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AlyssaArens
Dr.KendraParker
ENGL11303
30January2015
ChristianityforDummies:TomsShoesandaGuitar
FormanyAmericans,faithisacomplextopic.Somehavegrownupalwaysbelievingin
ahigherpower,whetherthosebeliefsweretaughtwithinafamilyorculturalcontext,ormerely
discoveredoutofpurecuriosity.Othershavehadmonumentalexperiencesthathavecaused
themtorunawayfromthepossibilityofanysortofGodthatlooksoutforthem.Manypossess
suchathoroughscientificbackgroundinwhichabeliefincreationismwouldbedenyingthe
scientificfactthattheireducationsarerootedin.However,withnearly4,200religionsbeing
practicedallaroundtheworld,itcanbedifficulttopinpointwhatistrue;andtherefore,whatis
worthinvestingoneslifeinto.Christianityisclearlythemostpopularreligionpracticedinthe
UnitedStates.WhentheUnitedStatesfirstbecameanation,itwasevidentthattheChristian
faithhadalargeimpactonthemoresandnormsofsociety.Manyofthesesocialnormsand
moralexpectationsarestillseentodayinsociety,whileothersarebeginningtofade.Asthe
UnitedStatesexpandsindiversity,aninfluxofalternatereligionsandviewsonfaithareflooding
theAmericanpeople.Agnosticsandatheistsarealsoincreasinginnumber,anditseemsthatour
societyisbecomingincreasinglytolerabletothisnewvarietyofreligiousbeliefs.Althoughfaith
iscomplexforsome,themillennialgeneration,perhapsthemostliberalgenerationthatAmerica
hasseeninitsexistence,maynotseefaithassuchamindbogglingthing.Believingin
somethinggreaterthanoneselfishumbling;infact,itcouldevenbeseenastrendy.Formany

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millennialChristians,faithisnomorethandonatingsomemoneytocharities,adoptingthe
modestishottestChristianstyle,andlearningtoplayacoupleofhymnsontheguitar.The21st
centuryChristianlifestylefadofthemillennialgenerationhasbothintriguedandrepellednon
Christiansduetotheappealingfaadeofthelifestyleanditsquestionableintentions.
TheincreasinglypopularfadofthemillennialgenerationChristianlifestylereveals
Christianstobeplacidminimalists,leadingnonChristianstotheperceptionthatChristianslivea
simplisticandeasylifestyle.Christiansgrowingupinthe21stcenturyhaveadoptedacertain
lookthatisvisuallyappealingtomanyoutsiders.Itbeginswithstyle:theTomsshoes,
Patagoniasweaters,andtattoosoftheirfavoriteBibleverses(usuallythetypicalJohn3:16or
Philippians4:13).Theoccasionaldreadlockcanreallyaddtothelookaswell.However,more
thanjuststyle,Christiansareoftenknownforparticipatinginaparticularsetofactivities.Not
onlydotheyspendtheirSundaysatchurch,buttheyspendtheirfreetimeplayingguitar,diving
intoTheWordatlocalcoffeeshops,andtakingannualmissiontripstothirdworldcountries.
Althoughnoneofthesestyleorlifestyleaspectsarebadthings,theyarenotnecessarilygood
thingseither.Insimplerterms,brandsandhobbieswillnotgetsomeoneaticketintoheaven.
TheseexamplemaysuggestthatChristiansgrowingupinthe21stcenturyhaveadoptedacertain
lookthatisvisuallyappealingtomanyoutsiders.WhileTthereisnolookthatallChrist
followersmustadhereto;accordingtobiblicalprinciple?neitheristhereanexistingformulaof
activitiesandaccomplishmentsthatmustbedonetoequalapleasedGod.Itisevidentthatin
everysociety,eachgroupinhibitsitsnormsandstereotypes.However,beingaChristianisnot
merelybeingapartofagroup;.Christianityisalifestylechoice.;andaAlthoughthatmaycome

