“Most people in America, when they are exposed to the Christian faith, are not being transformed. They take one step into the door [conversion] and the journey ends. They are not being allowed, encouraged, or equipped to love or to think like Christ.”

That observation is the result of studies by the Barna Group, detailed in their recent book, unChristian, which presents their research of what non Christians, aged 16-29 think about Christians and the Christian faith. One thing Evangelicals must pay attention to is our methods of conversion - how we present a life of following Jesus.

Young outsiders are most impacted through personal relationships where Christians show genuine concern for them. What stuck out to me is how unChristians feel about our attempts to convert them, and our failure to present belief in Jesus as an appealing, alternative way of life. Street witnessing, door-to-door evangelism and other conversion attempts by strangers are closing doors in the hearts of young unChristians.

In addition, Christianity has an image problem that is getting in the way of people becoming followers of Jesus. "Only one-quarter of young outsiders firmly perceive that Christianity offers them ‘hope for the future’ (23 percent), and only one out of every seven strong believes Christianity is ‘genuine and real’ (15 percent)."

What we are failing to demonstrate through our own lifestyles is how following Jesus is an appealing and radical way to live. "Too many of us have been converted to Jesus, but we are not letting ourselves be transformed by Him." In the book Chuck Colson reflects that “the gospel cannot be merely a private transaction…. Jesus came as a radical to turn the world upside down. When we believe it is just about Jesus and yourself, we miss the whole point.”

The book also discusses the generally unfavorable views unChristians hold of Christianity and its adherants.  Only 50% of them thought of Christianity as "a faith they respect, a faith that shows love for others, something that offers hope for the future, and people they trust." In addition, only a small minority thought that the labels "respect, love, hope and trust" acurately described Christianity.

What do non Christians think of us? The study found six broad themes paraphrased here:
1. Christians are hypocritical, and non Christians are skeptical of our morally superior attitudes.
2. We are too focused on getting converts, and outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them.
3. Antihomosexual-Non christians say we are fixated on curing homosexuals.
4. We are viewed as sheltered, having only simplistic answers to life's complex problems.
5. Christians are too political and overly motivated to promote our own agenda.
6. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others.