Authors Note: For several issues of Church Health Today, I will provide a journey into the world of the unchurched. Our two-year research project involved asking unchurched men and women numerous questions. One primary issue we sought to discern was the level of receptivity to the gospel of these we interviewed. We classified their receptivity on a scale from one to five. U1, or unchurched 1, represented the most receptive group to the gospel. U5, or unchurched 5, were the least receptive. In this article we highlight our research with the U4s.
If there is confusion over the identity of God among the U4s, the identity of Christ really presents a challenge to this unchurched group.
On the one hand, there is a reticence to see Jesus as the unique Son of God. On the other hand, the U4s do not want to assign Christ anything less than an important role in history. Some of the attempts to do so proved to be awkward and sometimes humorous.
For example, Brandon G. from Vermont tried to see Jesus as a very important historical figure while the U4 held to his atheistic belief.
"He definitely was a historical person, but he was not resurrected," Brandon mused. "He was an incredible role model, a symbol of how human beings are to treat each other. Jesus showed us the great capacity of the human being to do good."
So Who is Jesus?
The U4s typically refused to see or did not realize the inconsistency of their statements. They desire for Jesus to be a great teacher and role model, but refuse to see him as
|
"If I could go back in time in a time machine, I know exactly where I would go. I would love to talk to Jesus more than anyone else in history." Stuart B., Indiana |
Stuart B. of Indiana, when interviewed by Rusty Russell of our research team, said his religious background includes Church of Christ, Buddhism, and agnosticism. Throughout his religious and non-religious phases, he has held tremendous respect for Jesus.
"If I could go back in time in a time machine, I know exactly where I would go," he said excitedly. "I would love to talk to Jesus more than anyone else in history."
Stuart continued with an effusive description of Jesus:
"I believe he was a remarkable healer, both physical and spiritual. I believe he had great clarity of thought and the ability to communicate truth. I have great respect of Jesus."
His was a fairly lofty perspective for someone who is resistant to the gospel.
Julie P. of Colorado provides another example of a person who is resistant to the gospel but positive about the person of Jesus Christ.
Julie grew up with a nominal United Methodist background. She will attend
|
"We are basically spiritual by nature; all the church rules prevent us from finding true spirituality." Julie P. Colorado |
"We are basically spiritual by nature; all the church rules prevent us from finding true spirituality," Julie said.
Julie's thoughts about spiritual matters seem to be some strange mix of New Age and Eastern religions. Her prayer is constant, she says, because "I am in touch with a higher power through meditation." To get to heaven we must "live in tune with self and our spiritual oneness."
When researcher Jon Beck asked Julie about her spiritual journey, she responded that her goal is "to live a life that is kind to all beings and the world; to live a live a life in harmony with all beings, earth spirit, animals, and people."
Despite her off-the-wall responses, Julie affirmed the significance of Jesus. "He was a great person that lived in biblical times. He was a good man, a spiritual leader. He played a great spiritual role in history."
Watch What You Say
There seems to be a great deal of caution among the U4s when they speak about Jesus. These unchurched persons are very careful, even to the point of political correctness, in choosing their words about Jesus. And it is not easy to discern their motives for their fear of offending. That same group had no hesitation in telling us what was wrong with Christians, the narrow-minded beliefs we hold, and the churches we attend.
Though further study is needed, it appears that one of the few open doors for discussion with the U4s is a conversation about Jesus. The mere mention of his name elicits a pause and can often move a conversation from resistant to pleasant.
The U4s as a rule have little patience for Christians today and the established church. But in an ironic twist, they have tremendous respect for Jesus. The possibility for open dialogue is high unless the Christian decides to talk about one key issue regarding Christ: the truth that he is the only way of salvation.
No single issue makes the blood of a U4 boil more than that of exclusivity. The doctrine of exclusivity states that that belief in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. The words of Jesus himself in John 14:6 are cited to affirm that the Savior is the only "way, truth, and life," and that "no one can come to the Father" except through Jesus.
Our researchers rarely mentioned this foundational truth of the Christian faith, because the U4s were likely to raise the issue themselves.
For example, in our earlier conversation with Julie P. of Colorado, she was quick to point out that her biggest turnoff by Christians is "when they try to tell me Jesus is the only way."
Exclusivity was seen as intolerant, narrow-minded, and bigoted by many U4s. These unchurched men and women could not fathom a rational person holding to a belief in such a narrow way of salvation. Researcher Todd Randolph interviewed Ken T. of North Carolina. Ken viewed the belief that Jesus is the only way to be the classic example of "when religion overrides common sense."
Simply Intolerable
The tolerance movement in America has made a huge impact, and nowhere is the impact more evident than in this issue. More often than not, we did not merely hear mild
|
"Christians would do a lot better in this world if you did not have the arrogance and stupidity to act like you've got all the answers. I don't know anyone else that makes arrogant claims like you people." Jackie F., Idaho |
Words do not do justice to the outbursts we often heard. The reader cannot see the red faces and looks of indignation.
"Christians would do a lot better in this world if you did not have the arrogance and stupidity to act like you've got all the answers. I don't know anyone else that makes arrogant claims like you people," screamed Jackie F. of Idaho.
Perhaps you can sense a bit of the emotion in Jackie's words. If you had been present during her outburst, however, you would have seen an anger and indignation that is difficult to describe with the written word. The U4s are simply furious that basic Christian doctrine holds to a single way of salvation.
How then do you the Christian respond? I fear that a few may take this description of the U4s and become totally reticent to share Christ as the only way of salvation. We cannot compromise the essence of the gospel. The world may reject the message we have to share, but we cannot fail to share it.
The response of the U4s to the exclusivity of salvation through Christ is a caution for wisdom, not an admonition for silence. We did these interviews so that we could learn something about the mindset of the unchurched world. You should not, therefore, be caught off guard by negative responses or even emotional outbursts by U4s. Be wise in your words and timing, but do not remain silent.
Will They Ever Attend Church?
I am not certain how you the reader will respond to this article. Will you see the U4s as resistant and hopeless lot for whom our time and energy expended is just a waste of time? Will you see some of these beliefs of the U4s as so far out that any point of connection seems highly unlikely? Or will you view their spirituality and comments on the Bible and prayer as a potential starting point for sharing the gospel?
|
Likelihood of Attending Church If Invited We asked the unchurched we interviewed how likely they were to attend church if invited by a friend or family member. The U4s are resistant to any presentation of the gospel and to becoming a Christian. These are their responses:
|
From our research team's perspective, the responses of U4s, when asked if they would attend church if invited, are nothing less than amazing. Among them -- the second most resistant unchurched group -- 62 percent indicated that they were either very likely or somewhat likely to attend church if they were invited.
Our further questions found that most of these unchurched are uncomfortable entering into a church building alone. They would rather you take them to church or meet them there. But the key issue is that the vast majority will come if invited.
Now, the probing question for you and me is: "When is the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?"
We in the churches are searching and agonizing over ways to reach the lost and unchurched world, yet the research indicates that a simple invitation may be the most cutting-edge approach we can employ.
When speaking of those who will enter the kingdom, Jesus spoke in the parable of dinner to "Go out into the highways and along the hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23, NASB).
Though the analogy between the kingdom and the local church is not perfect, the principle is close. We have been mandated by Christ to urge people, to invite people, even to compel people to come to church and to hear the gospel.
What have you done to obey the Savior?
Thom S. Rainer is dean of the Billy Graham School at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. The author of 14 books, he also serves as president of the Rainer Group and Church Central Associates.
