5 Kinds of Christians | LeadershipJournal.net

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Leadership Journal, Fall 2007

5 Kinds of Christians
Understanding the disparity of those = who call=20 themselves Christian in America.
A new national survey co-sponsored = by=20 Leadership. Reported by Helen = Lee

=20

Jennifer Hua identifies = herself as a=20 Christian. A 35-year-old former attorney studying = Christian=20 counseling at the Wheaton College Graduate School = (Illinois),=20 she has gone to church all her life and is a lay = leader in her=20 suburban Chicago congregation. She furthers her = spiritual=20 development by daily Bible reading, prayer, listening = to and=20 singing worship songs, and interacting with other = Christians.=20 And every few months, she carves out time for a silent = retreat. "I do all of these things because I know from = past=20 experience I need to recalibrate my mind and my heart = to be in=20 tune with God," she says.

James Smith also identifies himself = as a=20 Christian. He attended church as a child, but his = attendance=20 was minimal as a young adult. He believes in God, = occasionally=20 attends Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan when his=20 time-consuming job in the finance district allows, but = he does=20 not often participate in other activities to further = his=20 spiritual life. He has a Bible but rarely opens it; = what=20 leisure time he has he spends with friends, most of = whom are=20 of different faiths, and he does not necessarily = believe that=20 his God is any different from the one his Muslim = friend=20 worships.

"I don't think that God would be a = God who=20 would shut others out of heaven because they don't use = the=20 word 'Christian' to describe themselves," he says.

The United States is described in = mainstream=20 media as largely Christian (between 70 and 80 percent, = depending on the study, identify themselves as = "Christian"),=20 and compared to the rest of the world, this is = certainly the=20 case. However, not all within this vast group of = Christians=20 are alike.

To understand the range and = differences among=20 American Christians, Christianity Today International=20 (publisher of Leadership) recently partnered = with=20 Zondervan Publishers to commission Knowledge Networks = to=20 conduct attitudinal and behavioral research of U.S.=20 Christians. In September 2006, more than 1,000 = self-identified=20 Christians 18 years of age and older were surveyed on = their=20 religious beliefs and practices. The results reveal a = number=20 of significant differences, illustrated by the = examples of Hua=20 and Smith. In fact, portraits of five distinct = segments=20 emerged from the study. We have named them Active, = Professing,=20 Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians.

Each group represents about = one-fifth of=20 those identifying themselves as Christian, with Active = Christians (such as Hua) most likely to have a = personal=20 commitment to Jesus Christ that affects their beliefs = and=20 inspires an active church life; Cultural Christians = (such as=20 Smith) are least likely to align their beliefs or = practices=20 with biblical teachings, or attend church. Between the = two is=20 a range of beliefs, commitment levels, and public = practice of=20 the faith.

Leadership discussed the = survey=20 results with leading pastors and religious experts to=20 ascertain the ramifications for church leaders. Three = critical=20 issues emerged:

The local church is no longer = considered=20 the only outlet for spiritual growth.
Churches must develop = relational- and=20 community-oriented outreach.
Lay people have to be better = equipped to=20 be God's ambassadors.

Faith Yes, = Church=20 Maybe
The survey shows that for nearly half = of=20 Christians, involvement in a local church body is a = minimal=20 part of their daily lives (see chart 1).

Click on the image to=20 enlarge.

"Faith is relevant for many people, = but=20 church is not," says Bryan Wilkerson, senior pastor of = Grace=20 Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. "People want to = attend to=20 the spiritual side of their lives, they are interested = in God,=20 but their experience of church has not been relevant. = They=20 say, 'Why do I have to sit through boring sermons and = old=20 music that don't speak to my real needs and = problems?'"

"A growing element of the Christian = population is disappointed with or frustrated by the = local=20 church," says D. Michael Lindsay, assistant professor = of=20 sociology at Rice University and former consultant = with the=20 Gallup Institute. In part, this trend can be = attributed to=20 factors within local church bodies themselves, such as = lack of=20 strong leadership or teaching.

Given that 60 percent of all = Christians=20 worship in churches with fewer than 300 people (see = chart 2),=20 most Christians are in congregations that continually = struggle=20 with resource issues. Previous generations were = accustomed to=20 that, and today's worshipers have higher = expectations.

