There were 3 questions we had to answer…

What are some ways the Christian gospel is perceived in our culture?

The gospel is often seen as restrictive, out of touch with culture, or exclusive. Often Christians are seen as hypocrites, intolerant, judgmental and fake. Some of the well-known televangelists have been exposed as charlatans, hucksters and fakes. This all gives Christianity a bad name and makes it difficult to witness, when the unsaved don’t see any benefit in being identified with such a group.

What are some specific reasons (moral, emotional and intellectual) that people reject the Christian gospel?

People reject the gospel because of many moral reasons such as their sexual preferences, marital status or political beliefs. Christianity demands adherence to a certain moral code that some people believe is outmoded, or intolerant. Christians are seen as judgmental and unwilling to earn the right to be heard because of their attitudes. Many Christians will not willingly dialog with someone who lives a different lifestyle than they do.

Intellectually, Christianity is seen as opposed to any sort of intellectual study. Most of the bible is seen as a fairy tale or mythology, and many people are unwilling to take a hard look at the secular, corroborating evidence for Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Culturally, Christians are seen as unintelligent, believing in something that has no basis in fact.

Emotionally, Christianity can be hard to grasp, especially for those who aren’t able to understand a Father’s unconditional love. That alone can be a huge barrier to the gospel. To understand that there is Someone who loves you more than you’ll ever know is something that is so difficult for so many people (myself included).  However, when a person comes to that understanding, they tend to just totally go all out, all in!

What can Christians do to address these objections and better communicate the Christian gospel?

Christians need to distance themselves from the strident isolationists, the loudly judgmental, the hucksters, the fakes. We need to have our actions speak louder than our words. Like the apostles before us, we need to earn the right to be heard, by being a part of society, by loving those who may still be in sin, like Jesus did. We should endeavor to more closely follow the one we claim as Savior and Lord. Simply condemning people, acting unloving and no better than the lost will not overcome the objections of the world. On one hand, we must keep our witness pure, but not by acting like we are “too good” to be around the rest of the world. We are to be light and salt to a lost and dying world. Like St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary”.