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As I read the news these days I’m struck by that thought that a whole bunch of us need to quit calling ourselves Christians. This is not an issue of political party or liberal or conservative. This is an issue of plainly and simply not living by the very basics of the ethics and values put forth in the Christian Bible.

It seems to me that the mess reflected in our current economic problems and bloated government is a direct result of failing to adhere to those basic principals. Each citizen and government official is guilty of greed, envy, and disregard for the welfare of his or her neighbors. Anyone who is overextended on credit cards, who has bought more house or car than they can afford, or has felt the need to continually buy “bigger and better” consumer goods is guilty.

This is not an issue of the “haves” versus the “have-nots.” This is an issue of how each person, regardless of social or economic position, chooses to live. The Eco-Christian website poses a series of “Questions for Christians,” including:

• Should Christians replace something that isn’t broken because of new trends?

and

• Should Christians view materialism in the same light as adultery or gluttony?

Reading through the list of questions has an tendency to make one uncomfortable. We like our stuff, we like our comfy lives, and we like to think all of that makes us special or blessed. Perhaps, it just makes us fat hypocrites.

I ran across a story this week that talked about the findings of a LifeWay Research study. It basically says that the “unchurched” (a particularly stupid word) see Christian churches as full of hypocrites and overly judgmental. One of the quotes is that 44% said that “Christians get on my nerves.”

This study simply confirms what the Barna Group has found in surveys over the last couple of years.Their studies show that non-Christians and Christians who don’t attend a church (the “unchurched”) think that Christian churches are hypocritical, judgmental, overly political, and old-fashioned stick in the muds.

Will Christian churches, their pastors and their members take heed of this type of research and figure out a way to live Christ-like lives and engage in Christ-like ministries that will show the world that love of God and love of neighbor are indeed the greatest commandments? I doubt it… too much money, power, property and influence is tied up in the running of even the smallest of churches.

Both LifeWay and Barna note that people are interested in spiritual matters and open to talking about spirituality. Unfortunately, the modern Christian church is not interested in either. They simply want people to take an oath to support the creed of their particular flavor of Christianity, donate their money, fill the pews and vote the way the leadership of the church deems appropriate.

Somehow I think if Jesus came to visit us in 2008 he would live and teach among the “unchurched.”