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unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters Review

UnChristian:
What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity
Sean McDowell

According to a recent Barna Research study, the perception of Christians by outsiders (non-Christians) is shockingly low. Disdain for evangelicals by young outsiders is overwhelming and negative (49 percent). According to David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Research Group, and author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity, "Only a small percentage of outsiders strongly believe that labels `respect, love, hope, and trust' describe Christianity. A minority of outsiders perceives Christianity as genuine and real, as something that makes sense, and as relevant to their life" (27). Young outsiders have largely lost their respect for the Christian faith. And it's not primarily due to our beliefs, but to our words and actions.

You might be thinking, "So what? Who cares what outsiders think of us? Jesus was persecuted for standing up for the truth and so will we." While there is certainly some truth to this, it misses a huge point: if we have failed to accurately represent the grace that Jesus offers us--if we have been poor ambassadors of a holy and loving God--then we should care deeply what others think of us. Kinnaman says that if we do not deal with our part of this problem then we will fail to connect with a new generation of young people. Personally, as someone who works with young people and sees the reasons many reject Christ, I could not agree more.

Kinnaman lists the six most common perceptions outsiders have of Christianity. These findings are deeply sobering to me. It saddens me to think that Christians are viewed so negatively by younger generations today, because I know that many times these perceptions act as stumbling blocks preventing them from considering the claims of Christ.

1. Hypocritical--Outsiders largely think that Christians say one thing and do another. They believe we do not act consistently with our beliefs. They claim that Christians pretend to be something on the outside that is not real. Christians are simply not known for being transparent, real, and authentic. As far as studies go, this claim rings true. There is little difference in the behaviors of born-again Christians compared to outsiders on issues such as gambling, visiting pornographic sites, gossiping, visiting a psychic, or to steal.

2. Too focused on getting converts--Outsiders often feel more like targets. They feel as if we merely want to get them "saved" and then move on to another accomplishment. Few report feeling genuinely loved by Christians. According to most outsiders, we are not good listeners. The majority of young outsiders do not feel that Christians show genuine interest in them as people. In fact, the reputation of Christians, says Kinnaman, is similar to Mormons evangelists! Most outsiders report having a time of spiritual openness when they were searching for faith, but they couldn't get past the mental, emotional, spiritual, or relational barriers, so they gave up.

3. Anti-homosexual--Young outsiders largely view Christians as hateful, bigoted, and non-compassionate in their dealings with homosexuals. They tend to view Christians as focused on "curing" homosexuals and using political means to silence them. In fact, Kinnaman puts it this way, "The perception that Christians are `against' gays and lesbians--not only objecting to their lifestyles but also harboring irrational fears and unmerited scorn toward them--has reached critical mass" (92). According to many young outsiders, hostility toward gays is synonymous with Christianity (91% agree with this). Christians are often viewed as self-righteous and arrogant in their dealings with homosexuals, the opposite of how Jesus was perceived.

4. Sheltered--Outsiders largely think that Christians have simplistic answers to the deep complexities of life. We are viewed as old-fashioned, boring, behind the times, and not in touch with reality. Many think that we live in our own world, isolated from the real problems and complexities of life. Christians are largely viewed as ignorant and uninformed, especially by intellectuals.

5. Too political--Christians are often viewed as synonymous with right-wing Republican conservatives. The majority of young outsiders think we are largely motivated by political interests. Kinnaman is not trying to get Christians to disengage in politics--in fact just the opposite. I fully agree; we should be involved in politics as a culture-shaping institution. But his point is to make us aware of our reputation in this arena because it can affect our ability to connect with a new generation.

6. Judgmental--Nearly 90% of outsiders say that the term judgmental accurately describes Christians today. Only 20% of outsiders view the church as a place where people are accepted and loved unconditionally (185). We are known much more for our criticism than for our love. In fact, Christians are more known for what they are against than what they are for. We are so fixated on sin, says Kinnaman, that it impedes our ability to genuinely love broken people. To be sure, taking a stand for Christ today inevitably warrants being viewed as judgmental. But, sadly, much of our reputation comes not from what we believe (although this is partially true), but how convey our beliefs, and ultimately, how we treat people.

With the release of UnChristian, David Kinnaman has established himself as a leading voice among young evangelical Christians (and probably beyond). This is one of the most important recent books for all Christians--whether in "professional ministry" or not--to come to terms with. If his findings are right--and I would bet that they are--the church is going to look radically different over the next few decades. And all Christians have a responsibility to do something about it.

unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters Feature

ISBN13: 9780801013003
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unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters Overview

Based on groundbreaking Barna Group research, unChristian uncovers the negative perceptions young people have of Christianity and explores what can be done to reverse them.

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Customer Reviews

There should be more books like this. - David Kloss -
There need to be more books like this. For those Christians who choose to acknowledge that we live in a complex, real world with lots of messiness, this book will enrich your life as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Real Reading for Real Grown-ups - sienna wood -
I found this book in the Young Adult section of our library, which is unfortunate because it speaks to all ages.

As Christians, our family has always skirted around the edge of the conventional church establishment, and eventually, our frustration with the limited outlook and closed mindedness of the local church mentality just shoved us out altogether. Although we initially felt ostrasized, we reasoned that we were no more outside the loop than we always had been, and we set off on our journey as Christians outside the establishment.

This book is one of a small series moving us on our way, confirming much of what we had been experiencing, and offering much to think about. Unlike many books in the Christian realm, it is not dummied down and filled with inane cartoons. It is thoughtfully written, surprisingly engaging in light of that it is interpreting data, and does not promise simple solutions to complex problems.

Believers in Christ would do well to read this book and seriously consider what it is saying.unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters

The Facts are Compelling - Dr. Helena M. Mariades - FLORIDA, US
The title of this book intrigued me. The Barna Group is known and appreciated for it's excellence in capturing snapshots of the cultural and spiritual fruit of the American Christian community. I've been a fan of their research. We need to know the facts, and the facts are compelling. Unchristian examines and explains the 'customer service' reviews of those primarily outside of the American church. According to this book, the overall survey rates our efforts as 'Unsatisfactory' (Or, is it just the effective draconian efforts of the media to sway public opinion against Christians?). Every ministry and Christian should prayerfully review their own efforts and motives in light of these results. I know that it encouraged me to stand more firm in the simplicity of the Gospel and it's power to transform. The suggestions towards more relational and cultural sensitivity are good, but not a fundamental prerequisite to evangelism and spiritual care for our generation. We can and should continue to 'be all things to all men' without any compromise to the standard of righteousness that is uniquely 'Christian'.

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010