If you have any doubt about the waning influence of the church in America read Barna’s latest update here. A new study conducted by the Barna Group among 16 to 29 year olds shows that a new generation is more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.

I find many of Barna’s findings to be reminiscent of Kimball’s latest book “They Like Jesus But Not The Church.” What this generation is skeptical of is not the way of Jesus, but the “way” of judgmental, hypocritical Christians. I appreciated one of the final paragraphs in the Barna update:

Some Christians fear the changing reputation of Christianity and it certainly represents an uncomfortable future. Yet, rather than being defensive or dismissive, we should learn from critics, especially those young Christians who are expressing consternation about the state of faith in America. Jesus told us to expect hostility and negative reactions. That is certainly nothing new.

But the issue is what we do with it. Is it a chance to defend yourself and demand your rights? Or is it an opportunity to show people grace and truth? Common ground is becoming more difficult to find between Christians and those outside the faith. When the Apostle Paul advises believers to “live wisely among those who are not Christians” and to “let your conversation be gracious and effective,” (Colossians 4:5-6, NLT) he could be writing no better advice to committed Christians in America.

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