Real Christianity?

I finally finished wading through Dave Kinnamon's book "unChristian." For those unfamiliar with it, the book describes the results of three years' research among "outsiders"; those "outside" the Christian faith, and how they perceive Christians in today's culture.

This research was sparked by the fact that in ten years, Christianity has slipped from a highly favorable perception in society to a highly unfavorable one. These days, we Christ followers bear little resemblance to Jesus Christ and His teachings or lifestyle, according to the Mosaics and Busters interviewed. If perception is reality, this book represents a wake-up call. Sobering stuff to noodle through. [I confess I started this book before Christmas!]

Our small group is working through James. Guess which chapter we focused on this week--the same week I finished Kinnamon's book? Chapter 2: the one where James deals with favoritism (judgmentalism?) and the faith without works question. Together, these two writings present some serious, though-provoking challenges to the Christian "sub-culture" I was indoctrinated into over the last 44 years.

How much of my "faith" is biblical, and how much is cultural? Where do my presuppositions and judgments come from? What thoughts do I kick around when I see a 20-something hanging out in front of the town library, smoking a cigarette? If I meet a gal with a young child, and learn she isn't married, how do I react?

How would Jesus have reacted?

If I follow Jesus Christ in everything He taught and lived, where do I find disconnects between my lifestyle and interactions with others, and what I claim I believe?

Jesus calls us to engage in the same ministry He came to earth to inaugurate. He initiated a ministry to free captives--not just in the spiritual sense--but those who were captive in the results of poor choices, or were victims of unfavorable circumstances.

Our small group kicked these kinds of questions around for two hours tonight. And I realized that if I met a homosexual this morning, I would have assumed he or she was not a follower of Christ. But how do I know that? Could not that person--loved and cherished by God, yet fallen--have just agreed to let Jesus take over last Sunday? Maybe God put me into his path to accompany him on this newly embarked journey...the same journey I'm on. Just a little further down the the road.

At least, I hope so. Or is that comparing myself to this new friend? Doe that thought betray a prejudice I need to shed?

Here lies my struggle: God calls me to enter into and extend grace to those I come in contact with. Too often, I have done just the opposite.

UnChristian? If that means not really Christ-like, then yep.