unChristian Book Review

Here are some highlights from the book UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters, written by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons:

• Christianity has an image problem
• Ages 18-29 have a negative view of Christianity
• Negative impressions of Christians doubled between 1996 and 2007. Not because of our convictions, but because of our attitudes
• Research shows that life habits--including gambling, sexual activity, drinking, drug use, and so on--are only barely different between those who claim to be Christians and those who do not.
• No wonder people outside the church aren't impressed with Christ!
• But Christ actually does make a difference among those who pursue him faithfully.
• About 3% of youth, and up to 9% of older generations, espouse a Biblical worldview (defined in my review on unChristian), and among that group a genuine, positive difference shows up clearly.
• According to Kinnaman and Lyons, young people see Christians as hypocritical, too much focused on "getting people saved" (and therefore inauthentic), anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental. According to Kinnaman and Lyons, young people see Christians as hypocritical, too much focused on "getting people saved" (and therefore inauthentic), anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental.
• Good missiology: to hold the truths of Scripture in one hand, and a thorough, respectful knowledge of the culture in the other hand; and to communicate the Gospel accordingly
• “For all of us, our only hope for the fracture in our soul is in the cross of Christ”
• 29% of Americans say they are highly committed to Jesus Christ, only 3% espouse a Biblical worldview, defined for research purposes as adhering to 8 basic doctrines of Christian religion (for example, that God is the Creator, that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, that there is objective morality based in the Bible).
• “Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental,” young Americans share an impression of Christians that’s nothing short of . . . unChristian.”
• Called to love, be the most compassionate service-oriented people, contributing to the good of humanity
• In regards to those outside the Christian faith: listen, be concerned about their real needs, don’t be numbers driven