Cliche American Christians.

This is less of a review and more of a commentary on the Christian subculture in America.  I hate to sound cynical, but after years of being a Christian I have observed a few things.  Enjoy!

Most of the Christian characters in Tom Perrotta's book The Abstinence Teacher made me cringe.  Cringe!  It made me want to tout that slogan, "Lord, save us from your followers!"

I think there were several times when I screamed out loud, or wanted to throw the book against the wall.  This is because the characters were what I have dubbed "Cliche American Christians."  I don't know if the author is a Christian or not, but with insightful precision, he managed to capture the essence of the Christian subculture in America, and it made me want to vomit.

Cringe and vomit.

And this is coming from me...a Christian!

The story follows Ruth Ramsey, a sex education teacher who had gotten in trouble by the Tabernacle Church people after she had supposedly endorsed oral sex in school.  They threatened to sue, and after that, an abstinence program that Ruth had a hard time promoting was implemented in the curriculum.

The narrative switches back and forth between her story and Tim, a recovering addict who is now trying to make amends of his former party lifestyle by being 'the good Christian.'  He also coaches Ruth's daughter's soccer team, and gets in trouble when he spontaneously gathers the girls for a prayer after a victory.  He is divorced and has a daughter of his own, and frequently fantasizes about his former wife (who is now remarried) while being married to this sheltered girl that Pastor Dennis (the charismatic, driven Evangelical leader of the Tabernacle Church) introduced to him. 

My first problem with the book was as follows:
Tim's heart is genuine and I appreciate that the author allowed insight into his mind to explore the complicated rationale for his decisions, because I felt like that was real.  People are complicated, and they face complicated decisions daily, especially when faith is a factor.  The other Christians portrayed were just flat, though, and hence why I call them “cliche.”  Pastor Dennis was a typical, controlling-perhaps even manipulative-character whose motivations may have stemmed from care and concern but came across and judgmental and damning.  Certainly people like him exist in the church world, but I felt it cheapened the experience of the book to have a Bible-wielding, graceless leader who could not sympathize at all with others struggling through important issues.

So my question for authors is, why can’t people write real stories about real Christians?  Why are we always portrayed a certain way, in a certain light?  Is it because our agenda has clouded peoples’ minds to see what we are really like?  I have struggled with this for years.  Even Christian ‘mainstream’ music is cliche.  Sure, there are rare gems out there, but I think to myself, can we not get more creative than that?  As Christians who live in this world, we have access to an unlimited supply of creativity, yet for some reason, it is cheapened by cliches and corniness.  And guess what?  The world takes notice, and categorizes us in that.  People can tell the difference between authenticity and cliche.  And cliche turns off honest people.  Every. Single. Time.  And I’m not suggesting we turn Christianity into a hipster movement, this underground awesome circle that people want to be part of because we wear bohemian clothes (although I do love them) or listen to obscure bands.  The real Gospel is indifferent to cliches or being hip.  As Christians culture can be utilized as we live ‘in’ it, but certainly should not become our driving force.

My second problem with the book came more out of a major plot development than it did the actual style of the writing.  When Tim prays with his team, he receives backlash from the parents, especially Ruth, and immediately Tim’s church-going cohorts chalk it up to persecution for the Bible and the sake of the Gospel.  I have a problem with this, because I see it often in the political atmosphere between Christians and the ‘secular’ realm.

I don’t believe that what Christians experience in America is real persecution just because prayer is threatened to be taken out of schools.  As my husband and I talked through this issue together, we agreed that real persecution happens when people are made fun of, mocked, and ridiculed, even marginalized or ostracized for their beliefs, some to the point of death.  Hmmm, sorta sounds like the gay struggle in this nation.

However, I know that plenty of Christians in other nations frequently risk their freedom and their lives for sharing the Gospel.  Not their agenda to pray in school or public places.  Not for gay marriage to be banned.  The actual Gospel, where Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity and was raised from the dead.  The other peripheral issues that Christians in America are trying to proselytize are merely an agenda, and resistance to this agenda is not persecution.

Last time I checked, Christianity was not synonymous with America.  And also, the attitude Christians have while tackling these issues often comes off as prideful, rather than an attitude of gentle humility.

My challenge, inspired by reading this book, is both to Christians and to non-Christians alike.  Don’t make cliches!  As one author put it, ‘avoid cliches like the plague.‘  I think Christians are often more guilty of this than non-Christians.  My other is to Christians alone:  don’t cry foul when someone rises up against your religious agenda.  Our hope as Christians is not in an agenda.  Don’t let culture (and politics) be your canvas of change.  If you do, I believe it cheapens the real Gospel and what people are dying for around the world.

I’m willing to say I’m wrong.  Perhaps you have a different view?
If you read the book...what are your thoughts?