More than ever, the world needs to hear what Christians have to say, and yet they aren’t listening.
Are we to blame?
The answer is complicated, but it’s critical we figure it out.
A major factor is a shift in culture. Christianity used to occupy the moral high ground in the West. Church attendance was high and the Bible was the dominant ethical guide for society.
Today, Christianity is perceived as immoral, landing on the wrong side of prevailing views on sexuality, racial reconciliation, and the environment.
Christians are seen as bigots, sustainers of oppressive systems, and deniers of science.
Perhaps most damaging is the syncretism of Christianity and politics.
In a world that is increasingly tribal and polarized, the belief that to be Christian means you vote a certain way has driven a major wedge between Jesus followers and secular culture. Sadly, Christians are seen as enemies of justice and progress.
In light of this drastic shift in perception, it’s no surprise that the world isn’t interested in what Christians have to say - especially when it comes to contentious topics. A sincere follower of Jesus has to overcome significant baggage in order to be heard outside of the Church.
On some levels, this is unavoidable.
We live in the age of Relativism. The only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth. The Bible is filled with claims of exclusivity and absolute moral imperatives, making it profoundly counter-culture. This reminds us, along with John, that we don’t belong to this world.
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Following Jesus will mean we never fully fit into culture; we will be aliens and exiles. That has always been true. But this doesn’t let us off the hook.
We have contributed to the negative view of Christianity that has blocked our ability to be winsome truth-tellers.
So how do we fix this? We need to stop being shocked by sin, open our lives and hearts to nonbelievers, and remember what the Gospel really is. Over the next four weeks, I will dig into each of these steps in more depth, and hopefully together, we can regain the ear of a world desperate for the truth!