Christians Have an Image Problem

[seeking.IAM]

"A new study published by Ipsos in partnership with The Episcopal Church as part of its Jesus in America survey shows that Christians in America have a perception problem." The article Christians say Christians are loving. Other people don't, survey says indicates Christians see themselves much more favorably than they are seen by non-Christians.

"People who identified as Christians described Christians as:

1. Giving — 57 percent
2. Compassionate — 56 percent
3. Loving — 55 percent
4. Respectful — 50 percent
5. Friendly — 49 percent
6. Honest — 45 percent
7. Humble — 42 percent
8. Sharing — 42 percent
9. Truthful — 40 percent
10. Judgemental — 19 percent

People identifying with other religions described Christians as:

1. Judgemental — 37 percent
2. Hypocritical — 36 percent
3. Self-righteous — 33 percent
4. Arrogant — 21 percent
5. Friendly — 20 percent
6. Giving — 18 percent
7. Unforgiving — 16 percent
8. Disrespectful — 16 percent
9. Compassionate — 15 percent
10. Loving — 15 percent

People identifying as not religious described Christians as:

1. Hypocritical — 55 percent
2. Judgemental — 54 percent
3. Self-Righteous — 50 percent
4. Arrogant — 36 percent
5. Unforgiving — 23 percent
6. Selfish — 23 percent
7. Disrespectful — 19 percent
8. Giving — 16 percent
9. Friendly — 15 percent
10. Compassionate — 12 percent"

I think this disparity between how we see ourselves and how others see us must pose a barrier to drawing other people to the faith. I think this is worthy of discussion here. Thoughts?

(I wasn't sure the proper place for posting this so I invite Moderator to move it if it fits better elsewhere).

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Of course Episcopalians care about how non Christians perceive Christians. It the world’s compassion is not worth embracing. It will only weaken Christians.

 

[NBB]

If the world hates you, they hated me first, of course christians are going to be disilked.

 

[Apple Sky]

If the world hates you, they hated me first, of course christians are going to be disilked.

Sadly it's always been the same ever since Nero's day & before.

 

[jacks]

Reminds me of a well-known parable involves a traveler asking a local resident about the people in a new town. The resident responds by asking the traveler what the people were like in the town they came from. If the traveler describes their previous town as unfriendly and rude, the resident replies that the people in the new town are likely the same.
Conversely, if the traveler speaks positively about their former home, the resident says the people in the new town will also be friendly.
This story is often used to illustrate how one's own attitude and expectations shape their perception of others.

If there is any truth to this, then the statistics above speak well of Christians and not so well of the other groups.

 

[Hoping2]

"A new study published by Ipsos in partnership with The Episcopal Church as part of its Jesus in America survey shows that Christians in America have a perception problem." The article Christians say Christians are loving. Other people don't, survey says indicates Christians see themselves much more favorably than they are seen by non-Christians.

"People who identified as Christians described Christians as:

1. Giving — 57 percent
2. Compassionate — 56 percent
3. Loving — 55 percent
4. Respectful — 50 percent
5. Friendly — 49 percent
6. Honest — 45 percent
7. Humble — 42 percent
8. Sharing — 42 percent
9. Truthful — 40 percent
10. Judgemental — 19 percent

People identifying with other religions described Christians as:

1. Judgemental — 37 percent
2. Hypocritical — 36 percent
3. Self-righteous — 33 percent
4. Arrogant — 21 percent
5. Friendly — 20 percent
6. Giving — 18 percent
7. Unforgiving — 16 percent
8. Disrespectful — 16 percent
9. Compassionate — 15 percent
10. Loving — 15 percent

People identifying as not religious described Christians as:

1. Hypocritical — 55 percent
2. Judgemental — 54 percent
3. Self-Righteous — 50 percent
4. Arrogant — 36 percent
5. Unforgiving — 23 percent
6. Selfish — 23 percent
7. Disrespectful — 19 percent
8. Giving — 16 percent
9. Friendly — 15 percent
10. Compassionate — 12 percent"

I think this disparity between how we see ourselves and how others see us must pose a barrier to drawing other people to the faith. I think this is worthy of discussion here. Thoughts?