"These days, people can get good = teaching,=20 wonderful music, and excellent writing, whether = through iPods,=20 TV, or online," says Wilkerson. "They learn to shop = around and=20 pick and choose. Then they expect the same high = quality in=20 their local church. A generation ago, the average = person=20 learned to accept his home pastor and was faithful to = his=20 local church. But now, people's appetites for = excellence have=20 been heightened."

As pastor of a large church = himself,=20 Wilkerson acknowledges "we probably end up = perpetuating that=20 kind of appetite by trying to be as high-quality as = what we=20 find out there. The temptation of larger churches is = to=20 compete and to be as good as the others are."

Even for those Private and Cultural = Christians who do not typically consume Christian = media,=20 access to it can still play a significant role in = their=20 spiritual development in ways that may not be = reflected in the=20 survey.

"Private and Cultural Christians = might not=20 use traditional Christian media, but I would bet they=20 disproportionately watch [Lakewood Church pastor] Joel = Osteen=20 on cable," says Lindsay. Cultural Christians are the = group=20 that spends the most time watching TV and using the=20 Internet.

Spiritual growth, then, may be = occurring for=20 many of today's Christians in non-traditional ways. = Instead of=20 attending church on Sunday mornings, many opt for = personal,=20 individual ways to stretch themselves spiritually.

"Emerging generations may not see = themselves=20 as churched, but neither do they see themselves as any = less=20 committed," says Joel Hunter, senior pastor of = Northland=20 Church in Longwood, Florida. "The traditional = programming that=20 churches do is becoming less essential to work out = faith for=20 many people."

Personal or = Media=20 Relationships?
The danger, however, is that = the=20 multimedia availability of religious content helps = people=20 become spiritual do-it-yourselfers. As a result, they = lack an=20 important aspect of faith development: interaction = with other=20 Christians in community. This privatizing of Christian = faith=20 fits with the American spirit of individualism, but it = may not=20 produce Christians with enduring and long-term = spiritual=20 vitality.

"It's fine to use religious media = as an=20 addition if you are part of a local Christian = community," says=20 Lindsay. "It becomes problematic if you have no = binding=20 commitment to a local community and you become a Lone = Ranger=20 Christian. Before long your faith becomes something = you put on=20 and off like a jacket."

Instead of trying to win = underchurched people=20 back to a traditional church context, leaders say the = approach=20 to bringing Private, Cultural, and non-Christians into = the=20 church is relational and outward-looking rather than=20 programmatic and inward-focused. Lindsay notes many = Christians=20 who are not involved in traditional churches are = "much, much=20 more interested in personal connection. The ways in = which they=20 nourish their faith are through home churches or = one-on-one=20 Bible study or non-church related small groups."

Click on the image to=20 enlarge.

In fact, house churches have = recently become=20 a noteworthy trend in the United States. Time = magazine=20 in March 2007 quoted pollster George Barna as saying = that=20 house churches were evidence of a "seminal transition = that may=20 be akin to a third spiritual awakening in the U.S." = and that=20 in two decades, "only about one-third of the = population" will=20 attend traditional churches.

"The old paradigm of evangelism was = a=20 transactional sharing of the gospel," says Ken Fong, = senior=20 pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. "I = would=20 try to get people to intellectually agree with me. But = the new=20 paradigm is different, an approach in which I invite = you to=20 walk alongside me, examine my life, and see evidence = of the=20 truth, and hopefully there will be something = compelling that=20 you see. It's a no-strings-attached invitation to = enter my=20 life as I follow Jesus."

Another necessary shift is = recognizing that=20 the old metrics of success may no longer apply. = Wilkerson=20 says, "We need to spend the next ten years investing = in the=20 life of our surrounding community and finding ways to = regain a=20 hearing for the gospel. Instead of going to the = nursing home=20 and holding a church service, we're just going to go = and love=20 and serve people for years and years, until the staff = and=20 residents ask, 'Why do they care so much?' This won't = result=20 in 150 decisions for Christ in a year. You might not = see=20 results for five or ten years."

