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Why Aren't Christians More Like Jesus?
by Michael J. Clemens
Keledei Publications, © 2024,
$15.00 (paperback), 203 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1958139493
Someone asked a prominent agnostic of the twentieth century what he thought about Christianity, and his response was, “I don't know. I've never seen it tried.” Much of the material written by atheists, agnostics, and skeptics attacks the fact many who claim to be Christians have embraced human activity and called it “Christianity.” Michael J. Clemens has written an excellent book that tackles this issue.
The big question is whether believers are “churchgoers” or “authentic Christ-followers.” Clemens begins by showing that while churches may emphasize “orthodoxy,” which is correct beliefs, they are not emphasizing “orthopraxy,” which is the right practice. He takes the term “Churchianity” and shows that many of us think that going to worship once a week and putting a few dollars in the collection plate gives us a ticket to heaven. He points out that Jesus repeatedly used the phrase “follow me” and condemned those in his day who gave a legalized set of rules to follow as the requirement for salvation.
Clemens points out something we have all seen. A new convert is on fire for the Lord, but after a time, the enthusiasm fades, and they become part of the Sunday morning-only group. He asks whether your congregation is helping its members become more Christlike. He says churchgoing is not enough. Following Jesus is what matters.
Clemens points out what has gotten us to where we are and how to get out of it. He makes specific suggestions for church leaders and suggests how we church members can work on our love for God, our prayer life, and our thinking differently (repentance).
In our ministry, which shows that science is a friend of faith, we have received copious amounts of mail from young people who have left the church because they saw no difference between the lives of churchgoers and non-church people. When asked about their religion, 40% of young Americans say “none” because they see no value in Christianity, which they see as just going to church on Sunday morning.
Why Aren't Christians More Like Jesus is an excellent apologetic book, and we highly recommend it. We pray this is the beginning of a change in America's religious fabric.