I recently finished reading “An Unlikely Disciple” by Kevin Roose … and it has really made me think.

Roose is a self-described liberal, Ivy League College student who has had little personal interaction with evangelical Christians. While his friends made plans to study in Europe for a semester, Roose decided to “go undercover” at Liberty University and then write about his experience. 

During his time in Lynchburg, Roose endeavored to fully embrace the Liberty experience by singing in the choir at Thomas Rd. Baptist Church, going on an Spring Break Mission Trip to Daytona Beach, participating in dorm prayer groups, etc. In general, I thought he attempted to be fair and as unbiased as is possible in approaching and recording his “experiment.”

First  -  let me say that this book is not for everyone. I read it because I was interested in better understanding how a younger, irreligious generation of Americans looks at faith in general and evangelical Christianity in particular. Roose writes from the perspective of a free-wheeling college student so his subject matter will potentially offend at times.  With that proviso, here are my observations:

1. Roose was drawn to genuine expressions of faith but repulsed by Christian subculture… the former was ultimately hindered by the latter.
2. Roose reacted to Christian positions on social issues (abortion, homosexuality, and creation were his principal subjects)  reminding me of 1 Corinthians 2: 14. “The man without the Spirit does not accept things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Rooses’ belief that agreement on these matters is a prerequisite to start following Christ is unfortunate … but educational.
3. No surprise that Roose gravitated to other students at Liberty who chaffed at the rules but more surprising was his attraction to those who sincerely struggled in their faith.  The second group engaged him and drew him toward a personal faith … this was especially important since he seems regularly thrown off track by platitudes, angry and simplistic expressions of belief he regularly encountered.

As I read Roose's conclusions, I am reminded why I personally am often embarrassed by our Christian subculture. Having our own lackluster version of books, music, movies, etc. is strange to me considering Jesus’ commission that we be “salt” and “light.” I suspect that the goofiness and downright offensiveness of what is typically presented as “Christian” does untold damage to the real cause of Christ … good thing he didn’t notice the Testa-mints, bobble-headed Jesus or Sin erasers at the check out counter at the Christian bookstore!

MY TAKE-AWAYS ...

 1. People without Christ are often drawn to real faith…but there is a damaging effect when we fake it.

 2. People without Christ need to first hear what we are “for” before we address the things we are “against.”

 3. Real faith always has been and always will be a messy affair … with some steps forward and back … hence the regular New Testament rejoinder to “persevere.”

4. Now, more than ever before, Christ followers need to walk with Him daily… staying connected through prayer and God’s Word … so they can have the spiritual resources to live out salty, shining lives of faith and courage before a world who is desperate for “THE REAL DEAL.”