Does Christianity have a general influence on Americans? I’m not talking actual Christian’s behavior, just the general climate of the country. Here is an interesting observation. Since the attack on the United States on September 11th one of the untold stories is the remarkable restraint of American citizens to lash out at citizens of Muslim background. “Religionism” a real problem amongst all cultures and the USA is not excluded from this disorder. But what are the actual statistics? In 2002, FBI stats for incidents of “hate” crime, there were only 66 incidents of verbal harassment, and 34 of aggravated or simple assault against Muslims. No murder. That is 100 incidents total. In comparison there were over 900 total incidents against Jews.

Now, any harassment or assault is uncalled for, but with a country our size, over 270 million non-Muslims, and the gravity of the atmosphere ripe for “religionism,” the lack of sinful acts against Muslims is astounding.

Compare this to the response currently in The Netherlands (a favorite model of “tolerance”) where there has already been over a dozen attacks and burnings of mosques in response to the horrible murder by an Islamic extremist of moviemaker, Theo Van Gogh. All this in the last two weeks. In a country of only 15 million non-Muslims.

Conclusion? One crime of revenge is one too many. At the same time, Americans continue to be unbelievably civil in a society much criticized for “intolerance.”

“Christians think they are better than everyone else.” Here is another misunderstanding of Christianity.

Christians think they are better? You must be talking about people who call themselves “Christian,” not show Christian actions. Better? Actually it is just the opposite. Christianity is the only religion where it is recognized that humanity cannot be better on its own. In Islam humans “prove” their goodness by following the Pillars of Faith, in Judaism the Torah, and even people without religion have their “random acts of kindness.”

But Christians realize it is only by receiving the gift of forgiveness through Jesus that one can respond by doing good things. So Christians cannot compare themselves to others. It is no big deal to say, “I received a gift. I am better than you.” It is the gift that is special, not the person receiving it. God offers the gift to everyone. Yet, it is only the Christian who unwraps it.

So, the best arrogance a Christian can muster is this.

“Wow, look at me! I unwrapped a present!”

Hardly noteworthy.

Christians are hypocrites. What does this mean? Hypocrisy is believing one way, and acting another. A classic case would be a lung cancer specialist who is a chain smoker. So, where is Christian hypocrisy? There is none. The Christian faith cannot be called hypocritical. The life style of individuals who call themselves, “Christian,” needs to be examined.

When I say, “Contempt is sinful,” and then you catch me being contemptuous, you have a right to say, “You are sinning.” My response would have to be, “Yes, I am.” The proper solution for the situation is to confess my sin of contempt and intend to not be contemptuous in the future. This is a classic Christian response. There is no hypocrisy involved.

The Afrikaners in apartheid South Africa had a hypocrisy problem. Many Afrikaners considered themselves, “Christian,” though they purposely worked against people of different races. They were not responding to the black South Africans behavior, just the simple condition of their skin color. The Afrikaners would use Bible passages to support their view, though there is no support for this racial oppression in the Bible. So, when you called the Afrikaners who considered themselves “Christian”, “hypocrites,” you were correct.

A

movement began in Europe during the 19th century-earlier 20th century to change the way the Bible was studied. Due to the rise of Darwinian evolution, amongst other influences, scholars began to dismiss the miracles recorded in the Bible. This led to the rejection of doctrine, like the virgin birth, as well.

There were strong reactions to this “modern” thought, in Scotland and America in particular, to counteract this. Out of this were published several volumes called, The Fundamentals (1909). People who supported the content of these volumes were called, “Fundamentalists.” The fundamentals were five basic teachings, which can be summed up in this way.

1. the inspiration and what the writers call infallibility of Scripture,

2. the deity of Christ (including his virgin birth),

3. the substitutionary atonement of his death,

4. his literal resurrection from the dead, and

5. his literal return at the Second Coming.

