I think this analysis is on to something. People DO suppose themselves to be “unchristian”—ie, not interested in the CHURCH of Jesus Christ b/c they percieve that Jesus must have embodied the sort of things that the church consistently fails to embody.

In fact, I’ve been laughing and musing in the book _Stuff White People Like_ lately, and the author incisively notes that “white people” like religions that aren’t Christianity. (He suggests they don’t want anything to do with Jesus, but I’d challenge him by saying that “white people” are constantly saying that Jesus is great, but Christianity isn’t.) This is a real problem, and a real challenge to the Christian church.

There will be different analyses, however, about how to best redress this problem and answer this challenge in a biblically faithful manner. But I’d bet we all agree that the church needs to be the church much more consistently. (I am willing to bet, however, that even when this is the case, the church will remain unattractive to those who truly ARE hardened enemies of the gospel.)

Peace,

Andy