Churches that do engage their local = communities may discover that what they gain surpasses = what=20 they give. At Evergreen Baptist Church-LA, the = demographics of=20 the city of Rosemead, where the church is = located=E2=80=94Asian,=20 Hispanic, and lower-income=E2=80=94differ from the = congregation=20 itself=E2=80=94predominantly Asian and largely middle- = and=20 upper-middle class. Fong strives to encourage the = right=20 attitude as his church engages the surrounding = community.

"As we reach out to kids in the = neighborhood,=20 we tell our congregation that we don't just do this to = be good=20 Christians. We tell them that maybe these poor kids = know=20 something more than we do about knowing God, more so = than us=20 middle-class snobs," he says. "It's not enough to = reach out=20 because we think it's the right thing to do. That is=20 paternalistic. We need to see that there is something = that=20 different people with different perspectives can show = us that=20 we're missing."

Hunter believes the way the church = responds=20 to the forces affecting today's Christians and = non-Christians=20 will have significant ramifications. "As the = traditional=20 church has a rougher and rougher time, our challenge = will=20 become a motivational factor: either we build = relationships=20 with people in our communities, or we will die."

New Need for=20 Apologetics
The survey indicated that=20 self-identified Christians hold a wide range of = theological=20 and doctrinal beliefs. For many, Private and Cultural=20 Christians in particular, Bible-reading is minimally = important=20 (see chart 3). Thus, as churches encourage their = congregants=20 to engage with the surrounding communities and build=20 relational bridges with people, they must = simultaneously equip=20 these Christians to handle the questions and attitudes = they=20 may encounter, both with non-Christians as well as = with other=20 Christians who hold different beliefs.

But the current level of biblical = and=20 theological teaching in the church may not be meeting = the=20 challenge of preparing people in the pews to explain = the power=20 and significance of the Scriptures to those who rarely = read=20 them. "I do think there is decline and unbelievable = degrees of=20 biblical illiteracy that we haven't seen in previous=20 generations, among all five of these categories of=20 Christians," says Lindsay. "People used to know their = Bible,=20 but now they can go week-in and week-out and not even = know the=20 order of the books. Many churches feed their = congregants a=20 steady diet of messages that do not require = intellectual=20 engagement or an understanding of the biblical = narrative. And=20 that is a huge problem."

Hunter says, "We need to preach = with=20 apologetics in mind, with a rational explanation and = defense=20 of the Christian faith in mind, so that the people who = are in=20 the church really know how to phrase that to people = who aren't=20 in the church. We should say, 'You need to be able to = tell=20 other people what I'm telling you.'"

During one recent Easter Sunday, = Grace Chapel=20 focused on the disciple Thomas and his doubts about = Jesus=20 after the resurrection. Wilkerson told his own story = of=20 spiritual darkness and doubt, then planned a service = the=20 following Sunday entitled "Doubters Anonymous."

Wilkerson asked people to e-mail = their=20 questions to the church, and he had three pastors up = front to=20 handle the questions. Those who attended were also = able to=20 text message questions or turn them in on a card.

Click on the image to=20 enlarge.

"There had to be an authenticity = about it=20 that demonstrated this was real, not canned, that = these were=20 genuine questions and answers, and that it was okay to = ask=20 these questions," says Wilkerson. "It also gave the = Christians=20 in the audience more confidence, that they now had = some tools=20 to answer the hard questions about Christianity."

Ultimately, though, Northland's = Hunter feels=20 that the way to counter biblical illiteracy is to = equip Active=20 Christians as teachers, ambassadors, and apologists. = "We have=20 to go out and be with those who do not know or = understand.=20 People will always default to what they know, and if = they=20 believe general statements such as 'We're all God's = children'=20 or 'Jesus was just a representative of God,' then that = is all=20 they will know. Unless they have a relationship with = someone=20 who can explain theological doctrines of atonement or = of=20 original sin, they will always just believe their own = general=20 concepts."

What About=20 Jesus?
In addition to these findings about = the=20 church, we found a most defining dichotomy over the = Jesus=20 question: Active and Professing Christians said = "accepting=20 Christ as Savior and Lord" is the key to being a = Christian=20 (almost 9 in 10), while Liturgical, Private, and = Cultural=20 Christians favored more generally "believing in God" = as the=20 main element in being a Christian. So, for a vast = number of=20 people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is = not the=20 central figure of their faith.