A modified way of saying this is:

1. The Bible is inspired by God and accomplishes exactly what God intends for it to accomplish

2. Jesus is God

3. Jesus died as a sacrifice for sin

4. Jesus really physically raised from the dead

5. Jesus is coming back

I would differ from the wording of The Fundamentals (e.g. “infallibility” language), but in essence, the five fundamentals are Basic Christian Teachings 101. If you are a Christian, look at the list, at least the modified one. You may find yourself a “neo-fundamentalist.” Wow, who would have thought.

“Christians are closed-minded.”

This is a closed-minded statement. This is classic projection. Remember the definition?

“A defense mechanism in which the individual attributes to other people impulses and traits that he himself has but cannot accept. It is especially likely to occur when the person lacks insight into his own impulses and traits.”

No one is trying to keep the evidence of Christianity from being examined more than people who call Christians close-minded. Take the Christian(among others) claim that there is a creator of the universe. Try to have a principled, reasonable discussion about the lack of evidence for there not being a creator of some form with someone who thinks you are close-minded.

Christian and non-Christian scientists have been trying to get the “lack of support for the mechanism of natural selection as explanation for the origins of life” on the table for many years now in the public arena. They have had some success, but the resistance of the established public arena Darwinian evolutionists to have everyone put there cards on the table and examine the evidence is not reasonable from a scientific theory standpoint. Examine the evidence means just as readily, “Examine the lack of evidence.”

There is a great debate going on in the public realm about this very issue. Currently Atlanta textbooks which teach Darwinian evolution have this disclaimer sticker in them.

“This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered.”

Now, I would have worded this differently as I don’t support the “theory vs. fact” language controversy. I may not have used a sticker at all. But the statement is overwhelmingly supported by the evidence. Origin of Life researchers have no conclusive evidence of the Darwinian nature as to the origins of life. They don’t have conclusive evidence of any nature.

Note that the sticker is not promoting creationism of any form or intelligent design. It is just saying examine the actual evidence, which is, of course, the scientific enterprise in the first place. Now some of the same people who call Christians close-minded are trying to have the sticker removed because it is an “unlawful promotion of religion.” Where is religion in the sticker? It is not there. The sticker calls for open-mindedness. That would be helpful.

We are looking at various misunderstandings of Christianity. Today is,

“Christians are mean spirited.”

There certainly are Christians who are mean. There are individual Christians who are nasty to non-Christians who don’t agree with them. Yet, the Bible says,

1 Peter:15-16

And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way.



There are individual Christians who are mean to other Christians who don’t agree with them. Yet, the Bible says,

2 Timothy 4:2

Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.



So, when someone says, “Christians are mean,” what they are really saying is, “Some Christians are not following the teachings of their faith.” A growing disciple of Jesus can’t be mean, if you are talking of repeated meanness.

Only those who aren’t Christian might be shocked by this. This might be the issue. Do you know Christians personally? Or are you getting your opinion from watching news clips of those who profess they are Christian? If your view of Christianity is some wacked out guy with a sign that says, “Fags burn in Hell!” then of course you are going to think Christians are mean. You need to get to know some real Christians.

Projection- “A defense mechanism in which the individual attributes to other people impulses and traits that he himself has but cannot accept. It is especially likely to occur when the person lacks insight into his own impulses and traits.”

Matthew 7:3-4

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? [4] How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

The first definition comes from the field of psychology. The second from Jesus. You see a lot of projection being used today. It is especially plentiful when Christianity is criticized in the public arena. I will look at some examples this week.

To introduce this whole series, let’s start with a definition of “Christian.”

Christian- Someone who trusts in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and responds in obedience to his teachings.

When a person calls herself, “Christian,” this is a self-identifying label more than anything else. One is not born Christian. One becomes a Christian through trust in Jesus, made evident by how that person lives their life. Christian behavior is not a mystery. There are clear teachings of Jesus in the Bible, as well as the model of his life. So, in a real sense, someone doesn’t tell you they are a Christian; you can see that for yourself. No one can lay claim to trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and not intend to live their life in obedience to Him.

