the Bible help point people toward a holy God, without creating the opposite effect of putting up false barriers to Him?'
I believe these questions are even more pertinent than ever as Christianity is being purged from the public square and religious diversity (which incorporates all 'truth' instead of the Truth of the Gospel) is the driving force of the mainstream.
Consider a program titled 'A Course of Miracles,' which has received a lot of mainstream notoriety lately. In its description of sin, the course states, 'In most Christian religions, we were taught that we were born in sin (original sin) and that we are all sinners. We were also taught that Jesus saved us from the eternal fires of damnation by dying on the cross for our sins. In this crazy thought system, we made up a God that requires sacrifice of His Son to atone for our sins. When we really look at it with clarity, it would be quite a wild and crazy God that would have such a requirement to be appeased.'
Clarifying Our Message
As Christians, we must learn how to compassionately and shrewdly provide answers to these types of reckless assaults on the Gospel of Christ.
That is why I have initiated the Innovate Church Christian Leaders Conference that is being hosted by Thomas Road Baptist Church, August 11-13 in Lynchburg, Va. I've invited some of our nation's leading church innovators and theologians to train pastors, Christian leaders and laymen how to become more confident and effective ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Special guests will include: Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church; Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle; Tom Mullins, senior pastor of Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Ed Stetzer, church planter and director of Lifeway Research; Dr. Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary; Sheri Rose Shepherd, best-selling author and speaker; Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University School of Law; and many others.
If you are looking for a conference focused on how to effectively preach Christ in the modern culture, I truly believe this is it.
To register, or to learn more about this conference, please visit our website (www.innovatechurch.us
I invite you to join many likeminded pastors and church workers from around the country as we work together to achieve a more passionate commitment and innovative approach to taking the message of Jesus Christ into our communities.