If you are just joining me for my journey with God through the book, UnChristian, please go
here,
here,
here, and
here to catch up.
Can I be honest with you? The book,
UnChristian, by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, has
rocked my world. I know. I’ve said that before, but it has really, really rocked my world. In fact, the aftershocks are what have made the most impact. As I read this book, my most consistent thought was ‘yes, I can see that happening in the church’. Notice, I said, ‘
in the church’. As I read
UnChristian, for the most part, I read it from the vantage point of a judge. Sitting high above, looking down and rendering a judgment of
‘Guilty’ toward the church and Christianity, in general.
Then………………………….I read chapter 8 which is entitled “Judgmental”. When I finished chapter 8 I was no longer sitting as the judge of the church; I was humble before God asking for forgiveness. The authors might as well have just used my name all throughout this chapter because it described me. It described my attitude toward most of humanity, I’m sad to say.
One day last week I was out walking after finishing the entire book and the conviction of Holy Spirit washed over me like a tsunami. All I could do was cry out to the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for the critical and judgmental attitude that I have carried in my heart for most of my life. I begged Him to help me see others as He sees them. I am so thankful for forgiveness and mercy.
Allow me to offer you a few of the quotes from the book that pierced my heart.
In the opening paragraphs we are told that the outsider perceives Christians as “prideful and quick to find faults in others.” P.181 Ouch, first wave of conviction.
“Christians are judgmental. Respondants to our surveys believe Christians are trying, consciously or not, to justify feelings of moral and spiritual superiority. One outsider described it like this: ‘Christians like to hear themselves talk. They are arrogant about their beliefs, but they never bother figuring out what other people actually think. They don’t seem to be very compassionate, especially when they feel strongly about something.’” P.182
“Outsiders might think of us as friendly or that we have good principles, but we are not known for our love.” P.185
And two quotes by Mike Foster, president of Ethur and founder of XXXchurch.com. This was pretty much where the tsunami of conviction completely engulfed me.
“It appears at some level that the secular world is capable of ‘doing grace’ better than we are. Christianity’s main export has been co-opted by nonbelievers. Forgiveness, compassion, and second chances are common occurrences as demonstrated by several recent high-profile cases. Whether it is a movie star’s addictions, a beauty queen’s indiscretions, or a run-in with the law, grace seems to be flourishing in the secular arena. A quick trip to rehab or a heartfelt apology is payment enough in secular society. When Donald Trump becomes the poster boy for second chances and the church is viewed as a place of judgment….we have a serious problem.” P. 202
Ummm, well, yes we do. Actually, yes, I do. Second chances….grace….sounds very much like what Jesus offers to me each and every day.
“Jesus was never insulated from people’s pain, and he sure didn’t keep to safe places. He engaged with those who were being crushed by their mistakes and bad choices. Jesus wiped away the tears of the prostitutes, held the hands of the outcasts, and touched the wounds of the sick and the crazy. He hung with the not-so-perfect people of the world and showed them what Christianity was all about. He was never concerned about a person’s title, society’s name tag, or the sign on their place of work. Porn stars or preachers, gay or straight, Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t mean a rip to God. We are all his children, and we are all in need of this stunningly beautiful thing called grace. We know what we need to do, now let’s go do it.” P. 202-203.
Speechless. Just speechless……….
(Visited 55 times, 1 visits today)
