Stereotypical Christianity

Why do we act this way? We all do it in some way or another. From time-to-time, each of us lives into the typical Christian stereotype that the world so easily mocks and outcasts. Why? Because unfortunately, the stereotypical Christian is easy to make fun of. However, this “stereotypical Christian” is not who Jesus calls us to be and is nothing like Jesus, Himself.

Here are a list of many characteristics and habits of the stereotypical Christian that I would ask each of us to stop doing:

• Please stop wearing a mask. When someone asks how you’re doing, it’s not mandatory for Christians to be completely joyful every single second of every single day. Sometimes, life is difficult and we need to own that. Our lives won’t be perfect nor are they supposed to be. People won’t be impressed by Jesus because of our “picture-perfect” lives; how we respond when life sucks is what impresses a non-believing world.
• Please stop being so anti-everything. Sometimes, the church is so vocal about what they’re against (abortion, homosexual marriage, secular music, rated R movies unless they’re about Jesus, premarital sex, drugs, etc.) than Who we’re for, namely Jesus, gets lost in the mix. 
• Please stop acting like you’re better than everyone else. By professing to be a Christian, you are claiming to be the worst person you know. Your heart was so evil and violently set against God that He had to die on your behalf and pay your debt of sin to God.
• Please stop being afraid of culture. Jesus and Paul engaged culture; you should, too. Quit focusing so much on being not of this world that you remove yourself from the world entirely. 
• Please stop being against change. Change can be a good thing. God changes our hearts from evil to good in Christ by the power of His Spirit. We, too, are to change as culture changes. Our worship sound will change but Who we worship won’t. How we read our bible (iPad, iPhone, etc) will change but Who our bible is about won’t. The clothes we wear, the seats we sit in, the way our church looks, and so much more will constantly change and evolve with culture; our God and His gospel will not.
• Please stop removing yourself from non-Christian society. If you are a Christian, you are to be a representative of Jesus to the unbelieving world. How can you represent Jesus to the unbelieving world if you’ve withdrawn yourself so far from them? Imagine if Jesus lived amongst us the way you live amongst non-Christians. Would He be involved in our day-to-day life or would he just be a fellow taxpayer and nothing more? This world needs Jesus. Do your part and bring Him into your community. Don’t simply stand on a soapbox in downtown and proclaim Jesus in word, but also proclaim Him daily in the way you live your life amongst non-Christians.
• Please stop saying you’ll pray for people unless you actually will. “I’ll pray for you.” How many of us have made such claims only to forget about that claim moments later?
• Please stop making low-quality entertainment. It saddens me that when someone describes a movie or band as “Christian,” immediately people’s expectations diminish. I appreciate so many artists and bands such as Citizens, Dustin Kensrue, Propaganda, Ascend the Hill, King’s Kaleidoscope, Ghost Ship, Rend Collective, Jon Foreman, Lecrae, Gungor, and more who put out records that are rich in lyrics and unique in sound. 
• Please stop making and wearing these shirts. Enough said.
• Please stop obsessing over minors. Creation v. evolution, young earth v. old earth, the various end times views. Each of these discussions and many more often turn from delightful discussions to dividing debates. Why do we need to fight about such minor doctrinal disputes that have no bearing on the salvation of humanity? Instead, let us set aside our differences and unite in service to our one God and King, as one church, serving one mission that’s building one kingdom in this world.