I’d encourage you to talk with regular teenagers sometime, about their opinions of Christians. You’ll quickly discover that those opinions are often quite negative; not because of the message itself, but rather because of the people who presume to carry that message into the world.
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I disagree. I used to work with teenagers (both as a teacher and a church youth director). Their negative view of Christians is because of how Christians are portrayed in the media, movies, TV, news, etc.
Several years ago, I had a friend, upon finding out that I was a Born Again Christian responded with a shocked look and an exclamaition of “No you’re not! You don’t act anything like the people in that movie ‘Saved’!!” I had similar conversations with a few other friends.
Her impression of Christians was not from personal experience but from media portrayal. BTW, that friend is now a Born Again Christian.
There is a lot of hatred of Christianity based upon Hollywood’s views rather than actual experience.
That's a big part of it, of course. But you know as well as I do that those negative stereotypes have a basis in reality.
And, more to the point, teens can also point you to people they actually know, who reinforce the negative image portrayed in the media -- people who are smug in their own salvation, for example, or whose actions are at odds with the truths they claim to believe.
Just as an example, my daughter's faith (and that of many other teens) was seriously damaged by a youth pastor who had that attitude, and that image was mirrored by those toward whom he played favorites..... She's verrrry slowly coming around, as she sees the God's truth acted out by those who approach it honestly and humbly.
Several years ago, I had a friend, upon finding out that I was a Born Again Christian responded with a shocked look and an exclamaition of “No you’re not! You don’t act anything like the people in that movie ‘Saved’!!” I had similar conversations with a few other friends.
Which is pretty much my point. You probably don't come across as arrogant or hypocritical -- you're no doubt humble and careful in your approach, even if you're telling hard truths.
But I seriously doubt that those people's impressions came only from the media; I would bet that they know actual people whose behavior isn't all that different from the folks in "Saved."
I know I've been guilty of that sort of thing, as have most of us. It all comes down to a contest between pridefulness and humility, and within ourselves pridefulness often wins out.