Looking to understand what’s keeping “spiritually open non-Christians” away from church, Barna Research gave this non-Christian demographic a list of statements pertaining to Christianity and the church to discover which statements resonated most. Barna’s data reported: “The most popular response by far was 51% of U.S. “spiritually open non-Christian” teens and adults completely agreed with the statement, ‘I prefer to distance myself from the politics of the Church.’”
Many who read the Catch remember a time when the message was all about Jesus and how His gospel related to the deep, unresolved needs of our generation for love, meaning, community, peace, and justice. We epitomized the best of the best of a movement that blew fresh air through the Church and society in general.
Yet many who rallied around the message of Jesus are now members and leaders of a compromised church that has gained cultural significance as a moral and political force in society — an issue-oriented message that has overshadowed the gospel message that once rallied Jesus Freaks around Christ.
These “spiritually open non-Christians” are barking up the right tree. They are seeking answers that rise above the noise of politics. Think about it: If even non-Christians can see how a Christian engagement in political solutions to social issues is robbing you and me of our message, it’s time to reclaim the message of Jesus by seeking to cultivate intergenerational relationships — one person at a time — where we might develop a flourishing faith in both young and old.
How Jesus involves us in His work is a mystery, but nevertheless, He does, calling all Christ-followers to communicate His love, thereby initiating a series of events that will change the world.
John Fischer The Catch 
Pastor John lol, I got a good chuckle over the cartoon & the fifth amendment!
I believe always stick to the basics of following Jesus each of us and never forgetting God sent him to us to save each of us. Never mind the politics. Time to get back to the basic and best principle of all time and never lost that no matter what kind of politics is being pushed. Take care, God Bless, and thanks always for the great messages hitting right where it needs to now and forever.
Amen, Toni!
Never mind the church and society’s politics, how about the politics in the church itself. ‘I worked as a volunteer in the church for years, and nine out of ten leaders confessed Jesus as their savior but led the ministry with various forms of selfish ambition, dictatorship and down right control but not by God.
In order for me to exude Christ in my work, I did my work and did not ‘Rock the boat” so to speak. Always got the sense the God wanted me to do my job and leave the rest to him. Daniel from scripture was a good example to follow. Be Christ like in your own actions and stay out of the politics was my modus operandi.
It would be a good idea if all church leaders learned how to lead like Jesus rather than ‘my way or the highway’. Who is going to legislate that? Be like Billy Graham, stay out of the politics and look to the spiritual needs of those you are serving.
Amen, brother Peter: “It would be a good idea if all church leaders learned how to lead like Jesus…”