“Christians” sin, but they do not do so in the authority of Jesus. Only right behavior can be done “in the name of Jesus.” Therefore, when people who self-identify as “Christian” sin and call on Jesus for support (e.g., Afrikaners and South African apartheid), they are not Christian. Jesus anticipated this would happen when he said,

Matthew 7:21

“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.

So, the only test for behavior being “Christian” is this.

Does this action have the overall authority of the Scripture? Is this action modeled by Jesus?

We have two Labrador retrievers, Dudley and Sarai. They play together, but not much. They lie around outside on separate beds and dream large chunks of time away. Until it gets cold. When the temperature hits in the 40’s and they are lying around, they can be found next to each other. Not as much companionship but they need each other for warmth.

When people need each other, it’s the same way. Pretty much independent and minding our own business but when times get a little uncomfortable, we find ourselves coming together for support. Well, don’t wait for a crisis.

Huddle on a regular basis with one or two or three friends whom you can connect with. Get even bolder and ask to pray for each other during the week. Get unbelievably intimate and talk about personal struggles that are keeping you from being your best, true self. Hold each other accountable for making progress on these struggles. If you aren’t careful, you may have just started a small group.

After the victory of George Bush this week, there has been much “soul-searching” about why Senator Kerry lost by those who supported him. One common theme occurring is the vote by active Christians. Pretty much “ignorance” and “backward” keep creeping into the vocabulary of the critics. One example from “Slate” magazine contributor, Jane Smiley, had this to say.

Here is how ignorance works: First, they put the fear of God into you—if you don’t believe in the literal word of the Bible, you will burn in hell. Of course, the literal word of the Bible is tremendously contradictory, and so you must abdicate all critical thinking, and accept a simple but logical system of belief that is dangerous to question.



Interesting observation, but somewhat irrational. I know Smiley is speaking in hyperbole (I would hope) for effect. But, this is the polar opposite of the Christian worldview! Ignorance? Tremendously contradictory? No critical thinking? Dangerous to question?

Ignorance- The Christian worldview is certainly reasonable concerning it’s understanding of human nature, it’s understanding of human relationships, and, of course, the belief system of an intelligent force independent of our universe causing the universe to come into existence. The evidences of psychology, social dynamics, and “big bang” universe all weigh strongly on the Christian worldview side, and make it quite reasonable.

Contradiction- First a definition. “The same statement made at the same time under the same conditions cannot be both true and false simultaneously.” I am still trying to find one of these in scripture. Difficulties? Paradoxes? Things I simply don’t understand? Of course. Quite a few of those. But “contradictory?” Examine the evidence; look for yourself.

No Critical thinking and dangerous to question?- The Bible itself says,

1 Thes. 5:21-22 (NLT)

But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.



O.K. Next?

I recently read an excerpt on writing from C.S. Lewis.

“Always try to use the language that makes quite clear what you mean and your sentence couldn’t mean anything else.”

After going through this latest election cycle I suppose I ought to wait until you get up off the floor from laughing so hard… O.K. finished?

What a brilliant man. Solid and to the point. Also, a couple of weeks ago I attended a luncheon with speaker Ken Blanchard. Not C.S. Lewis, but solid, and to the point in his own way. Ken shared how he would ask CEO’s to give him the mission statements they had developed after $30 thousand consultation fees from “mission” experts. When asked why he collected so many mission statements he said, “I keep them next to my bed when I travel. If I have trouble getting to sleep…”

Keep it simple, saints. K.I.S.S. That is my motto lately for leaders. It is so critical that the people you lead know where you are going. After all, it’s only fair.

You know how frustrating it is when you are in a strange place and driving a different car and your friend says, “Just follow me.” Then you play stoplight bingo (rushing through a “yellow/red” to keep up). Your friend ends up waiting on the side of the road half the time. How much better that everyone knows where you are going. Then if they don’t want to follow, you’ll have given them a clear choice.