Posted on 05/28/2005 4:33:58 PM PDT by Between the Lines
After spending four years with the unchurched, my research team and I have gained valuable perspectives on this group of non-Christian men and women.
I recently assimilated our interview material to glean a summary of an interesting issue. The interview quotes we found were related to the unchurched persons' view of Christians. Below are the seven most common responses we received.
Held in Good Light
The unchurched generally have a favorable view of Christians.
Contrary to conventional wisdom and media myths, most unchurched view Christians in a positive light. Kenneth M., an unchurched 28-year-old man from Florida, typifies this perspective: "I personally don't have a close friend who is a Christian, but I know some fairly well. I respect their views, and most of them seem to be good people. Maybe there are a few people that act like religious fruitcakes, but the ones I know are okay."
Many times Christians are reticent to engage in conversations with the unchurched because we fear their reactions. Most of the unchurched, however, view us very positively.
Bible Scholars
The unchurched think Christians are much more informed about the Bible than we really are.
Be prepared to hear a plethora of questions from an unchurched person if you decided to enter into a friendship with him or her. The unchurched of America generally think that we are biblical scholars.
They therefore expect informed responses to their questions about Scripture. Even when a Christian explains that his/her biblical knowledge is not as great as the unchurched thinks, the non-Christian typically takes such a response to be an effort at modesty or an understatement of our true biblical acumen.
Why Wasn't I Invited?
The unchurched wonder why Christians do not invite them to church.
Our research team was shocked to find that about seven of ten unchurched persons have never been invited to church.
Furthermore, the non-Christian generally has a willingness, if not a desire, to attend church.
"I have a neighbor named Frank who is an outgoing Christian," said Bill J. of Nevada. "He is all the time talking about his church activities and all the things he's involved in. I've known Bill for over six years now, but he's never hinted at me going to church with him. Don't you think that's kind of strange?"
Good Role Models
The unchurched look to Christians as models for healthy family lives.
We believers know the statistics that tell us that many Christian families are struggling. In fact, the divorce rate among Christians is not significantly different from that of the unchurched world.
Still, the unchurched persons around us think that we have our act together in our family lives. And they look to us for hope and encouragement.
Friends for Life
The unchurched believe that a Christian is more likely to provide a lasting friendship than non-Christians.
The unchurched are likely to be desirous of friendships and lasting relationships. Many of these men and women are very lonely. And while many Christians are reticent or too lazy to get involved in the lives of unchurched persons, such an effort may prove to be the eternal difference in their lives.
Repeatedly, our research shows that the unchurched are much more likely to accept Christ if a Christian will take the time to get involved in their lives.
Did You See That?
The unchurched struggle with inconsistencies in Christians' lives.
Penny U., an unchurched person from Philadelphia, likes her friend Bonnie.
"Yeah, Bonnie has been a good friend to me. I think that her religion has a lot to do with her goodness."
So what is the struggle?
"I've heard Bonnie say some things lately that have really floored me. Now I don't expect Christians to be perfect, but Bonnie has said some things that wouldn't even come out of my mouth. I really wonder if she realizes how that affects me."
Share the Wealth
The unchurched wonder why Christians are often reticent to share their faith.
Perhaps the most eye-opening discovery we made about the unchurched person's attitude towards us Christians is that most of them would like to hear about Jesus Christ from us. Yet the vast majority of the unchurched with whom we spoke have never had a Christian share their faith with them.
What a tragedy. And what an opportunity.
Very interesting.
I usually listen and nod, and when I don't agree with them, the hate REALLY comes pouring out. THAT, to me, is the most interesting part--when I don't confirm their stupidity they get nuts.
My position is that religion is a roadmap for one's moral structure. These same atheists read philosophy and swallow whole the Eastern philosophies and practices, yet they freak when I say I see their philosophy as being exactly the same as a religion in terms of its practical applications. That gets them crazy, too.
Take it from me if you didn't know it already, the unchurched are a bunch of wackjobs as bad as any gang of snake-handlers or whathaveyou.
I have known many non-Christians who have been very respectful of my Christianity. Not a one of them cared about politics. Add politics and they became very hateful.
As a former, total, unchurched rebel, much of the above is totally dead on target.
If I were to add one thing, it would be this: most of the unchurched do not understand 'trust'. That is because most of them are convinced only themselves are fully trustworthy. But, once a Churched, very Biblical man, pointed out to me much of the root of my issues were related to the fact I wasn't taught what 'real trust' was .... well, the rest is history.
biased sample. you are getting the responses of those disposed to answer your questions
Liberalism is a religion. One in which all are tolerated except Christians.
Very insightful. You have given me something to think long and hard about. Thanks!
Actually Dr. Rainer and his group have studied all unchurched people. They classify them from U1 through U5 (U meaning Unchurched). U1s are mostly religious people who for some reason or another just do not attend church. U2s are mostly receptive to the Gospel. U3s are ambivalent. U4s least receptive and U5s are hostile to church and religion.
U5s are so hostile that he had to change his questions just to get them to answer. For example: "Would you go to chruch if a family member invited you", had to be changed to "what do you think of a family member who invites you to church." A U5 will not answer a "would you" type question, but they are usually narcissistic and so they will always answer a "what do you think" type question.
Not all the unchurched--like me!--need a church substitute, and obviously they're not all kooks. But what's interesting about this piece is that it shows there are a lot more like me--those who don't believe in God but respect those who do--than the louder voices in the media who sound like the witch burners they claim to be against.
Your welcome....I only wish I had figured it out at 16 instead of 37...
I'm curious to know (and not being provocative or disrespectful when I ask): if you don't believe in God, whence do you derive your respect for those who do?
I don't have to participate in something to think well of those who do. And yet the folks who seem to believe as I do, I don't care for at all!
You are correct, but I think that this study shows something a little more than that. I think that it shows that the unchurched look up Christians and secretly hope we will succeed in our marriages, have deeper relationships with others, know our Bible well, be good role models and not be hypocrites.
They may laugh at and criticize Christians, but they secretly respect us and wish us well. Why? Because, they know that if Christians are right, if we can succeed, then they have hope too.
I do not base this solely on this article but of my own experiences. Before coming to Christ, I saw my neighbors as the perfect Christian family. I watched them closely and listened to what they said and how they said it. When she left him for another man and they divorced, splitting up the family, I was devastated. I hardly knew them, but I was devastated. I did not know the reason why I felt this way until I read this article. They were my salt and my light. They planted a seed of hope in me.
This shows that lifestyle evangelism works. We are being watched and everything we do is a reflection on Him.
I am hearing it for the first time at 47. Thanks again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.