(I wasn't sure the proper place for posting this so I invite Moderator to move it if it fits better elsewhere).

I am most surprised that even those identifying as Christians see their own sects as unChristlike.
What does that say for their sects ?
It shows that the leaders of said sects have lost control of the sects.

 

[Hoping2]

If the world hates you, they hated me first, of course christians are going to be disilked.

If they hate you because of your sin, the hate is deserved and for the wrong reasons.
The hate Jesus said would come, would be because of our love for one another and others.

 

[NBB]

If they hate you because of your sin, the hate is deserved and for the wrong reasons.
The hate Jesus said would come, would be because of our love for one another and others.

They hate you, in internet, you can't even mention God or a personal testimony, without people downvoting and trying 'to put you in place'.
Most christians don't even try, people are irritated in a weird manner with christians, is spiritual.

 

[Hoping2]

They hate you, in internet, you can't even mention God or a personal testimony, without people downvoting and trying 'to put you in place'.
Most christians don't even try, people are irritated in a weird manner with christians, is spiritual.

All we can really do is illustrate the life of Christ by our own lives.
When people ask you about your actions, then tell them about how Jesus has influenced your life.

 

[timothyu]

A true follower of Jesus will ‘hate’ the world man has made in our own self serving image rather than upon the will of God which is servitude to Him and each other. It is these that the world will turn against for not following the will of man.

 

[linux.poet]

The statistics in the first post are not straightforward and distorted a bit.

“Humble” and “Honest” is on the first list but not on the second and the third. What are the unbeliever percentages for those categories? It might be better than we think, since we don’t know it. This isn’t a very good comparison. Likewise, how many other Christians view other Christians as hypocritical? We don’t know, because it’s not on the first list.

This isn’t a real apples-to-apples presentation here.

 

[PloverWing]

The statistics in the first post are not straightforward and distorted a bit.

“Humble” and “Honest” is on the first list but not on the second and the third. What are the unbeliever percentages for those categories? It might be better than we think, since we don’t know it. This isn’t a very good comparison. Likewise, how many other Christians view other Christians as hypocritical? We don’t know, because it’s not on the first list.

This isn’t a real apples-to-apples presentation here.

The full summary of the survey responses is here: https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default...ne - Episcopal Church Final 2.17.22 CLEAN.pdf

Note especially question 31, p. 23.

"Humble": 7% for "Other Religions", 8% for "Not Religious/No Religion.
"Honest": 11% for "Other Religions", 7% for "Not Religious/No Religion.

[ View Christians in general as ] "Hypocritical": 19% Catholic, 18% Mainline Protestant, 14% Other Protestant, 19% Other Christian, 12% Evangelical.

 

[public hermit]

"A new study published by Ipsos in partnership with The Episcopal Church as part of its Jesus in America survey shows that Christians in America have a perception problem." The article Christians say Christians are loving. Other people don't, survey says indicates Christians see themselves much more favorably than they are seen by non-Christians.

"People who identified as Christians described Christians as:

1. Giving — 57 percent
2. Compassionate — 56 percent
3. Loving — 55 percent
4. Respectful — 50 percent
5. Friendly — 49 percent
6. Honest — 45 percent
7. Humble — 42 percent
8. Sharing — 42 percent
9. Truthful — 40 percent
10. Judgemental — 19 percent

People identifying with other religions described Christians as:

1. Judgemental — 37 percent
2. Hypocritical — 36 percent
3. Self-righteous — 33 percent
4. Arrogant — 21 percent
5. Friendly — 20 percent
6. Giving — 18 percent
7. Unforgiving — 16 percent
8. Disrespectful — 16 percent
9. Compassionate — 15 percent
10. Loving — 15 percent

People identifying as not religious described Christians as:

1. Hypocritical — 55 percent
2. Judgemental — 54 percent
3. Self-Righteous — 50 percent
4. Arrogant — 36 percent
5. Unforgiving — 23 percent
6. Selfish — 23 percent
7. Disrespectful — 19 percent
8. Giving — 16 percent
9. Friendly — 15 percent
10. Compassionate — 12 percent"

I think this disparity between how we see ourselves and how others see us must pose a barrier to drawing other people to the faith. I think this is worthy of discussion here. Thoughts?

