Guest Blog - UnChristian: Sheltered - Paul DelSignore
In this series, I’ve been going through the major perceptions that outsiders (particularly ages 16 - 29) describe about Christianity as researched in the book “unchristian.” This isn’t a critique or a review of what the authors have to say, rather this is my point of view about the topics. In this post we look at what outsiders perceive as a Christian “bubble” — the idea that Christians seclude themselves and don’t function in the real world.
Three quarters of Mosaics and busters outside the church said that present-day Christianity could accurately be described as old-fashioned, and seven out of ten believe the faith is out of touch with reality. With the expansion of things such as christian music, christian games, christian schools, and christian movies, Christians looks as though they are creating a sub-culture of entertainment that mimics the larger cultural enterprise, yet refuses to participate in so called ‘real’ society.
As a Christian myself, I see the tension here. I like that my kids enjoy playing guitar hero with their friends, but am not particularly excited to hear them singing some of the lyrics. But is the solution to produce a christian guitar hero? I’m not so sure about that. In most cases, the christian versions are hokey in comparison, and the thought of Jesus ripping through hammer-ons in guitar solos is somewhat disturbing.
In any case what does a Christian subculture really do? Is replicating cultural settings within the banner of christian labels helping the Christian community? or is it negatively creating secluded environments? In one interview, a twenty eight year old christian describes the lifestyle as follows:
“So many christians are caught up in the christian subculture and are closed off from the world. We go to church on Wednesdays, Sundays, and sometimes on Saturdays. We attend small group on Sunday night and serve on the Sunday school advisory board, the financial committee, and the welcoming committee. We go to barbecues with our Christian friends and plan outings. Even if we wanted to reach out to nonChristians, we don’t have any time and we don’t know how. The only way we know how is to invite people to join in our Christian social circle.” –p130
Even if this is an extreme case, please note that this is how Christians are perceived by outsiders. But why should it matter if outsiders think of us as sheltered? Actually it does matter, because if outsiders do not think Christians live in real circumstances; real situations; real experiences… why would outsiders consider the opinions of Christians to be of any value? remember the generational slogan of ‘keeping it real’ — real means loyalty, engagement, and an understanding of common experiences. Real is a place of common ground.
So how then, do Christians change the perception of living disconnected and sheltered lives?
In my opinion, Christians have the unfortunate problem of needing to live in tension. They must worship in community but allow that worship to manifest in unchristian places. This may come through in the form of art, music, service, literature, film, etc… Christians must be informed and offer sophisticated responses to the issues people face… not simply quoting the bible (outsiders don’t care). Christians must participate and yet critique culture… walking that fine balance.
“If you only practice purity apart from proximity to the culture, you inevitably become separatist… if you live in close proximity to the culture without also living in a holy manner, you become indistinguishable from fallen culture”
– Mike Metzger
In my opinion the Christians who ‘get this’ are the missionaries. They learn the essence of engagement by entering into the culture riding the tension of purity and proximity. Colonialism enters in and tries to impose culture… however missional-ism enters in and adapts the culture already present. Missional-ism understands that the Gospel transcends culture.