Recently, a middle-aged woman on the Harbin subway was harshly criticized by a young man for discussing Christian beliefs with a fellow passenger. This incident quickly became a trending topic, sparking continuous debates with an overwhelming comments online.

Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash

As Christians, we should avoid judging the young man like some online commentators, who criticized him as “reckless and contradictory” for wearing Nike outfits while holding a conservative view on foreign influences. Instead, we should reflect on one important question: why do so many people dislike Christians? Beyond the existing misconceptions about Christian beliefs, do we also need to engage in self-reflection?

Christianity is an ecumenical and ancient faith with a long history. If Christianity had been inherently hateful and repulsive from the every beginning, it would not have survived and flourished for over two millennia. On the contrary, the Bible records that the early church once enjoyed “ the favor of all the people” (cf. Acts 2:47). However, over the past two thousand years, some church leaders and Christians -- being imperfect humans -- have engaged in despicable behavior.

Christianity originated in Asia and was later introduced to China by Western missionaries. The missionary movement faced significant challenges, both due to inner limitations and historical circumstances. This contributed to the perception of foreign religion in the Chinese society, leading to negative feedback and suspicions.

Following the reform and opening up, a more tolerant social environment has allowed people to temper their hostility toward Christianity, leading to an expectation that it could become a source of positive influence.

However, some narrow-minded Christians, influenced by outdated and rigid theological thinking, have pursued a partial and even extreme spirituality. A few churches, fixated on the joy of congregating within the church, have lacked social engagement and shown little sense of social responsibility. While they claim to emphasize the Great Mission to spread the gospel, they often neglect the New Commandment to love one another. A high church attendance does not necessarily equate to faithfulness and fervor. Without spiritual growth, they continue living in the same old way after the service. Many of these Sunday Christians rarely “spread the aroma of Christ” (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:14).

At a recent small tea gathering, a friend from academia shared his observations on the general perceptions of Christianity and Christians. He mentioned some positive feedback that most of the Christians are warm-hearted, humble and honest, while he also frankly pointed out sharp criticisms regarding the conduct of some believers. Rather than ignoring these negative comments and continuing in the same manner, he suggested that churches should listen humbly, reflect conscientiously, and take courageous steps to reform from the inside out.

This prompts me to ask: why do Christians sometimes come across as disagreeable? What causes these unfavorable reactions? And how can we reverse this situation? I have personally identified some undesirable behaviors within the Christian community. Exposing such unpleasant conduct, though it may seem incomplete or superficial, is more beneficial than keeping it hidden in the shadows of the church.

Against Common Sense

A grassroots poverty-alleviation official visited some elderly during the Spring Festival. Among them was a Christian senior who, upon receiving gifts from the official, repeatedly said “Thank the Lord”, without once saying “Thank you”. This left the official feeling confused and perhaps a bit embarrassed: Can Christians only thank God and never thank people? Does this behavior go against common sense?

Of course, I would consider this an individual phenomenon, not a widespread one, because most Christians would express their heartfelt gratitude in a similar situation. The issue may stem from the habitual acceptance of false teachings from some church leaders who perceive the relationship between God and human is a binary opposition. They might believe that God is so exacting that offering more thanks to people could diminish the thanks given to God. Another possible explanation is that, since “everything comes from God” (even help that comes through people, who are seen as the messenger of God), thanking God is to giving thanks to all!

This raises an important question: is it unreasonable to expect our non-Christian friends to understand our perspective? We should remember the Apostle Paul’s advice in Colossians 4:5, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders”. Though we are “the people of God”, we are no except from following the public order, good custom, and social etiquette on earth. We cannot lead our lives based on a narrow, shallow understanding of faith, nor should we expect our friends to comprehend Christian practices that might seem unconventional to them.

It is just a simple case of whether we should express our gratitude to people. What is crucial is understanding the essential principle of life that “Word became flesh”, which highlights that “he had to be made like them” (cf. Hebrews 2:17). This teaches us to voluntarily adapt to the cultural context in which we live, to seek social understanding, and not to become self-isolated and self-centered.

Rejection of Reason

There is a derogatory term “can ji”(a homonym for handicapped), used by some opponents of Christianity to mock what they perceive as the ignorance and irrationality of Christians. Such language is offensive and inappropriate, as no one should be labeled in such a rude manner. However, given that Christianity emphasizes faith-based beliefs and that conservatism has traditionally influenced the Church in China, many church members tend to lean towards anti-intellectualism.

Some Christians mistakenly view the limitation of human knowledge as the evidence of the uselessness of intellect, rejecting any other knowledge outside of the Bible. They even habor suspicion towards common sense knowledge, and some of their behavior seem bizarre to non-believers.

