By Rev. Jim Gascoine, Associate Pastor
I can get grumpy if I listen in on too much politics. And there is one thing that does raise my blood pressure. Both political parties do this one thing whenever they are in the minority: say “NO” continually.
No matter what the other party proposes for policies, the response seems to be “NO.” Sometimes I want to grab the nearest congressman and say, “NO is not a policy position! It’s obvious what you are against. But tell me what you are for! What is your plan, what is your alternative?”
Yes, it does make me grumpy.
However, recently, while enjoying a short period of grumpiness, it occurred to me that I do the same thing as the political types. Or, better said, American Christianity does the same thing, and I am a willing participant.
My initial reaction: “Yikes! Am I that bad?”
Let me explain. In recent weeks I have been re-reading several books that I had found enlightening earlier. I wanted to see if these books still had relevance. One in particular certainly did capture my attention. It is titled Unchristian: What a New Generation Thinks About Christianity…And Why It Matters.
The book is not new; it dates from 2007. But what the authors pointed out then still applies today.
The authors, Davd Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, review research conducted by the Barna Group, focusing on what the average American thinks about Christianity. One of the surprising (or maybe not so surprising) results: Christianity and Christians are known more for what they are against than what they are for.
Significant numbers of Americans believe Christianity is just one big “NO.” Name a current issue, and we’re against it.
That is a very uncomfortable reality to deal with. Is that really who we are? The problem is the same as what I complain about in contemporary politics: it is not enough to say what you are against. What you are FOR is way more important. Every “NO” needs to be accompanied by a louder and more resounding “YES.”
Let’s unpack that insight.
Christianity has a lot to say about healthy relationships. Christianity has a compelling vision of how to build and maintain long-term, committed, loving relationships. So, instead of just saying “NO” to our society’s choices, why aren’t we saying, “We have a better, more healthy, more life-affirming, vision for great relationship.”
We are too often confronted with the human brokenness of our society. But instead of being against this, that, and the other thing, why don’t we clearly communicate our alternative.
We know that in Christ we have found a way to conquer and heal from human brokenness, in all its forms. So instead of just saying what we are against, how about we lovingly share the good news of healing, renewal, recovery and restoration, in Jesus Christ.
These are but two examples.
No doubt there are times when we, as followers of Jesus Christ, will have to say “NO” to choices presented by our society. But every time we do that, I believe it is a necessity to follow up with “I say no, because in Christ I have found a more compelling vision, a more life-affirming choice. I say no, because in Christ I have found what it takes to be a fulfilled person, and in Christ I have become fully and completely human.
Don’t settle for NO. Keep going with Jesus’ YES.
Dutilh Church 