Barna Response #5: Post-Modernity Tolerance Vs. Christian Ideals....

According to Barna's Research, the Postmodern insistence on Tolerance is winning over the Christian Church. President of the Barna Research Group, David Kinnaman, wrote a book with Gabe Lyons called UnChristian (Amazon Link), one of the top items non-Christians have against Christians is that they are judgmental. Many know what Christians are against (Gay Marriage, Abortion, etc) rather than what we are for (Social Restoration, Wholeness of People, Christ Will on earth, etc). While I do believe the Bible speaks very strongly about the views of which Christians are against, I believe we in the church have taken the wrong stance as to how we communicate this and the importance of such issues in the.

For the previous centuries, the church was as the center of society. All news, life, events happened within the framework of Judeo-Christan Values. It was at this point that the Church was in "power" and could communicate and dictate what society should be for or against. In recent decades, the church is pushed farther and farther to the fringes of society. I just tell some people that I am an Evangelical Christian and they look at me as an ignorant person. You should try it some time : )  We are no longer in the mainstream of society and no longer have the right or power to dictate what should and should not be, even if Scripture is clear on the fulfilled life we are called to live is found in Christ-Centered Kingdom living. What what stance are we to take?

We must stop trying to force people to act within our moral framework (although it is the healthiest) because that just produces moralism. We must accept the fact that we are no longer the voices of morality. We must stop trying to "protect" our view, but rather take the stance of missionaries of the Kingdom of God for King Jesus. We are to be a SIGN of what His Kingdom looks like (generosity, love, compassion, justice, etc) and in doing so we will gain the respect of people and have an opportunity to share Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Do I believe in Right and Wrong? Absolutely! But our posture as missionaries to first show Jesus' love (as he did with the women accused of Adultery in John 8) and then EARN the right to speak the Truth.