Reputation Repair

Reputation is a funny thing. As you well know, what other people say about you is rarely within your control. If you’ve ever lived through the harrowing years of junior high, you know a little about labels and how easily they stick. Sometimes no matter what you do, your name becomes a magnet for all sorts of false ideas and misguided stereotypes. Take Jesus for example. The Son of God Himself was called a glutton and a drunk.

However, sometimes (if we’re willing to be brutally honest) there is a sliver of truth hidden in a log of misperception.

It’s no secret the reputation of Christians is under siege. Every year, more and more people carry deeper and wider negative associations with the followers of Jesus and the churches that we lead. In fact, in Canada we have reached a tipping point: as many people believe the churches have a detrimental effect on society as those who believe it to be positive—even considering the fact that nearly every university and hospital in North America first had its roots in the mission of the church. I find this more than a little shocking since the followers of Jesus I know are truly the most amazing people I’ve ever met. 

Somehow being a Christian today is more often associated with close-minded convictions and judgemental attitudes rather than loving your neighbour and caring for the poor. 

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we have a bit of a P.R. problem. If you watch the evening news, public opinion of followers of Jesus is languishing near a long-time low. Much of it is undeserved, but what if there was something we could learn from this? Better yet, what if there was something we could do about it?

Yes, sometimes the teachings of Jesus will be at odds with the culture around us—he himself warned us this would be the case. And yes there has been no shortage of his followers who failed to live up to the life he’s called us to (myself included). But I have also begun to wonder if it has been less about what we believe and more about how (or how often) we’ve said it. 

As Christians, it seems we are often loudest about the issues Jesus talks about the least. Our theology may not be wrong, but what if our emphasis is?

Jesus spoke often about sexuality and the value of a human life. On this there is little doubt. But he also spoke about the kingdom of God, faith and salvation, and the role of money in our lives and what it says about us. In fact, Jesus spoke far more about that second list of topics than he ever did about the first. I’m not saying those truths don’t matter, but what if we are allowing a distorted picture of Christianity to seep out into the wider world by allowing one or two issues to define us and paint a picture of the Savior we serve? What if truth out of balance is far more dangerous than we ever thought?

Jesus had this amazing ability to ‘comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’ He was loved by the lost and ironically those who had the most to hide flocked to him in droves—even the prostitutes and tax collectors. This Jesus didn’t compromise for a second on the truth of what it means to follow him, yet people were drawn to him every step of the way. Why can’t we mirror the same to the culture around us? 

Let’s continue to speak the truth. Let’s speak the truth in love. But let’s also refuse to allow one issue to define us. Jesus and the Gospel are too unimaginably beautiful and incomprehensibly large to fit into a solitary soundbite.