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What Is The Goal Of Christianity

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This is a provocative video. Todd Hunter explores the goal of Christianity. He suggests that much of the current story is about getting to heaven when we die. This far off goal leads us to disconnect from the Gospel in our present lives. It’s what leads people to think Christians aren’t different in any substantial way. He suggests that its about spiritual transformation today.

What do you think?

About the Author

Jonathan BrinkI am an business development and communications consultant. I am also the senior editor and publisher for Civitas Press. I recently published, Discovering The God Imagination: Reconstructing A Whole, New Christianity. (Civitas, 2011)View all posts by Jonathan Brink →

  • HJM

    When I first watched this video, I saw it through a much different perspective than when I looked at it through what I imagine to be yours, Jonathan. And it did not resonate with me at all. I couldn’t figure out who he was talking about. But then I started to think about what I’ve read so far in your book (not close to being done yet, but I’ll get there!) and I had a different understanding of it.nnI was frustrated at first because Hunter seems to be saying that our notion of the Gospel is THE big problem Christianity has working against it, but when he talks about the people who read chapters every day… that is actually a small segment of Christianity. Those people tend toward being the more involved/informed Christians. And in my limited experience, I don’t really see many of those devoted types believing it’s all about heaven, really. They honestly believe that heaven is just the benefit of believing in and obeying God and want a transformed daily life for themselves and others. nnBut then I started thinking about this in light of your book and realized that Christians do emphasize salvation/heaven as the biggest priority. We have to help people believe and obey God OR THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN. This is the most urgent motivation I think many have for evangelizing. But this word from Hunter is not going to resonate with these people. Like I said, they know they need their lives to be transformed- they want that for themselves and the people they want saved. That’s a huge part of why they are reading every day- to have more godly, transformed lives. Some just don’t realize how ungracious and exclusive they’ve become in sanctifying and immersing themselves in all things godly. Their goals for the unsaved are salvation, and heaven, yes, but it doesn’t end there. They really believe they are giving their every-day life as an offering. They honestly believe their righteous, up-tight lives ARE Christ-like. The butt-head at work thinks he’s thought of that way because he’s being persecuted for being a Christian and not living like the world, not because he’s a highly opinionated, dogmatic, non-empathetic, self-righteous, critical jerk. They see the fear and eternal punishment as a necessary piece of the picture.nnWithout your compelling perspective… IF people are not going to an eternal, fiery hell… IF redemption is about bringing us back to the God Imagination, then I would agree that Christians are the biggest obstacle for a lot of people. Because we make it much more daunting (the emphasis seems to be taking up a cross daily) vs. (my yoke is easy and my burden is light). Our compulsion tends toward righteousness and we have to really force ourselves to love ourselves and each other because we still see ourselves and others as bad. We know He covers us in his righteousness, but we still see the truth as being that we don’t deserve to be seen that way.nnThe other big obstacle I see though, at least among the more intelligent, critically-thinking people I’ve spoken with who reject Christianity, isn’t Christians with this heaven-goal. It does not boil down to rejecting or not wanting to be identified with a group that does really have so many examples to despise or fear, it’s the beliefs themselves. They just don’t buy it and no God Imagination perspective will make one difference to them. There is simply too much irrational thought and blind trust involved for them.

    • David

      HJM,rnrnI think what Todd is talking about is not so much about up-tight Christians as much as many Christians are no different than the culture around them today. Maybe the reason is they were tought that to have a relationship with a Holy God all you had to do is pray a sinners prayer and then all is right. Do your “Quite Time”, memorize some Scripture and do this and that. Many have discovered that didn’t work. Or they didn’t see it in others either. So I wouldn’t be too hard on those that think that. rnrnOur relationship with God will evolve and grow over time as we learn to love Him and others more. & Come to an understanding of just how Much God really Loves us and begin to understand His Mercy and Grace He provided in Jesus. So it doesn’t become what we do but who we are in Jesus and how we Love Him and others in action that results from a loving Faith in Jesus.rnrnSo yes many Christians today are no different than the culture around them. Probably lots of reasons. I think “fundamentalism” is juts one reason. You can not sustain discipline for discpline sake. Changed or Transformed lives come about thru relationship as we Grow in Jesus and with other people. rnrnThats why I think small groups are so important to our sustained growth in Jesus. We can be transparent with people in a good small group environment where people care and nurture each other. Build each other up and pray for one another. rnrnBut I think Todd really got this right on the video. Hope you don’t mind me commenting on your thoughts. :)

      • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

        David, I don’t know if HJM is being hard on them or just calling it out. It does have consequences though.

      • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

        David, I don’t know if HJM is being hard on them or just calling it out. It does have consequences though.

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      HJM, thanks for your perspective. nnI had a conversation with a friend of mine around duty. And for many people the Great commandment to love is seen as a duty. We’re supposed to devoid of any tangible reason other than Jesus said to do it. But duty to me is an external story that is largely disempowering for me. It doesn’t resonate long term and actually creates a resistance barrier. nnBut when I saw love as aligning myself to reality, to what is true in the world, and that aligning myself had tangible value to bring life, it changed everything to me.nnAnd this is the problem I see. The story Todd is exploring (of getting to heaven) is somewhat of a caricature, but it is always the conclusion people develop. It’s disempowering. So it does come down to our understanding of the Gospel.

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      HJM, thanks for your perspective. nnI had a conversation with a friend of mine around duty. And for many people the Great commandment to love is seen as a duty. We’re supposed to devoid of any tangible reason other than Jesus said to do it. But duty to me is an external story that is largely disempowering for me. It doesn’t resonate long term and actually creates a resistance barrier. nnBut when I saw love as aligning myself to reality, to what is true in the world, and that aligning myself had tangible value to bring life, it changed everything to me.nnAnd this is the problem I see. The story Todd is exploring (of getting to heaven) is somewhat of a caricature, but it is always the conclusion people develop. It’s disempowering. So it does come down to our understanding of the Gospel.

  • David

    Joanthan, This viedo is GREAT ! I think Todd got it exactely right. Christianity is about Transformation and becoming more like Jesus. I loved it. I’m not so sure it’s provocative at all. I believe Todd is just sharing Truth. rnrnI’m not so sure I agree 100% about his issue with “quite time” although I understand what he said and find it interesting. But I think when we love someone we desire to spend time with them and what ever you call time in meditation, prayer and reading His Word I think thats important to our Transformation. So yes, good video, great message and we need more of this in our culture today.

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      I’ll push back a little David on your comment about “sharing Truth,” simply to make a point about the previous post about art. This is one man’s perspective, and its easy to call it truth when we agree with it.

      • David

        Thats not really fair Jonathan. Really BIG difference here. “My opinion” only but I think your last post on art was just ugly. Now I’m not saying the young man was bad, in fact my heart goes out to him. The message was just ugly. It had nothing what so ever to do with truth of any kind nor Art for that matter. rnrnBut I still thank you for this recent post as I do think it communicates well. Plus there’s much truth in what Todd shares with us.rnrnSo thats my small push back to you…. :-)

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      I’ll push back a little David on your comment about “sharing Truth,” simply to make a point about the previous post about art. This is one man’s perspective, and its easy to call it truth when we agree with it.

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Business development and communications for growing businesses.