The Disconnect

Most people won’t say this out loud in church.
But the numbers are staggering.

A recent poll found that 76% of people who don’t go to church regularly have a negative opinion of Christians.
And here’s the part that stings even more:
48% of churchgoers feel the same way.

When asked for one word to describe Christians, the answers came back sharp:
Judgy.
Condescending.
Angry.

But then something surprising.
Those same people spoke about Jesus with respect.
Even admiration.

The disconnect wasn’t with Him.
It was with us.

And make no mistake, Satan is eager to keep that narrative alive.
He uses the media to magnify it.
He wrongly makes people believe that holding a conviction equates to spreading hate.
But if I am honest, far too often, our own actions can reinforce that lie.

But almost every negative opinion can be traced back to a personal interaction.
A cold shoulder.
A holier-than-thou attitude.
A spirit that didn’t feel like His Spirit.

Jesus spoke hard truths.
But He showed us amazing grace.
He asked us to give our lives away.
But He gave His life for us.

Sometimes our words speak His truth, but our lives don’t carry His cross.

It makes me stop and ask:
Am I truly reflecting the character of Christ?
Do my words reflect His grace?
Do my actions mirror His humility?

Because one small act of servanthood can rewrite the story in someone’s heart.

Jesus once said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

That’s the test.
That’s the proof

Maybe the world doesn’t just need louder Christians?
Maybe it needs those who are truer reflections of Christ?

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