Where’s The Authenticity?
George Barna has noted that research among those who avoid churches suggests that the main obstacle in people attending church is the “busyness of these people.”
Jim Henderson, in his 2007 book, Jim and Casper Go to Church: Frank conversation about faith, churches, and well-meaning Christians, states in the introduction, “In my opinion, some professed Christians are not actually following Jesus but are instead following religion. These people should more accurately be called religionists. Atheists are more honest about their unwillingness to follow Jesus. . .”
Henderson (a believer) and Casper (an atheist) visit congregations to try to experience what visitors must feel when they attend. They ask the question, “What does a nonbeliever find attractive—or repellent—about Christians and church communities?”
Casper (the atheist) said about a friend named Jason. (He is)“. . . my kind of Christian: He walks the walk. . .”
Christianity today suffers from a lack of authenticity. That is the reason that many have left traditional churches for the emergent movement. Brian McLaren suggests that if Evangelicals have the truth, then why are so many living hypocritically?
Walk the walk, talk the talk, live the life--- Be Real! When you aren’t, you hurt the kingdom.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB95)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
