A Little Bit of Irreverence... or Maybe Not

The first time I saw the Jesus videos produced by a church called Vintage 21 I didn't really respond. Was it okay to laugh? Were these videos heresy? Well yes, it's ok to laugh, and no, they weren't heresy. The church took a good look at how the world sees Christians, and made it funny to ease the pain of the often negative view the world has of Christians. So I've watched them multiple times and laughed, and I've tried to consider how I participate in the "Christian culture" we've created and how my participation in that points others to Christ.

Another brilliant look at some silly things we do as Christians is the blog Stuff Christians Like. I just found it yesterday and was laughing out loud as I read it. Sometimes out of embarrassment because I've done a lot of the things that obviously look silly to the outside world.

What these videos and this blog cause us to do is look at what the perception of Christians is in the world. While there are often gross misinterpretations of what Christians are, and sometimes accurate interpretations, we must realize that perception is reality. If people think Christians are cheesy, then we're cheesy. If they think we're judgmental, then we are. If they think we are exclusive, then we are. This may be based on no first-hand experience with any Christians, but if that's what they think, then it is their reality.

So what do we portray that Christianity is? Is it wearing that cool t-shirt that copied some secular logo and put a "Jesus" phrase on it? Is it identifying with one political party and being convinced that Jesus would vote for "my" candidate? Or is it loving our neighbors as ourselves (well, we have to start with actually knowing them)? Is it taking care of the orphan* and the widow? Is it not judging and viewing everyone as a child of God, regardless of religion, race, sexual preference, or gender?

Take a look at the videos and blog. It's okay to laugh, and be embarrassed. But make sure to examine how you are perceived by those around you.

*Random fact of the day - If every church (i.e. a family in a church, with support from the church) in Texas would adopt one child from the Texas State Foster System, then there would be no children left to be adopted. Now, how would that change the perception of Christians?