(I wasn't sure the proper place for posting this so I invite Moderator to move it if it fits better elsewhere).

It's hard for people to honestly critique themselves; although, an honest assessment of one's self is essential to humility. This study reminds me of Acts 2:47 where it says the earliest followers of Christ had the good will of all people. It's a mistake to simply assume if one is a genuine Christ-follower, the rest of folks will hate them. It's too easy to use that as a justification for being unkind, ungenerous, unloving, and generally miserable to be around.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

It's a mistake to simply assume if one is a genuine Christ-follower, the rest of folks will hate them. It's too easy to use that as a justification for being unkind, ungenerous, unloving, and generally miserable to be around.

Like a badge of honor to be hated, when actually
the hatred or dislike, or poor opinion
is more about a judgmental arrogance unrelated to the teachings of Jesus.

 

[public hermit]

Like a badge of honor to be hated, when actually
the hatred or dislike, or poor opinion
is more about a judgmental arrogance unrelated to the teachings of Jesus.

One would think the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control- would endear one to others. And there's no reason they shouldn't. Those characteristics must have contributed to the good will those early followers enjoyed.

I think it's best to take the study seriously and ask ourselves, "To what extent are these true of me." And then be aware of those failings in myself and seek to do better. Just looking at that list, I know I fall short. That seems like the default position. To immediately say, "That's not accurate," passes up a good opportunity.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I try to keep in mind:

Psalm 141:5
​

5 Let the good man strike me;
it shall be a kindness.
Let him rebuke me;
it shall be oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.

 

[stevevw]

"A new study published by Ipsos in partnership with The Episcopal Church as part of its Jesus in America survey shows that Christians in America have a perception problem." The article Christians say Christians are loving. Other people don't, survey says indicates Christians see themselves much more favorably than they are seen by non-Christians.

"People who identified as Christians described Christians as:

1. Giving — 57 percent
2. Compassionate — 56 percent
3. Loving — 55 percent
4. Respectful — 50 percent
5. Friendly — 49 percent
6. Honest — 45 percent
7. Humble — 42 percent
8. Sharing — 42 percent
9. Truthful — 40 percent
10. Judgemental — 19 percent

People identifying with other religions described Christians as:

1. Judgemental — 37 percent
2. Hypocritical — 36 percent
3. Self-righteous — 33 percent
4. Arrogant — 21 percent
5. Friendly — 20 percent
6. Giving — 18 percent
7. Unforgiving — 16 percent
8. Disrespectful — 16 percent
9. Compassionate — 15 percent
10. Loving — 15 percent

People identifying as not religious described Christians as:

1. Hypocritical — 55 percent
2. Judgemental — 54 percent
3. Self-Righteous — 50 percent
4. Arrogant — 36 percent
5. Unforgiving — 23 percent
6. Selfish — 23 percent
7. Disrespectful — 19 percent
8. Giving — 16 percent
9. Friendly — 15 percent
10. Compassionate — 12 percent"

I think this disparity between how we see ourselves and how others see us must pose a barrier to drawing other people to the faith. I think this is worthy of discussion here. Thoughts?

(I wasn't sure the proper place for posting this so I invite Moderator to move it if it fits better elsewhere).

Since when does the opinion of secular non Christians matter to Christianity. Jesus said when you stand on my Truth you will be hated by the world.

So in reality the more Christians are hated the more Christlike they are. If a church is loved and is seen as good by secular non religious society then that church is not of Christ.

 

[public hermit]

If a church is loved and is seen as good by secular non religious society then that church is not of Christ.

Why should that be true? Were the first followers not of Christ? That is the implication of what you are saying, which is absurd.