Gabe Lyons, author of the new book unchristian says, “Just be there.” That’s right. Show up and participate in the culture. Be in the world, not of it. Get out of the cocoon, and make friends with Hollywood, Broadway, and Fifth Avenue.
Update: Thanks to L.L. for catching my ridiculous stupid typo in the headline. “Gage” for “gauge.”
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Yay for Broadway!
Oh you’re welcome, and don’t berate yourself, my Wonder Editor. Today, I was trying to respond over on Kim’s blog and I couldn’t understand why the computer was underlining repentence. Well, that would be because it’s repentance. Somehow, working on-screen, my spelling sense is diluted!
Mark, in your defense, I believe that the word can be spelled either way correctly in the same way that I believe I could spell “defense” with a “c” instead of an “s.”
In any case, I agree with the premise of the interview. I know many, including myself, are uncomfortable with critiques of Christianity. But, I think we are living in a wonderful time of re-evaluation of what makes Christianity “Christian.”
Peace, Kim
Marcus:
Thanks for your faithful peeks at my blog. I have added you to my blogroll. Its fun to have another friend in the middle of nowhere Texas. Whoops, did I say that?
Anyway, I look forward to exchanging ideas and cyber-fellowship in the future, and hopefully meeting face to face in 2008!
Heather, I love Broadway too. In fact, I love cities. It’s so fun that Revelation talks about the New Jerusalem being a city. I live in the country, but I love cities, too.
L.L., actually, I’ve read studies about how much lower comprehension is when you are reading on a screen. I look forward to seeing if that proves true for new screen reading devices like the Kindle.
kim, thanks for the encouragement about my spelling. The jury is still out. And I love your optimism. When we get back to our roots, Christianity is about Christ. I love the old medieval prayer, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ above me…
Steven, nowhere Texas? I always thought it was “now here” Texas. Now, I’m here, life is good. And I agree completely about looking forward to the new year of community with all of you wonderful folks!
Marcus — Just had a very similar conversation with my own younger sister. “Hypocrites” is the word she used about Christianity — although she did clarify that she felt this way more about “organized religion” than Christianity itself. I felt thankful that she was able to express herself to me knowing that I am a Christian. I think having a few Christians who will be real with her isthe only thing keeping her from rejecting Christianity wholesale.
Great clip! I do not like to be called a Christian myself – not because I don’t want to be associated with Jesus, but because I don’t want to be associated with the very things that Gabe Lyons talked about here.
Charity, I’ve had the same worries about some of my friends. When the Christianity they know looks like some televangelists that I’ll leave unnamed, I can’t really blame them for thinking the entire thing is a sham. Shame on us for letting our faith be so degraded.
Jen, I have other friends who call themselves “followers of Jesus” rather than Christians. I’m a fan of fewer syllables myself, but the word–and alas the faith itself–has a lot of baggage.
Which is why it is so important to go back to the roots of what we agree upon. Since we all agree the text of the Bible is extremely significant, that’s where I start.
Great clip! I found myself nodding all the way through this interview with Gabe Lyons.
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