Recently, I came across a study about how 16–29 year olds perceive Christians. Conducted by David Kinnaman of the Barna Group, the results were published in “unChristian” (2007). The study documents that an overwhelming percentage of 16–29 year olds view Christians with hostility, resentment and disdain.
For example, Christians are perceived to be “antihomosexual (91 per cent), judgmental (87 per cent), hypocritical (85 per cent), old–fashioned (78 per cent), too political (75 per cent), out of touch with reality (72 per cent), insensitive to others (70 per cent), boring (68 per cent). He says, “It would be hard to overestimate how firmly young people reject — and feel rejected by — Christians. These broadly and deeply negative views of Christians aren’t just superficial stereotypes with no basis in reality. This is based upon their real experiences with today’s Christians.
“Think about it this way. When you introduce yourself as a Christian to a friend, neighbour, or business associate who is an outsider, you might as well have it tattooed on your arm: anti–homosexual, gay–hater, homophobic. I doubt you think of yourself in these terms, but that’s what outsiders think of you.”
If nothing else, it’s a wake-up call for today’s church. The early church grew up in an environment just as hostile as secular society today. Documents from that time, however, paint a different picture. Tertullian’s “Apology” described outsiders saying about Christians: “Look how they love one another … and how they are ready to die for each other.”
Other documents show the same evidence. Early believers made their communities a lot more bearable, even in the face of great persecution and martyrdom. They took care of each other, and their neighbours. They loved one another. They took care of each other when they were sick. They shared their wealth and relieved economic distress. When plagues hit ancient cities, Christians were the ones who stayed behind to take care of the sick and dying. The new faith was also very attractive for women, a highly vulnerable group in Roman society.
Rodney Stark writes, “Christian believers offered hope and charity to the homeless and impoverished. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachments. To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family. To cities torn by violent ethnic strife, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity. And to cities faced with epidemics, fires and earthquakes, Christianity offered effective nursing services.”
The church was attractive because they engaged in concrete actions which gave honour and dignity to every person. They did what Jesus did, embracing the outcasts and lifting up the poor and the powerless.
It may not be “cool” to be Christian these days, but there are hungry and thirsty people all around us, people who are excluded and ostracized, homeless and abandoned. There are people all around us who are hungry for spirituality, who long for community, who ache to be embraced. There are people who long to be included
It’s time for the church to be “for” something: justice; shalom; compassion; hope. It’s time for us to be known once again as people who love and serve the world. It’s not only our heritage. It’s our calling.
The Rev. Yme Woensdregt is incumbent at Christ Church Anglican in Cranbook.
