Being the ‘Huh?’ in the Modern World

John Knox reminds us what it is to live like a Christian

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“The trouble with Christianity is all you Christians,” one holistic spiritualist said to me during my last trip to Birmingham, England for my PhD, “You all think you have the perfect truth, but you don’t seem to be any different than the rest of us. That’s why the Church is fading in Britain. America is next.”

Her comments sparked an immediate desire for response, but I held my tongue and considered the veracity of her claims. Do Christians hurt the perception of Christianity? Is there no difference in our lifestyles or morality or ethos? Have the incessant battles in the name of Jesus poisoned the efforts of future believers? Is what is happening in England merely a prelude for the rest of the world? My head spun with this reflection and my emotions darkened when I considered that she might have been right in her assertions.

Clearly, the past has demonstrated that people can and will do horrible things in the name of Christ. As a professor of history and religion, I do not have to go back very far in the annals of time to find instances wherein Christians hurt and abused others while proclaiming their piety and divinely-inspired love. In fact, when most people pose the question, “How many wars have been started in the name of God?” they are thinking of the Crusades or the Religious wars following the Reformation. Since then, the church has further been ensnarled in sexual abuse, sexism, racism, politics, corruption, and greed. It is no wonder that the world has come to doubt the power and purity of Christianity.

The thought occurred to me that Christianity is being judged by the modern world not only for its past mistakes, but for its present ones, too. Christianity is supposed to be about brotherly love, but instead it has promoted brotherly treatment of the likes of Cain, Esau, and Reuben. What should be patient, longsuffering, hopeful love has turned into a judgmental, condemning, despicable, superficial expression of Christianity. The world sees Christians charging forward with love on our lips, but a sword in one hand and a sceptre in the other. Christians are supposed to be lovers of the lost, not dictators of the disorientated. The whole perspective of what it means to be a Christian has shifted from servanthood to social strategy. This does no good for the cause.

Last weekend, I heard an American church advertising on the radio, beckoning people to come and visit. The church was called ‘Champions Church’ and it spoke of all the wonderful amenities it had to offer for those who attended — padded pews, exciting music, entertaining sermons, extensive play facilities for the children. The marketing ploy for this church was genius. Attend there and you will be a champion, a winner, and a comfortable one at that. Honestly, it sounded more like a commercial for a hotel than a worship place of God.

This is the problem with modern Christianity. Churches are being operated as if they are tailing society instead of leading it. Jesus was not into creature comforts, he was not into politics, he was not into judging others, and he knew that his actions mattered. Jesus existed for two purposes alone — to love God and to love people. He put his arms around people to embrace them, not to push them down. He went to synagogue to worship God, not just to socialize. His relationship and understanding of God transcended Jewish society. He had respect for his culture and ruling government, but it was a lower priority than his God and mission in life. His approach attracted and excited people — it was so refreshing compared to the stale, spiritually malnourished religion they were used to experiencing. All honest seekers found the words and actions of Jesus to be pure and provocative. He pointed to a bright, clear path to God in a dark, murky world and they believed him.

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Human beings have an acute sense when it comes to hypocrisy. The modern world’s distaste for Christianity cannot be blamed solely on their sin. Christians are culpable because we have fallen into a secularised expression of our faith. Non-believers see Christians acting as selfishly as anyone else, they see Christians lacking any unusual or inspirational hope for the future, or they go to church expecting to find God and find only disappointing humanity. Why would they not reject this? I have even left a few churches for their acquiescence of social standards. Why attend a ‘church’ if it has no connection to Godly love? I can socialize better and do more good at a country club or civic house. We are supposed to be different; Christianity is supposed to offer something more than the world already offers. We are not to compete; we are to complete.

Of course, this is not the first time that Christianity has waned in history. A careful study of denominations, membership, and religious affiliation demonstrates that Christianity, as an organized body, has periods where it has forgotten its roots and has disintegrated into social malaise. Fortunately, there has always been somebody to renew the flames of Christian truth so that the world can see the bright path of love that leads to God.

I, for one, am going to fight against this sorrowful state of modern Christianity. There is a song entitled, ‘People need the Lord.’ This is so true in today’s world. People are still fighting, hurting, and dying. I do not want Christianity to wane in America as it is doing so in England. In fact, I would love it if Christianity were to experience an upsurge in England once again (where are you, Wesley?). However, for this to happen, there needs to be a change in the core values of Christians.

Jesus went out into the world and helped people both spiritually and physically. His followers did likewise. They all transcended culture; sometimes they even ran counter-culture, but it was all for the very clear purpose of loving God and others. Thus, when non-believers encountered these Christians, their first response was not, ‘Nah,’ but ‘Huh?’

For Christianity to regain its potency, Christians need to follow the words and actions of Jesus and the Disciples in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke says,

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (NIV)

If we are to carry the title of ‘Christian,’ we need to start acting like Christians. Otherwise, we will be thrown out to a worse place than the manure pile. Remember who you are. Remember what you are here for. Remember whom you represent. The world needs Jesus in you.

Christians, I hope you are listening.

John S. Knox