Gabe Lyons on Doing Internet Ministry:

"Non-Christians aged 16-29 years old were asked, 'What is your current perception of Christianity?'

• 91% said antihomosexual


• 87% said judgmental


• 85% said hypocritical


• 78% said old-fashioned


• 75% said too involved in politics


• 72% said out of touch with reality


• 70% said insensitive to others


• 68% said boring


• 64% said not accepting of other faiths


• 61% said confusing"

Fair or unfair? Are we these things?

We often say in counseling others that when someone is offended, the reality of the situation (in a sense) takes second place to the perceived reality.

That is, if someone is offended, it is unhelpful for the offender to demand clarification of the offense so as to show that offense should not have been taken. Rather, apology (explanation) should be humbly, gently, and sensitively made for having given the grounds for offense. Once the situation is "defused" a bit, then we can start talking reality, admit mutual fault, and ask for apology for overreactions.

We call this "peacemaking."

I wonder what would happen if we applied the same to our apologetics...

(Via ChurchRelevance.)