Christians: More Like Jesus or Pharisees?
April 30, 2013 – One of the common critiques leveled at present-day Christianity is that it’s a religion full of hypocritical people.
A new Barna Group study examines the degree to which this perception may be accurate. The study explores how well Christians seem to emulate the actions and attitudes of Jesus in their interactions with others.
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The findings reveal that most self-identified Christians in the U.S. are characterized by having the attitudes and actions researchers identified as Pharisaical. Just over half of the nation’s Christians—using the broadest definition of those who call themselves Christians—qualify for this category (51%). They tend to have attitudes and actions that are characterized by self-righteousness.
On the other end of the spectrum, 14% of today’s self-identified Christians—just one out of every seven Christians—seem to represent the actions and attitudes Barna researchers found to be consistent with those of Jesus.
In the middle are those who have some mix of action and attitude. About one-fifth of Christians are Christ-like in attitude, but often represent Pharisaical actions (21%). Another 14% of respondents tend to be defined as Christ-like in action, but seem to be motivated by self-righteous or hypocritical attitudes.
https://www.barna.org/barna-update/...ans-more-like-jesus-or-pharisees#.Us2SNPRDtF6
Are the Stats REALLy Wrong?
Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Zaac, Jan 8, 2014.
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Barna is part of the rebellious house church movement and I believe that colors everything he does. He very much dislikes the church and believes that it is completely wrong to have church outside of the official house church movement. He dislikes pastors and church leadership. He works to pain the traditional church in a poor light all the time.
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Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
Did you read all of the questions the telephone interviewers asked, Zaac? Did you read that they only talked to 718 people who "identified" themselves as Christians?
Many of those questions that these interviewees were answering over the phone in no way demonstrate a hypocrisy.
"I believe God is for everyone". A Reformed Christian is going to answer "no". How does that make him or her a hypocrite? I believe the answer is yes, but a Reformed Christian comes TO the question with a different belief. They would better answer "I believe God is for the elect."
"I believe it is better to help people know that God is for them than to tell them that they are sinners." I know many, many Christians who witness in the reverse - we are all sinners, including you, but the Good News is that God loves you and Jesus died for you. This question isn't valid in determining hypocrisy.
I'll stop there, but I could continue.
Are there hypocrites in the church? Yes. On this board? Yes. And we all have room for one more. -
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evenifigoalone Well-Known Member
The problem I see with this study is it seems very, very subjective to the group's own personal biases and views.
But....
Of course the church is full of hypocrites. We're only human, after all. If it's as bad as some make out to be or not is another matter, but in any case it's still true. (Still, the failure of many or most should not serve as an excuse for one person to reject Christ because of it. Although it does serve as a reminder for us to watch our own actions, since, yes, our actions should be pointing people to God.)
I like what was said in one post...there's always room for one more hypocrite. -
We need to be focused on US when it comes to judging sin because our actions are much like the ones outside the church.
If those outside the church can look to us as different, perhaps then our influence for positive moral change will start to take place. As it stands, we look like them in more aspects than one. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
As usual he has nor argument he just says the opposite of everyone else.
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evenifigoalone Well-Known Member
Maybe if we all dropped the useless posturing and taunting, we'd be one step closer to not being hypocrites?
Anyways, I have to vacuum. Have a lovely afternoon, all. -
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What was Christ's fault? He was commonly called a glutton and a winebibber. -
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Truth hurts. Don't it. :tonofbricks:
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