All of us know deep down inside that Christians are supposed to represent Christ in this world. But according to some recent research, something has gone terribly wrong, especially among the young adults in our society. Using descriptions like “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental,” young Americans share an impression of Christianity that is nothing short of . . . well, the word that comes to mind is “unChristian”. Groundbreaking research into the perceptions of sixteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds reveals that Christians have taken several giant steps backward with this group. The surprising details of the study, commissioned by Fermi Project and conducted by The Barna Group, are presented in the book, unChristian. Here is information about why these negative perceptions exist and how to reverse them, with practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to the contemporary culture.
The entire title (because subtitles say a lot about an author’s message) is unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…and Why It Matters (Baker, 2007). The authors are David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, and Gabe Lyons. If you care about the impotence of the modern church and have a heart for evangelism, get this book. You will read the results of interviews conducted with thousands of young people regarding why they have distanced themselves from church. The book shows mistaken moves on our part and what we can do to correct these errors.
Read the rest of the article.