UnChristian

From time to time I receive offers for free books and I gladly take advantage of them. The most recent offer involved a book called UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. I was excited to receive this book offer because it is a title I've been watching in the reviews in the newsletters and professional journals I read.

The subtitle of the book is "What a New Generation Really thinks about Christianity...and Why it Matters."

The author is very candid that many readers won't like some of the reports they will read in this text, but nevertheless it is essential that we read the research despite our personal reactions. For instance, it could hardly please any of us to learn that "The research shows that Christians are best known for what they are against. They are perceived as being judgmental, antihomosexual,. and too political. And young people are quick to point out they believe that Christianity is no longer as Jesus intended. It is unChristian."

Here's an extensive quote (p 15) that I believe captures the essence of why it would do all of us good to read this book.

After thousands of interviews and countless hours studying non-Christians, I believe outsiders would want this book titled UnChristian. Young people today are incredibly candid. They do not hold back their opinions. I want to capture outsiders' expressions and views in these pages.l I don't agree with everything they say. Yet if I am going to be your guide to the hearts and minds of people outside Christianity--if you are going to really understand them--I feel compelled to represent their viewpoint fairly and candidly, even if it is uncomfortable for those of us who are Christians. To engage nonChristians and point them to Jesus, we have to understand and approach them based on what they really think, not what we assume about them. We can't overcome their hostility by ignoring it. We need to understand their unvarnished views of us. Therefore, this book reflects outsiders' unfiltered reactions to Christianity.....

Even though some of the realities are uncomfortable, I have no intention of picking on Christ followers. Far from it. My purpose is not to berate Christians. You won't find here the names of any Christian leaders who have done wrong things. From time to time, I will use an anonymous illustration to show why some of the negative perceptions exist. Yet the point is not to pick on any particular person. Every Christ follower bears some degree of responsibility for the image problem; it is not helpful to assign blame to those who have made mistakes.

Still for the things we can influence--our lives, our churches, the way we express Christianity to others--I hope that by helping you better understand people's skepticism, your capacity to love people will increase, offering them genuine hope and real compassion through Jesus Christ. Paul, the most prominent writer of the New Testament, says, "While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church (I Corinthians 8:1).

So, I'm on my way into the depths of this text, and I hope that I have whetted your appetites enough that you might purchase the book and begin your own journey into its wisdom. I'd love to hear what you have to say. Let me know if you're going to read the book, ok?

Thanks for the "chat!"

Reverend Donna

Projects and Ideas

Ideas seem to come in spurts. I may have several in just a few days or maybe only a few over a span of several weeks. I thought I would share with you here some of the ideas that have come to me over the past several months.

I keep a "Project and Idea Board" in my office. It's a sticky board and I have half-size index cards that I write the main idea on (without much detail) and I stick it on the board. I read it over often and I check off the ones that have been put into action.

I would like to see a church-wide "Project and Idea Board" --a big board--that people could add their ideas to all year long. There are an abundance of good ideas floating around out there and a sticky board would be a great place to "catch" them.

Thoughts I have on my board includesome of the following:

• a blogging book club: read current books on faith and church life; announce the book one month out; profice communication on line; schedule a discussion on line; and name the next book about a month out to give folks time to get it and read it.
• yearly themes: Align all programs in church around certain themes, for example: joy; family; love; etc
• evening worship on Sundays, Wednesdays or perhaps Thursdays. Include songs (praise music) the Word; prayer. Would last about 45 minutes and include video, seating at tables, food, etc
• PALS groups (new): Genealogy; families with young children; Christian parenting; Christian marriage, etc
• Church campaign signs: (especially in years of elections) ask parishioners to place "campaign" signs in their yards, just as we might do with a candidate's sign. Copy could be something like "FPFC: That's My Church!" or similar
• Valet Parking: our parking is so limited, which limits our ability to fill our sanctuary, believe it or not (all the books say so!). Have valets in lot to park cars so t hat people can get out at church doors; include parking lot greeters as well, so that the church experience literally starts the moment folks arrive.
• Church school: reconfigure classes to fit a new kind of church school--one room, on line, or workshop rotation models perhaps
• After-School: elementary age students middle school too: provide snack, homework help, games, childcare for older children--ask high school students to lead with adult supervision
• visitors welcome packets;
• publicity scrapbook
• "We Expect Company" attitude (this idea is not mine--came from Julia and Peary)
• Put together resource book for assisting folks who come to the church for help
• a couples retreat
• Men's retreat or group
• couples' club
• widows and widowers support group
• Explorers Group: go out to other churches and experience worship services of all types and bring home good ideas and opinions
• Media Team: web page (Mark Forsythe) and podcasting; broadcasting on community tv
• Recording of scripture passages and prayers with music in background to be distributed to shut-ins (this is Peary's idea)
• Celebrate the Decades: celebration days for people in their sixties, their seventies; their eighties, their nineties, complete with food and fascinating facts of history made during those decases (1938-1947; 1928-1937; 1918-1927; and 1908-1917)

Some of the ideas i've had that I've already put into place are the business cards for parishioners, the Advent Candle Lighting Processions; the "I LOve My Church Because" posters; family Vacation Bible SPA; changing the look of the Triangle,and some changes to the sanctuary decor.

What are your thoughts and ideas? I would love to hear them!

Peace,

REv Donna