I am convinced that we cannot adequately reach out to this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ unless we understand how the unbeliever thinks, what they value, and why they make the decisions they do. Therefore, we must be students of people and culture just as much as students of the Word.
Once we begin to understand some of this, it will change how we organize our churches, how we share the gospel, how we interact with our neighbors, how we do our jobs at work, what we do with our money, and a host of other things.
To learn about this world we live in, there are a variety of things we can do, but every Christian must be doing something to learn about people we are trying to reach. Though the best way to do this is with developing personal relationships with people, one quick way to learn is through blogs and websites.
I have recently become aware of a blog that is written by people who were once Christians, but have now left it behind. They share their reasons for doing so, and what they think is wrong with Christianity. At times, their insights amaze me. At other times, I am brought to tears.
I am a bit hesitant to share this site, since I have a feeling that some who read my blog will want to go post comments on that blog which which will only bring greater damage to the name of Christ…
But I think that most who read this blog are genuinely interested in understanding how unbelievers (and former believers) view Christ and Christianity.
So here is the site: de-conversion.com. Please, if you go read this site and decide to comment, be gracious, kind, gentle, loving, and patient.
Are there any other blogs you are aware of which helps us understand the way unbelievers think? Let me know in the comments!
I have been reading deconversion for some time and followed your link back from the post “Christianity is confusing”. You’re not making anything any clearer.
“PLEASE, if you go read this site and decide to comment, be gracious, kind, gentle, loving and patient.”
It’s discouraging to see Christians not treating you this way! It would be nice if we could “Understand the Believer” as well…
Jon,
Very funny…and true…statement. Thanks!
Hi Jeremy, you’re welcome to come visit Conversation at the Edge, which I host for Off The Map.
Christians, atheists and people in-between post comments there and my hope is that everyone treats each other friendliness and respect.
This is challenging for “geezers” like me, but of course you are correct. I will be teaching a class this Sunday about culture, specifically how non-believers view Christians and Christianity. I expect some push back, but I am praying that because of my age and position (I am an elder), I will have a degree of credibility that a younger person might not have. But it must be done. We cannot reach our culture, unless we understand it.
Hope the Sunday school class went well! Sam Riviera is doing an excellent guest post series on my blog about getting to know our neighbors. I highly recommend it for those who want to build relationships with unbelieving people in their communities. Just search by blog for “Sam Riviera” and you will find his posts.
Most unbelievers are concerned primarily with logic. I feel bad for anyone who follows conformist ideas.
In the unbeliever its a combination of being both logical and lazy. On the surface they believe they’re being logical to deny God and instead embrace evolution but then they are too lazy to further apply logic to come to the truth, the ultimate logical conclusion being God / Jesus.
Jeepers!!! Considering the fact that we have all been unbelievers pre conversion I would think it would be most appropriate to first understand ourselves!! And that, s a lifetime, s pursuit for sure. So do not really know if trying to understand unbelievers is going to be of any benefit to one, s walk of faith. Though anytime I have tried this trivial persuit it usually points back to me and my trying to understand myself and own world. This may sound like a simplification. But it most definitely is not. There is nothing to simple about any of us. Made in gods image makes us infinitely complicated.