Leith Anderson, senior pastor of = Wooddale=20 Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, believes that the = high=20 value placed on tolerance in this country is partly to = blame.=20 "'God' as a term is transferable amongst different = religious=20 sects, but 'Christ' is not. It seems intolerant. What = we need=20 to do is reintroduce people to Jesus, his story, his = life and=20 his teachings. Not by forcing people to agree with us, = but by=20 giving them adequate examples and reasons to believe = in=20 Christ."

Hunter agrees that trying to = provide=20 intellectual arguments for the Christian faith will = only go so=20 far. "Christianity is about Christ, and it is about = that=20 personal relationship. We have to not focus on = explaining=20 Pauline theology, but on the person and ministry of = Christ. We=20 have to be people who live out the life of Christ. = People=20 aren't generally interested in theological teaching. = But=20 everyone has a heart for the one who had a heart for = us."

Active Christians 19%

Believe salvation comes = through=20 Jesus Christ=20
Committed churchgoers=20
Bible readers=20
Accept leadership = positions=20
Invest in personal faith = development=20 through the church=20
Feel obligated to share = faith; 79%=20 do so.

Professing Christians 20%

Believe salvation comes = through=20 Jesus Christ=20
Focus on personal = relationship with=20 God and Jesus=20
Similar beliefs to Active=20 Christians, different actions=20
Less involved in church, = both=20 attending and serving=20
Less commitment to Bible = reading or=20 sharing faith

Liturgical Christians 16%

Predominantly Catholic and = Lutheran=20
Regular churchgoers=20
High level of spiritual = activity,=20 mostly expressed by serving in church and/or = community=20
Recognize authority of the = church=20

Private Christians 24%

Largest and youngest = segment=20
Believe in God and doing = good things=20
Own a Bible, but don't = read it=20
Spiritual interest, but = not within=20 church context=20
Only about a third attend = church at=20 all=20
Almost none are church = leaders=20

Cultural Christians 21%

Little outward religious = behavior or=20 attitudes=20
God aware, but little = personal=20 involvement with God=20
Do not view Jesus as = essential to=20 salvation=20
Affirm many ways to God=20
Favor universality = theology=20

