Stuff Christians Like made me laugh at myself. It’s not funny in a silly, make-fun-of-us kind of way, it’s funny because it’s true. Jonathan Acuff, blog keeper of the popular blog stuffchristianslike.net, has us pegged. If you have spent any length of time in the Evangelical church, you are sure to recognize yourself in Stuff Christians Like.
Having a spiritual excuse not have a spiritual excuse, trying not to complain around missionaries, being slightly offended that the pastor has a nicer car than you, giving ourselves liberal definitions of the phrase “quiet time.” Yup, me, me, me. If you have a copy of Stuff Christians Like, turn to the following pages to see if you are like me, a long-time member of the club. I’ve included a few quotes from the book that had me laughing out loud.
Developing subtle signals to let people know you are a Christian (page 32)
Being completely terrified to pray for patience or humility (page 62)
Making sure everyone knows your fiance isn’t living with you (page 76)
“I cooked dinner for my fiance last night at my place, but I was out of salt, so he drove to his place, in a car, because the distance is significant.”
Fearing your church will do something wacky the one time you invite a friend (page 90)
Finding typos in the worship music (page 97)
It only takes one hit to become an addict. You want to stop. Deep down inside, you know you’re supposed to be worshiping, to be communing with the Holy Spirit in song and praise, but now it’s too late. After that first typo, you start noticing more. And if the words are spelled correctly, you start picking up on spacing problems.
Feeling guilty for not converting enough people (page 137)
Dominating the “Please turn to. . . ” Bible race during church (page 152)
Sure, reading the Bible is about leaning from God’s Word, but it’s also about beating the person you’re sitting with.
The description of the “Metrosexual” worship leader is hysterical. Maybe because I’m in the ultra-liberal, godless Northeast, or perhaps it’s because our worship leaders are the son and daughter-in-law to the pastor, but on the Metrosexual Worship Leader Scorecard (page 80), my church is a negative 3. My church is not on trend. On the other hand, our youth band . . . those guys are hip.
Ha. Too funny.
As much as I like to laugh, the hidden gem in the book comes from the last few pages – not going to quote it, you should read it for yourself. I never knew Acuff could be so serious. This Christian likes that too.