If Christians Were Really Christians - Book Introduction
February 26th, 2010
If Christians Were Really Christian by John Killinger
I live near Washington, D.C., and subscribe to the Washington Post, one of America’s premier newspapers. Every morning I scan the headlines as my wife is putting breakfast on the table, and every morning I begin my day with a litany of depressing stories:
- Crime is on the increase. - Joblessness still plagues the entire nation. - Another senator or representative has been accused of moral or financial impropriety. - More troops are necessary to maintain our role in faraway places. - A judge is accused of accepting bribery. - Churches are failing because of financial insolvency and a lack of care on the part of members. - Bankers are taking huge bonuses while millions struggle to stay alive. - Government workers will get an increase in pay as Social Security payments remain the same. - Republicans attack Democrats and Democrats respond with similar charges.
It’s hard to believe our nation once considered itself Christian and the mainline churches had an important voice in shaping the way our country behaved. Now all of that seems ages ago and we appear to take our ethical cues from Hollywood, TV, and crime novels, not from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. How difficult would it be to find our way back again? What would it take to return our nation to its former godly ways? One thing is certain. Such a change would have to begin in America’s churches themselves. Ministers and congregations would have to agree to begin really living their faith again and not merely talking about it. All of us would need to feel the urgency of discipleship again and begin to follow Jesus with a seriousness we haven’t shown in a long time.
I have been pleased by the reception so many readers have given to my book If Christians Were Really Christian. One woman who recently emailed me said, “I’m grateful for your message. It made me realize that I have been so busy trying to keep my head above water lately that I haven’t even been thinking about my religion and what it means to follow Jesus. I promise I’m going to do better. I haven’t finished your book, but I’m already feeling closer to the Lord!” The message of my book is very simple: We Christians have it in our power to change not only our own nation but the entire world if we will only renew our commitment to Christ and strive to follow him in fresh and meaningful ways. It is shameful that we have let him down so badly. But it isn’t too late if we will only heed the call to personal renewal.