Related Elsewhere: A=20 Broad and Diverse Bloc

Copyright =C2=A9 2007 by the author or = Christianity=20 Today International/Leadership Journal.
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// // the ALIGN, WIDTH, and OFFSET can be left out and they will be set = to default values // if ALIGN is right, the OFFSET should be set to ensure proper = positioning // var tipVisible =3D false; =09 function tipLoad(obj, message, align, width, offset) { if (isNS4) return; =09 if (! obj.tip) { obj.tip =3D message; if (align =3D=3D null) { align =3D 'left'; } obj.tipAlign =3D align; if (width =3D=3D null) { width =3D 200; } =09 obj.tipWidth =3D width; if (offset =3D=3D null) { offset =3D 210; }=09 obj.tipRightOffset =3D offset; addMouseEvents(obj); if (obj.nodeName =3D=3D "A") { showTip(obj); } } } =09 function showTip(obj) { if (isNS4) return; tipVisible =3D true; =09 var tipDiv =3D document.getElementById('tip'); =09 if (!tipDiv) { tipDiv =3D document.createElement('div'); tipDiv.setAttribute('id', 'tip'); document.body.appendChild(tipDiv); } if (tipDiv) { tipDiv.innerHTML =3D obj.tip; moveTip(); tipDiv.style.width =3D obj.tipWidth + 'px'; tipDiv.style.visibility =3D 'visible'; } } function hideTip() { if (isNS4) return; tipVisible =3D false; var tipDiv =3D document.getElementById('tip'); if (tipDiv) { tipDiv.style.visibility =3D 'hidden'; } } =09 function moveTip() { var tipDiv =3D document.getElementById('tip');=09 if (tipDiv) { if(obj.tipAlign =3D=3D 'left') {=09 var tipX =3D (((mouseX) > pageWidth) ? 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(pageWidth) : mouseX) - = obj.tipRightOffset; } var tipY =3D mouseY + 25; =09 if (isNS4) { tipDiv.left =3D tipX; tipDiv.top =3D tipY; } else { tipDiv.style.left =3D tipX; tipDiv.style.top =3D tipY; } } } // page tools // // email this page // Usage: // LINK // function emailPage(url) { if (url !=3D null) { windowArray[windowArray.length] =3D window.open(url); } else { =09 thisURL =3D emailURL.replace('%%title%%', = escape(document.title)).replace('%%url%%', escape(pageURL)); windowArray[windowArray.length] =3D window.open(thisURL, = 'emailWindow', = 'width=3D520,height=3D350,toolbar=3D0,location=3D0,directories=3D0,status= =3D0,menubar=3D0,scrollbars=3D1,resizable=3D0'); } } // // print this page // Usage: // LINK // function printPage(id) { windowArray[windowArray.length] =3D = window.open(printURL.replace('%%id%%', id), 'printWindow', = 'width=3D600,height=3D400,toolbar=3D0,location=3D0,directories=3D0,status= =3D0,menubar=3D1,scrollbars=3D1,resizable=3D1'); } =09 // // bookmark this page (compatible with IE only) // Usage: // LINK // function bookmarkPage() { if (isMac || isAOL) { alert('Sorry, this feature is not supported by your browser.'); return; } if (!isNS) { window.external.AddFavorite(this.location.href, document.title); } else { alert('Click "OK", then type CTRL-D to add this page to your list of = bookmarks.'); } } =09 // // set as homepage (compatible with IE only) // Usage: // LINK // function setHomepage() { if (!isIE || isAOL) { alert('Sorry, this feature is not supported by your browser.'); return; } =09 document.body.style.behavior =3D 'url(#default#homePage)'; document.body.setHomePage(pageURL); } // // find similar pages // Usage: // LINK // function findSimilar() { top.location.href =3D similarURL.replace('%%url%%', pageURL); } // // adjust font size (incompatible with NS4) // Usage: // LINK // function fontSize(amt) { if (isNS4) { alert('Sorry, this feature is not supported by your browser.'); return; } if (amt =3D=3D 1) { =09 } else if (amt =3D=3D -1) { =09 } } // // toggle highlighting (incompatible with NS4) // Usage: // LINK // function toggleHighlight() { if (isNS4) { alert('Sorry, this feature is not supported by your browser.'); return; } var elementList =3D document.getElementsByTagName('*'); for (i =3D 0; i < elementList.length; i++) { elementList[i].className =3D (elementList[i].className =3D=3D = 'highlight') ? 'highlight_disabled' : 'highlight'; } writeCookie('highlight', ((readCookie('highlight') !