The Problem with Christianity

I typically don't buy Christian apologetics anymore for many reasons (mostly, I don't find them particularly helpful).  Here is a simple book by a pastor on six unsettling hard questions asked of Christians. 

Barton Priebe's The Problem with Christianity lists six questions in his book:

1.  Why does God seem to hate gay people?
2.  Why should I believe in miracles in an age of science?
3.  Why should I worship a God who commanded genocide?
4.  How can there be only one way to God?
5.  If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?
6.  How can a loving God send people to hell?

Why I bought and took a chance on this book is it certainly is asking some of the most difficult right questions that Christians are often asked.  The sad reality today is despite Jesus gospel of love yourself, neighbor, and God above all else, Christians have problems getting along with each other much less with those outside their circle of friends.  Christians can be hateful and mean towards gay people; mock the latest findings of science and support war; keep their secret sins to themselves as they condemn the sins of others; and think their way of thinking is typically the only way to know God while many others are going to hell which they rightfully deserve while knowing they rightfully are not going to hell (this is one side of the problem spectrum).

Then there is the other disfigured side where enlightened Christians support the gay lifestyle (without always knowing what exactly that means?) and embrace science over the mistakes of the Bible, pride themselves that they are tolerant, not bigoted, peaceful and loving while they have nothing good to say about all those homophobic bigoted warmongering Christians who believe in a horrible God since they believe in a literal horrible hell.  Let's be honest, the church is in great trouble and this huge elephant in the room is difficult to talk about by those who either love the church fiercely or have been hurt by it terribly.

I will say that even though the issues are more complex and deeper than Priebe can possibly explore in a small book, he has done a remarkably well job of summarizing issues and striving for balance on difficult topics which most Christians probably hope do not come up in a conversation.  On the gay issue (which is not really an issue but about people to be loved and cared for), God loves gay people, Jesus receives everyone equally at the foot of the cross, sexual identity does not define people but our choices do; Jesus is the true person to show us what it means to be truly human; God created marriage as the boundary for sexual behavior; identity is found in Christ who loved us and sacrificed himself for us.  In the end, I have one suggestion for dialogue on difficult topics for Christians.  The church needs to stop having private conversations about divergent sexually oriented people and have conversations with them.  Where ever this conversation leads, I have to believe it's better than what I too often see in today's wounded church and so many who have sadly left her behind.