{"id":26541,"date":"2020-04-14T17:47:02","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T00:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=26541"},"modified":"2020-04-14T18:31:39","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T01:31:39","slug":"when-shame-prevails-and-grace-is-non-existant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/when-shame-prevails-and-grace-is-non-existant\/","title":{"rendered":"When Shame Prevails and Grace is Non-existant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three years of groundbreaking research by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons through The Barna Group,[1]<\/a>provided insight into how sixteen to twenty-nine-year olds, who consider themselves \u201coutsiders\u201d of the Christian faith, perceive Christianity. Their study results are consolidated in Unchristian: What a new Generation Really Thinks About Christianity<\/em>\u2026and Why It Matters.<\/em> Their findings are grim and are meant to be a \u201cmirror for (readers) to see (themselves) and (their) faith more clearly.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

The focus group values relationship, belonging, and individualism. They tend to embrace fair-mindedness and diversity. They are skeptical of leaders, products, and institutions, especially those that seem too perfect. They move comfortably from one thing to another, especially if that thing isn\u2019t fulfilling their needs. Many in this group deem spirituality as important, but faith is just part of a successful life.[3]<\/a> \u201cOutsiders\u201d overall impression of Christianity is lackluster; their overall impression of \u201cborn again\u201d Christians is grim, as they see this group of Christians more for what they are against, rather than what they are for. The most common perceptions revolve around six main themes, where Christians are hypocritical, focused on getting converts, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental.[4]<\/a> They also believe Christians are old-fashioned, out of touch with reality, insensitive, boring, not accepting of other faiths, and confusing.[5]<\/a> Though these study results were compiled in 2007, I\u2019d argue little has changed regarding the perception many have of Christianity. In fact, I wonder if these perceptions haven\u2019t intensified in light of the political and religious climate we are currently in?<\/p>\n

Kinnaman and Lyons expound upon the six main themes throughout the book, and reach the conclusion that Christians must: relate with people as Jesus related with people, through relationship and friendship; communicate in creative ways; serve and esteem others by listening and being present with them; embrace compassion and truly see other people; and regain a vision and deep love for Jesus, while accepting others as they are, thereby dissolving the us-versus-them paradigm.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

In this extensive analysis, repentance is passively mentioned near the conclusion, but I believe is an absolutely necessity before all other reparative steps can be taken. Furthermore, noticeably absent, but woven throughout the text, is evidence of shame driven religiosity by those who profess to be \u201cborn again.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Tired of Trying to Measure Up<\/em>, Jeff VanVonderen notes characteristics of shame-based systems, which include:<\/p>\n