=3D 'false') ? = 'false' : 'true')); } // page load routines // set contextual styles (incompatible with NS4) function setContextStyles() { if (isNS4) return; var elementList =3D document.getElementsByTagName('*'); for (i =3D 0; i < elementList.length; i++) { for (j =3D 0; j < contextStyles.length; j++) { if (elementList[i].className =3D=3D contextStyles[j][0]) { currentNode =3D elementList[i].firstChild; while (currentNode) { if (currentNode.className =3D=3D contextStyles[j][1]) { switch (contextStyles[j][2]) { case 'ital-off': currentNode.style.fontStyle =3D 'normal'; break; case 'ital-on': currentNode.style.fontStyle =3D 'italic'; break; case 'bold-off': currentNode.style.fontWeight =3D 'normal'; break; case 'bold-on': currentNode.style.fontWeight =3D 'bold'; break; default: break; } } currentNode =3D currentNode.nextSibling; } } } } } // global dropdown menus // CT PLUS menu menu['global_ctplus'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_ctplus'][0] =3D 'Christianity Today'; menu['global_ctplus'][1] =3D 'Bible & = Reference'; menu['global_ctplus'][2] =3D 'Books & Culture'; menu['global_ctplus'][3] =3D 'Christian History & = Biography'; menu['global_ctplus'][4] =3D 'Christian Vision Project'; menu['global_ctplus'][5] =3D 'Christianity Today Library'; menu['global_ctplus'][6] =3D 'Christianity Today = Movies'; menu['global_ctplus'][7] =3D 'Global = Christianity'; =09 // CHURCH LEADERSHIP menu menu['global_churchleadership'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_churchleadership'][0] =3D 'Leadership = Journal'; menu['global_churchleadership'][1] =3D 'Bible = Studies'; menu['global_churchleadership'][2] =3D 'Building Church = Leaders'; menu['global_churchleadership'][3] =3D 'Children's= Ministry'; menu['global_churchleadership'][4] =3D 'Faith Visuals'; menu['global_churchleadership'][5] =3D 'Out of Ur Blog'; menu['global_churchleadership'][6] =3D 'Outreach & = Evangelism'; menu['global_churchleadership'][7] =3D 'PreachingToday.com'; menu['global_churchleadership'][8] =3D 'Preaching Today Sermons'; menu['global_churchleadership'][9] =3D 'Research Library'; menu['global_churchleadership'][10] =3D 'Small Groups'; menu['global_churchleadership'][11] =3D 'Women = Leaders'; // CHURCH SOLUTIONS menu menu['global_churchsolutions'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_churchsolutions'][0] =3D 'Church Law & Tax = Report'; menu['global_churchsolutions'][1] =3D 'Church Law & Tax = Resources'; menu['global_churchsolutions'][2] =3D 'Church Treasurer = Alert'; menu['global_churchsolutions'][3] =3D 'Products & = Services'; menu['global_churchsolutions'][4] =3D 'Reducing the Risk'; menu['global_churchsolutions'][5] =3D 'Your Church Magazine'; =09 // CULTURE & MEDIA menu menu['global_culturemedia'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_culturemedia'][0] =3D 'Books & Culture'; menu['global_culturemedia'][1] =3D 'Christian Vision Project'; menu['global_culturemedia'][2] =3D 'Movies'; menu['global_culturemedia'][3] =3D 'Music'; menu['global_culturemedia'][4] =3D 'Out of Ur Blog'; =09 // WOMEN menu menu['global_women'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_women'][0] =3D 'Today's Christian = Woman'; menu['global_women'][1] =3D 'Gifted for = Leadership'; menu['global_women'][2] =3D 'Marriage = Partnership'; menu['global_women'][3] =3D 'MOMSense = (Parenting)'; menu['global_women'][4] =3D 'Singles'; menu['global_women'][5] =3D 'Today's = Christian'; // LIFE & FAITH menu menu['global_lifefaith'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_lifefaith'][0] =3D 'Today's = Christian'; menu['global_lifefaith'][1] =3D 'Bible & = Reference'; menu['global_lifefaith'][2] =3D 'Bible = Studies'; menu['global_lifefaith'][3] =3D 'Church = Laughs'; menu['global_lifefaith'][4] =3D 'Faith in the = Workplace'; menu['global_lifefaith'][5] =3D 'Holidays'; menu['global_lifefaith'][6] =3D 'Humor & Fun'; menu['global_lifefaith'][7] =3D 'Ignite Your Faith = (Teens)'; menu['global_lifefaith'][8] =3D 'Kids'; menu['global_lifefaith'][9] =3D 'Men's Devotional'; menu['global_lifefaith'][10] =3D 'Singles'; menu['global_lifefaith'][11] =3D 'Spiritual = Help'; =09 // EDUCATION & JOBS menu menu['global_education'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_education'][0] =3D 'Christian College Guide'; menu['global_education'][1] =3D 'Seminary/Grad Guide'; menu['global_education'][2] =3D 'Classifieds'; menu['global_education'][3] =3D 'Faith in the = Workplace'; menu['global_education'][4] =3D 'Home School = Center'; menu['global_education'][5] =3D 'Jobs & Career'; =09 // MAGAZINES menu menu['global_magazines'] =3D new Array(); menu['global_magazines'][0] =3D 'Christianity Today'; menu['global_magazines'][1] =3D 'Books & Culture'; menu['global_magazines'][2] =3D 'Christian History & = Biography'; menu['global_magazines'][3] =3D 'Christianity Today Library'; menu['global_magazines'][4] =3D 'Church Law & Tax = Report'; menu['global_magazines'][5] =3D 'Church Treasurer = Alert