Books I'm Reading
Wednesday, April 22, 2009?
A team of 15 surveyors spent hundreds of hours interviewing and studying unchurched people in developed urban cities. During a period of two years, they entered the world of the unchurched, taking the time to listen to people of all age groups and finding out the concerns they had toward their own lives and toward their relationships with those around them. From the rich, to the middle class and the poor, from the uneducated to the professors and doctors, they spoke to people from different races and varied ethnic backgrounds.
The survey confirmed that most of the unchurched are in fact all around us—our neighbors, coworkers and colleagues, classmates and family members. That leads to another conclusion: that the unchurched have much more in common with believers than what we often suppose. Many of them share our same moral values—honesty, education, hard work, filial piety, etc.
The unfortunate truth is that a large number of Christians think of the unchurched as "fire-breathing pagans" who are, for some unknown reason, furious with us. They are viewed as pagans that don't believe in the existence of God. Apparently, they hate the church so much that they want to destroy all Christians. Yet, an interesting result of the survey reveals otherwise—a whopping 95 percent of "unchurched persons next door" do act like churchgoing Christians.
The survey confirmed that most of the unchurched are in fact all around us—our neighbors, coworkers and colleagues, classmates and family members. That leads to another conclusion: that the unchurched have much more in common with believers than what we often suppose. Many of them share our same moral values—honesty, education, hard work, filial piety, etc.
The unfortunate truth is that a large number of Christians think of the unchurched as "fire-breathing pagans" who are, for some unknown reason, furious with us. They are viewed as pagans that don't believe in the existence of God. Apparently, they hate the church so much that they want to destroy all Christians. Yet, an interesting result of the survey reveals otherwise—a whopping 95 percent of "unchurched persons next door" do act like churchgoing Christians.
Now, of course, there are basic differences between churched and unchurched people. The most important distinction is that they have neither received salvation through Jesus, nor are they motivated to please God through their lifestyles. Apart from that, some of the common ties that they share with believers include:
- The unchurched are concerned about their families.
- Their moral values are not too radically different.
- They work alongside us.
- Their children play together with our children.
- Some of the unchurched may even be the teachers of our children.
- They carry friendly conversations with us.
- They often have similar financial burdens.
- They are just as patriotic as we are toward our country.
- Many of the unchurched even live in the same homes as we do ... they may be our unsaved family members!
To be continued....
Grace and Peace 4:02 PM