“Unchristian” What A New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters

by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons

I recently started reading Unchristian and quickly realized that this was one of those books that would put into words thoughts and feelings that I have been unable to put to words myself. There are a number of other books that I have felt this way about such as; Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller,  The Present Future by Reggie McNeal,  An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus, Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer, and The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence to name a few.

This time around I thought it would be cool to journal about my experience while reading this book. Hence, the reason you are reading this post, the first book report series on cicruschurch.com.

My intent is to post my thoughts, convictions, and/or inner turmoil once a week as I read and engage with this book. So here we go with part one . . .

To start it is important to note that this book was birthed out of a desire to understand more clearly what 16 – 29 year old (busters and mosaics) outsiders (people not involved in a church) really think about christians, and why they think the way they think.  In other words, what is behind their views.  The book itself centers around in-depth studies done by the Barna Group led by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. So the ideas expressed in this book, are really the result of much study as well as reflections and conclusions drawn from the data.

It is also important to note that we are talking about a significant slice of our emerging culture in the UnIted Sates today. These are the future CEO’s, public servants, teachers, business owners and leaders of our country, and there are about 24 million of them. (There are 24 million outsiders between the ages of 16 and 29 in the United States today and each passing generation contains more and more. page. 18)  

“The title of this book, Unchristian, reflects outsiders’ most common reaction to the faith: they think Christians no longer represent what Jesus had in mind.” (pg. 15)

“Often outsiders’ perceptions of Christianity reflect a church infatuated with itself.” (pg. 14)

Often Christianity’s negative image reflects real problems, issues that Christians need to own and be accountable to change.” (pg. 14)

The problem is that, though unintentional, the church in America has become for the most part about something completely different that what Jesus intended, and outsiders know it. We have become self indulgent, inward focused, political, judgmental, intolerant, weak, religious, angry, and without balance. Church has become all about ourselves, like a nice easy Sunday drive that lacks balance and fails to bring into sharp focus the mission of Jesus; to bring the kingdom of God to everyone, especially those who have the deepest needs.

This book is a wake up call.  Not to hijack Jesus and make him into something he is not just to be popular, but to really know who Jesus is. To live like he called us to live and actually continue the mission he started and has passed onto us. 

In the chapters to follow six basic assumptions outsiders have about Christians (Drawn from the research) will be addressed.

Outsiders think Christians are . . .

  1. Hypocritical
  2. Too Focused on Getting Converts
  3. Antihomosexual
  4. Sheltered
  5. Too Political
  6. Judgemental

“I hope that by helping you to better understand people’s skepticism, your capacity to love people will increase offering them genuin hope and real compassion through Jesus Christ . . . The Church desperately needs more people who facilitate a deeper, more authentic vision of the Christian faith in our pluralistic, sophisticated culture” (pg. 16,17)

Till next week.

Derrak