For instance, some refuse to seek medical treatment, believing that sin is the root of all sufferings and no precautions, such as wearing masks during a pandemic, are necessary. They think that because the Heavenly One is our Protector and the Holy Spirit guides us, no preparation is needed before a sermon. Such anti-intellectual behavior deepens the misconception that religion and science are inherently opposed. Some even equate Christianity with superstition, seeing its followers as ignorant people who only seek short-term gains.

The world we live in operates according to natural principles. As Christians, we firmly believe in the objective existence of supernatural power and that God intervenes in nature and human life when necessary. The laws of nature are under God’s authority, who can perform miraculous acts beyond human comprehension, such as turning water into wine or raising the dead. These are what we refer to as miracles. But it does not mean to live a supernatural, extraordinary life every single day. Nor should us be overly fascinated by miracles out of curiosity, as if eagerly seeking out Aladdin’s Lamps.

In reality, Christians should adhere to the laws of nature. Faith should manifest in all aspects of everyday life, where we pray for God’s grace while diligently fulfilling our responsibilities. Faith should never be used as an excuse to ignore human reason and responsibilities, nor should it be exploited to fulfill personal desires.

Wording without Consideration for Listeners

After conversion, some Christians find their social circle shrinking as they begin to prefer the company of fellow church members over their non-Christians friends. Over time, they may develop a unique system of language, mindset and behavior. As mentioned earlier, phrases like “Thank the Lord” are common among religious people, but can confuse non-Christians and potentially lead to misunderstandings.

Therefore, it is crucial for Christians to adjust their language appropriately. As Paul said, “I have become all things to all people” (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22). We should be careful not to speak without considering our audience. In conversations with nonbelievers, using general language and behavior can help prevent misconceptions and foster better connections with them.

It is good to be spiritual, as spirituality can reflect the closeness of one’s relationship with God. However, some individuals tend to over spiritualize in the church, only to brag about themselves. For instance, they refuse to apologize for mistakes or negative consequences due to a lack of common sense, instead blaming everything on “the devil’s work”.

To mask personal desires, they may act overly spiritually, claiming that their acts are aligned with “the will of God”. These individuals pretend to seek God’s guidance in all matters, frequently mentioning “God’s revelation”, or “the work of the Holy Spirit”. This may sound pious, but if we apply it mechanically -- such as seeking spiritual guidance for trivial decisions like choosing an outfit or whether to attend a worship service -- it may seem rather peculiar.

There was a time when I encountered a fellow church member at the church gate. The person was surprised to see that my hair had turned gray, remarking on how quickly time had flown by. In response, I complimented him, saying “but you look quite young”, even though we were the same age and his hair was still black. However, his reply left me feeling a bit embarrassed as a servant of God: “Well, I am different because I have Jesus!”

Spreading the Word, but in an Unfavorable Way!

Many Christians are fervent in their spirit and place great importance on the Great Commission given by Jesus to spread the gospel. However, the Bible also says, “He is the one we proclaim...with all wisdom” (cf. Colossians 1:28). For people with limited understanding of evangelism, it is crucial to proclaim the gospel with respect and patience. Otherwise, blunt or harsh words, coupled with a disregard for other religious beliefs, may only lead to resentment.

Some mock folk religion and attribute personal misfortunes to a lack of belief in God. Others engage in door-to-door evangelism with threatening messages like, “Believe in God, or you will go to hell.” Some even take to public space to distribute gospel tracts with questionable contents, or to debate topics like “Does God exist?” “Do human have souls?” While these actions are carried out by only a small fraction of Christians, their negative impact is significant. It can lead to aversion and misconceptions that equate Christianity with a pyramid scheme -- a troubling perception that has become one of the worst social impressions of Christianity in recent years.

Actually street evangelism is not illegal in this country, and its effectiveness is questionable. How many people actually choose to convert after an argument about belief in God?

Perceived as a Foreign Religion

For a variety of complex reasons, Christianity in China still struggles to completely shed its foreign image. Some with incomplete understanding of the history of the church, contemporary China and the Church in China, harbor the belief that Christianity is a religion from the west and that being a Christian means to abandon our traditions and ancestors.

Conversely, some blindly criticize traditional Chinese culture and view the United States and other western countries as almost Heaven-like. These opinions are not representative of all, but they unfortunately exacerbate the perception of Christianity as a foreign religion. This existing prejudice and misconceptions contribute to resistance of Christmas celebrations and make the Chinanization of Christianity in China a challenging journey.

Of course liking or disliking Christians is a personal choice, and the reasons for such feelings can vary. But as Christians, we should first examine ourselves and make necessary changes in order to positively influence how others perceive us.

Author: Ning Ning

Translator: Bei Feng