Christian favortism?

I just finished reading a book entitled I Sold My Soul on Ebay. It's written by Hemant Mehta, the "friendly atheist". What Mehta did was hold an ebay auction where the highest bidder (bidding on Mehta himself) would be able to tell Mehta where to attend church for a given amount of time. The winner sent Mehta on a journey to visit many different churches and during this journey, Mehta wrote down his thoughts in this book. Basically it's a book about what churches do right and what churches do that put off 'outsiders'. I really enjoyed reading this book and getting the opinion of a nonchristian about how effective or not effective a church, and witnessing in general, is.

A running theme that Mehta comments on continuously is how Christians seem to only favor in helping other Christians...primarily those who are apart of their own congregation. In one section he mentions schools and how some churches put a lot of time and resources into constructing a private school as opposed to putting resources and time into a school already established with low income struggling children. He writes, "I wonder why the churches that have resources and an interest in education can't help out a public school in a part of town where students are struggling...Why do churches tend to create something that is separate and specifically "Christian," rather than pitching in to help improve the work being done at existing schools in the neighborhood?" He concludes this section saying, "The more work churches do for everyone, not just to help Christians but to come to the aid of all needy people, the more respect the church will get from outsiders." Another example aside from the schools is how some businesses advertise that they are a Christian businesses. As I read about this I thought of a bulletin board I pass when I drive back to school in Bloomington after a visit home. It's for a painting business that advertises the Jesus fish indicating it is owned and operated by Christians. That's all fine and dandy but why is it necessary? Is advertising the fact that you are a Christian make yours a better business than this other business over here? Mehta expresses, "The implication to me is that nonChristians are not good enough to do business with. Or maybe the assumption is that Christians are necessarily more skilled..." As such, Mehta views some Christians as taking part in an elitist group partaking in religious exclusivity. It's like a Christian country club. Heaven should be the country club for Christians. We aren't at the club yet. We're on our way but meanwhile we should try to recruit as many friends to sign up as we can.

Another issue he brings up a few times is the use of practicality over not. In the very last chapter of this book, Mehta talks about missions trips and as I read it, I could only nod my head in agreement. He writes, "I've heard church groups talk about having gone to faraway countres, and the accomplishment they seem to be proudest of was the building of a church in the area they visited. This isn't to say they didn't also bring food, vaccines, and other useful items to the people they were helping, but the newly built church seemed to be what they wanted everyone to know about. My response is that a church building by itself won't help anyone--it's what the people of the church do that makes a difference. By the same token, many churches boasted about their rate of planting new churches. However, starting a new church is nothing to be proud of--not unless that church is working to improve and serve it's community, including all the people who live there. In situations where Christians limit their help to other Christians, the church seems to be more a religious club than a true ministry to others."

Now let me clarify in saying that there is definitely something to say about the sole fellowship of being with other Christians that one gets in a church service. However, on the other hand, if one of the church's goal is to reach the outside, shouldn't it strive to be accommodating to those we're trying to reach? Building churches in countries that don't have them is great but for those who are starving and dying from diseases won't care about the new building up the road from their village unless the people in that new building has practical ways to show what that new building is actually for. James 2:15-17 says, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go. I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing bout his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead". Whether they are a brother or not, if someone is cold and hungry they'll care more about how you care for them and provide for them than they will about what you say alone.

Mehta uses another example. Handing out Bibles is a very good thing to do. One of the churches did this to everyone living in a certian zip code on the south side of Chicago. Mehta argues though that "a book teaching children how to improve their study skills would have helped the children with their education much more than a Bible could." I both agree and disagree with this comment but his main point is a valid one. Showing Christ to someone or to a community isn't just building church buildings or trying to shove a Bible into someone's hand. It's about providing practical services such as serving meals or providing free handiwork or other services to show that we as Christians care for everyone, not just our own in-group of fellow Christians. Jesus didn't hang out at the synagogue all the time. He was spending time with those people who were kicked out and shunned by the religious people.

I've heard a saying that went something like "People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Basically why would anyone want to hear what you have to say to them if they're turned off by your actions (or lack there of) towards them. If a Christian seems snobbish and has an "holier than thou" attitude they are less likely to get a nonbeliever to listen to them with an open mind than someone who got to know the person they are trying to reach. Maybe took them out to lunch or did some other random act of kindness without expecting pay back. Coming from an atheist: "If you want to get through to nonreligious people, you need to first understand where they are coming from." I'm a believer of building relationships with my "target people", or those I want to try to lead to Christ. Once a friendship is established and I've demonstrated that I want to be their friend and know them as a person and not just regard them as an "outsider" in an 'Us verses Them' conflict, then they would probably be more likely to hear what I have to say about Christ.

I Sold my Soul on Ebay is definitely a good book to read over such topics concerning the church, Christians and their attitudes and behaviors. Want to know what you as a Christian look like to someone who doesn't believe what you do? Read what the friendly atheist has to say. He even gives advice.