Many people who take an intellectual stand against Christianity do so against a background of personal disappointment with Christians and churches.
Hence, it's necessary to address the behaviour of Christians - individual and corporate - that has undermined the plausibility of Christianity for so many people. First, there's issue of Christian's character flaws. Second, there's the issue of war and violence. Third, there's issue of fanaticism.
Character flaws: If Christianity is true, why are so many non-Christians living better lives than Christians? This reasoning is based on a mistaken belief concerning what Christianity actually teaches about itself. Growth in character and changes in behaviour occur in a gradual process after a person becomes a Christian. This means, though that the church will be filled with immature and broken people who still have a long way to go emotionally, morally and spiritually. There's much truth in the saying "The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints"." Good character is largely attributable to a loving, safe and stable family and social environment - conditions for which we were NOT responsible. Many have had instead an unstable family background, poor role models and a history of tragedy and disappointment. As a result, they are burdened with deep insecurities, hypersensitivity, and a lack of self-confidence. They may struggle with uncontrolled anger, shyness, addictions and other difficulties as a result.
Church and violence: If Christianity is the truth, why has the institutional church supported war, injustice and violence over the years? Many unbelievers see the belief in one true God as one of the main reasons for war and conflict in history. There are, however, significant problems with this view. The Communist Russian, Chinese and Cambodian regimes of the 20th century all rejected all organised religion and belief in God. These societies were all rational and secular, yet each produced massive violence against its own people without the influence of religion. The reason is that society will automatically "transcendentalise" something else, some other concept, in order to appear morally and spiritually superior. The Marxist made the State into such an absolute, while the Nazis did it to race and blood. Obviously there is also the terrible reality that violence has been done in the name of Christ e.g. during the Crusades. In the 20th century, however, violence has been inspired as much by secularism as by moral absolutism. We can only conclude that there is some violent impulse so deeply rooted in the human heart that it expresses itself regardless of what the beliefs of a particular society might be. Ultimately, then, the fact of violence and warfare in a society is no necessary refutation of the prevailing beliefs of that society.
Fanaticism: Many people are repulsed by Christians who appear intolerant and self-righteous. Interestingly, what strikes us when observing overly fanatical and judgemental Christians is the failure to be fully committed to Christ and his Gospel. The essence of Christianity is salvation by grace, salvation not because of what we do but because of what Christ has done for us. There is nothing to boast about and no basis at all for feelings of superiority with regards to Non-Christians.
Furthermore, when mentioning the argument of injustice in the name of Christ (which is obviously terribly wrong), many people forget to consider all the amazing acts of justice that Christians have carried out. These include the abolition of the African slave trade which was driven by Christian activists such as William Wilberforce in Great Britain, John Woolman in America and many others who devoted their entire lives, in the name of Christ, to ending slavery. Another great example was the Christian pastor Martin Luther King fighting for desegregation and civil rights in the US. The list of martyrs who stood up for the oppressed in Jesus' name is very long and also includes Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador and German theologian Dietriech Bonnhoeffer.
Conclusion: When people have done injustice in the name of Jesus Christ, they are not being true to the spirit of the one who himself died as victim of injustice and who called for the forgiveness of his enemies. When people give their lives to liberate others as Jesus did, they are realising the true Christianity that Martin Luther King, Jr, Dietrich Bonnheoffer and other Christian voices have called for.
Based on: Keller, T. (2008). The Reason For God. p.51-67
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