In an article on CNN’s Belief Blog, Jonathan Acuff (author at stuffchristianslike.net) details why, he believes, Christians are often times jerks on the internet. He gives two major reasons, the first being the powerful sense of anonymity that the internet provides. He calls it “business traveler” Christians. But this, I think, is the reason that almost everyone is a jerk online.
The other reason, however, I found really poignant. “Room Cleaning Christianity”, he calls it. I’ve included the excerpt, but you can find the full article here:
Why do Christians argue about drinking beer or why the tankini is the least slutty of all bathing garments? I think it’s because we sometimes practice "Room Cleaning Christianity." Think of it like college. When you’ve got a final paper due Monday, you will be amazed at how energetic your desire is to clean your room. You will scrub tile with a slow toothbrush if it means avoiding the bigger, more difficult work of writing your paper. The same thing happens with Christianity. Loving your neighbor might be simple, but it’s not easy. Maybe my neighbor is a jerk too. Maybe they hate God. Maybe they are actively and violently opposed to everything I believe. And showing them grace feels impossible. So instead of dealing with that, we get online and police people. We find small things to focus on that will distract us. I think God wants us to discuss the little stuff, but we make it an idol when we practice room cleaning Christianity at the exclusion of love. And we tend to become jerks.
I couldn’t help but find this well observed. But not just online. Everywhere.
Christians love to debate trivial parts of our faith. Not to imply any part of our faith is truly ‘trivial’ in its absolute sense, per se, but that there are clearly issues that fall on the outskirts. I can attest to this when looking at many past situations in my own life.
Plenty of times after just meeting someone, perhaps we’re sitting around a fire or smoking hookah, the conversation inevitably turns to things of spiritual significance. But the topics are almost universally fringe. Is using swear words okay, how do you feel about Christians and mind altering substances, what about attending a local church. I could go on. But rarely, if ever, do those conversations ascend to things like the awe inspiring power of Jesus on the Cross, the joy of undeserved grace, or God-forbid, what we’re learning in our private study times.
Acuff has made an excellent point. We may meet with someone who shares with us the most important connection in the universe—the mutual redemption of our souls—but all we want to discuss is whether you should be baptized as an infant or an adult.
Interesting points. Next time, I’d like to put off cleaning the room.

