Negative Report of American Church Scene?
Posted by tom | Oct 23, 2007A few months ago I received the below email. I would respond that I do not believe in Christian perfectionism as an individual, a local assembly, or the visible representation of the Body of Christ on earth. The wheat are mixed among the tares in the Imperfect Church as much as they are in my own life. Yes, followers of Christ are to be known by their transformed lives as individuals and a people, so when it appears that the faith shapes human beings into ugly, rude creatures I'm disappointed, even angered. In response, we are called to pray, to teach the Scriptures in a manner leading to godly living, to share our concern and when necessary as part a community, exercise appropriate discipline. At times, God may even be call us issue a prophetic challenge. But we must not forget that human beings begin as ugly, rude creatures; American culture/values do shape Christians in the United States (e.g., low tipping is familiar to me as one with German-American roots and who finds it necessary to carefully watch his family's limited resources); and most importantly, our concern is in what direction one travels in the continuum of drawing closer to God given form in a humble understanding of ourselves and a life of blessing toward others and the creation? How do you respond?
Email Text: CNN interviewed someone who polled thousands of college students and religious students were much more likely to cheat on exams etc. than non-religious. Penn State was among the worst. Ohio State was among the best. And those who cheat in college are 2 1/2 times more likely to cheat later in life.
I heard a pastor give a sermon on fact that restaurant workers often say that religious people are less likely to tip, "Oh, here come those Christians!!"
What is there about religion that often makes them ugly, rude creatures?
A Christian friend who plays rugby commented that his fellow team members call him regularly to see how he's doing, but friends at Church seldom call. Why is that?
Why do some Christian students find better fellowship in their fraternity than at a local congregation?
Is this just the American Church scene?
Those are some very disappointing thoughts on Christian culture indeed. I understand your response Tom, that Christians are still broken people. But I think the point of the email is that in some lights, Christians look *even more* ugly and rude than your average Joe. I certainly have no answer to that.
Addressing the latter part of the email: I have definitely pondered a lot about relationships within the Church. Since moving to Pittsburgh, for the first time in my life the majority of my friends have been Christian. And that has been more difficult for me than I usually admit. Because while we may have a common faith, we may not have much else in common. Whereas people on a rugby team together, or in a fraternity, are joined together explicitly because of a mutual social interest. Maybe in more simplistic terms, we don't identify ourselves with our faith, and other people of faith, nearly as much as we should?
Posted by Amy, Oct 23 2007, 13:35