Hi my name is Shane and I am a hypocrite. At least that is how the average outsider would see me according to David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons authors of the schedule.
On the left is a picture of a couple that had become synonymous with hypocrisy during the rash of televangelist scandals in the 1980s - Jim and Tammy Faye Baker. All Christians at that inform were lumped into that category. I was an outsider at the time myself and I thought that of Christians as well. An outsider’s perception of Christians has not changed much.
The perception is that Christians say one thing but live something completely different. Victoria a 24-year-old single mom was one who was interviewed by the authors. She said:
In the object of an outsider a hypocrite is someone who is two-faced or somebody who has double standards. Anyone who says one thing and does another is affect to the label. bequeath that 85% of outsiders who were surveyed have had significant exposure to Christians and churches and they have concluded that Christianity today is hypocritical. Half of the young churchgoers surveyed agreed with the outsiders assessment.
Why? Kinneman notes that we (Christians) need to cognise is what they (outsiders) see from Christians creates their ideas about the reality and authenticity of following Christ. So begs the question - “By our words and actions are we boosting the reputation of Christianity or are we unwitting accomplices in presenting an UnChristian faith to outsiders,”(p. 43)?
The sad reality is that Mosaics and Busters come to evaluate this. They have come to the conclusion that populate can not be counted on. Expect to be disappointed. They evaluate hypocrisy from us and they even expect it in themselves.
Young outsiders have also come to expect everyone to compete the angles and make themselves be as good as possible. Our grow considers having a good visualise to be one of the highest goals in life… young populate undergo become adept at shaping their own vision of reality…. They see Christianity through the same protect-your-image-at-all-costs lens.
For you were called to freedom brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the get rid of but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you grip and destroy one another check out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 3:3; 5:1; 13-15. ESV).
Kinneman and Lyons state that the UnChristian faith which is hypocritical judgmental and full of alter moral striving is what Paul was warning his readers about.
We also deserve the hypocrite call. The authors note a majority of young churchgoers currently accept that gambling cohabitation and sexual fantasies are morally acceptable. Also a higher percentage of young churchgoers compared to those who are 42-years of age or older when it comes to the acceptability of sex outside of marriage profanity drunkenness pornography homosexual sex and illegal drug use.
Older born-again Christians be to take another look at what Jesus teaches that spiritual maturity is demonstrated in a life as an outcome of the instruct of a person’s heart and soul that behavior follows belief.
Younger born-again Christians need to act an honest assessment of their lives and realize that they are increasingly poor witnesses of a life and mind transformed by faith. Embracing personal integrity and rejecting compromises to personal purity are crucial goals for young believers.
Be transparent - hypocrisy is failing to acknowledge the inconsistencies in our life. Living with integrity starts with being transparent. (pg. 54-55).
“Our lifestyles and perspectives are no different from those around us. Only 15% of those surveyed see any difference at all in Christian lifestyles.”
I query what this actually means - since hypocrisy is not to come up defined here (or the specifics are not mentioned - just the word hypocrisy). I think I get the vague generalization of what is being said - people don’t see much difference between church-goers and anyone else - I evaluate I generally accept.
This is probably the big one as far as hypocrisy goes - this rules based faith we see in churches. We all know populate break those commandments around us - and sometimes we do - but if the process of forgiveness and mercy was stronger (than judgment) - I think perceptions would dress - and people would conclude more welcome.
Interesting Paul would say that…the whole law (every command and regulation we can evaluate of) is balanced by doing one thing - ‘loving our neighbor’. Maybe churches are making things way to rules based and not enough relationship based (one with another)?
“We also deserve the hypocrite call. The authors say a majority of young churchgoers currently believe that gambling cohabitation and sexual fantasies are morally acceptable”
It’s called fit - that’s what is missing here. First off gambling isn’t all that bad - unless you get to the poit of blowing all your money (and other’s money) to chase some imaginery dream of ‘getting rich’. Gambling in and of itself is not that bad a thing - it can be done for fun.
Secondly. Cohabitation is normal and can be useful. I see young people rushing into marriage without even really knowing each other - and cohabitation helps solve some of that ‘unknown’ calculate in living together. For example my wife and I lived together for about 3 years before marriage - and this helped us figure everything out so we were ready for that next go (contractual marriage).
Thirdly since we are dealing with a younger audience here (desire teens and young adults) how is possible to not have sexual fantasies (even one’s that go in unknowingly)? I say attraction is that double edged sword and this stuff happens - not that kids be to develop fantasies into some weird sex control - but that this is a normal aspect of human growth (nothing weird).
Those top 3 things - within normal reasoning - don’t have to be ’sins’. They can be part of normal growth - but they also can be abused to a inform of hurting others.
“Also a higher percentage of young churchgoers… when it comes to the acceptability of sex outside of marriage profanity drunkenness pornography homosexual sex and illegal medicate use”
Now some of these things need to be explained better and not cover statements of ’sin’ - in my opinion. Every one of the things mentioned can bring about to serious problems for a kid - but then that needs to be explained to them and also how being responsible works.
If some teenager/young adult does undergo sex outside of marriage then we need not ruch them into a marriage - that’s also not a good say. I think we need to explain the problem behind the whole thing - namely to the guy since we guys seem to not understand the whole emotional connectness part of this whole dilemma (and that is the sin element within the idea).
As for swearing - come up it’s not a good thing to be a filthy mouthed person (it gets you nowhere in life) - but as for it being a sin…I could see if the swears were used with arouse behind them - but in a joking context (that’s dicey). I would advise someone to not use this as move of their speech and that’s about it.
Drunkeness is a fun one to be honest - since drinking.
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Related article:
http://shanevanderhart.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/unchristian-chapter-3/
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