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withcertainactivitiesandtraditionsthatotherChristiansmayshare,therearenolifestyle
requirementsthattheBiblehaslaidout.
Although millennials may be in the scheme of depicting such an appealing Christian
lifestyle, it is highly possible that their actions and motives do not reflect a God-led life at all;
Tthedangerincreatingtheseunestablished,yetevidentlyexistentparametersandexpectations
forChristiansisthatitiscontradictorytowhatGodspeaksinHisWord.Onmultiplebiblical
occasions,theLordcommandsnottofixoureyesandprideuponearthlythings,andthatthese
thingswillleadtodestruction.However,forcurrentdaymillennialChristians,styleisbecoming
aviceforconveyingtheirfaiths.Simplylookingtheparthasbecomeenoughforcurrent
Christians.AlthoughTomsshoescommitnoevidentharmtotheworldinfact,theirclaimis
thatwitheverypurchase,theywilldonateapairofshoestoanunderprivilegedchildwearing
themisfarfromevangelistic.Goddoesnotsay,Gointotheworldandproclaimthegospelto
thewholecreation,whilewearingTomsshoes.
TheseriskystereotypesthatChristianshaveputuponthemselvesmayactuallyhavean
oppositeevangelisticeffect.NonChristiansmaybeeasilyattractedtothevisualoutside
appearanceofChristians.Tothem,theChristianlifestylemayappeartobenomorethana
brandnamepairofshoes,aguitararoundyourneck,andsomevolunteerhours.Thisresultsina
Christianchecklist.However,whenanalyzingGodstruecommandsforaChristianlifestyle,
oranylifestyleforthatmatter,itisevidentthatalifestylecannotbeconvertedintochecklist
form.Iffaithwasmerelymaterialisticandeasilytangible,thenitwouldbesimple:Patagonia
sweater?Check.Guitar?Check.ShorttermmissiontriptoAfrica?Check.Peopleareadopting
thewrongideaoftheChristianlifestyle.RatherthanclaimingChristianitybecauseoftheir

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loveforGodandtopreachtheGospel,theyclaimittobeapartofanemergentlypopulargroup.
Asfarasevangelismgoes,thesematerialisticChristiansappeartobedoingnothingfortheir
religion,andnothingforGod.IfmaterialisticChristiansarepreachingtomaterialisticChristians,
allthatresultsisabunchofTomswearing,KumbayasingingChristiansthathavenoreal
reasonbehindtheirfaiths.
The materialistic lifestyle of millennial Christians, although appealing, obscures the
underlying motivators behind a Christian faith, resulting in a skewed view of Christianity by
non-Christians. Teenagers have always been known to keep up with the latest fashions and fads.
In fact, it is human nature to go with the grain, to follow the crowd. Although this increasing
acceptance of the Christian lifestyle is encouraging to Christians of all generations, this may
presents a dangerous future for Christianity. It seems, based on the proliferation of Patagonia
that Ffaith has become such an egocentric thing in the United StatesAmerican culture. It Faith
is about what that Christian is wearing or where that other Christian is going on his or her
mission trip. Christians are living out this specific lifestyle only to receive the praise and
admiration of others. This causes us to take a step back and wonder why Christian culture is
becoming so widely accepted amongst millennials. One evident explanation is that the
current generation of Christians is becoming increasingly liberal. Although the Bibles
truths defend many conservative political views on subjects such as gay marriage and
abortion, these do not seem to faze millennial Christians. Rather, they believe they have the
inner power to apply the Bible as they wish, however it may fit best into their lives. The
millennial generation has grown up in a world that is tailored to simplicity and pleasure, and that
is just how they view and apply faith.

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So, although millennials may be in the scheme of depicting such an appealing Christian
lifestyle, it is highly possible that their actions and motives do not reflect a God-led life at all.
Another reason for the acceptance of the Christian lifestyle is that its trendy aspects
coincide with common culture. Millennial Christians embrace minimalism, caring for the
environment, and exploring Gods creation and . Tthese also are all popular topics in American
culture. So, although these new Christians are not completely aware of what a faith is, and what
following God is meant to look like, it can be easily played off. They attach onto what can be
seen: the style, the volunteering, the hobbies, rather than a private faith practice that is
intrinsically motivated. Unfortunately, this materialistic Christian lifestyle only leads outsiders to
believe that Christianity is nothing bigger than oneself.
Although the lifestyle of the millennial Christians is not necessarily sinful or selfharming, it is not being aimed towards evangelism and furthering the kingdom of God. Rather, it
has become an egocentric phenomenon that aims only at achieving a certain look..
Unfortunately, the results of this Christian lifestyle has the tendency to go against much of what
is said in the Bible, by putting undeclared expectations and regulations amongst Christians. It is
questionable whether or not the acceptance of the Christian lifestyle is merely due to the trendy
Christian lifestyle which is based upon materialism and promoting oneself through good
deeds. Although the popularity of living a Christian life is increasing and may be more accepted
by the increasingly liberal millennial population, it lacks roots of reason for having a faith. If the
Christian lifestyle really is just a fad, there is concern for the future of Christianity when it is no
longer seen as being trendy.

Alyssa,

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Youwritebeatufilly.Yoursyntaxanddictionarefairlystrong.However,yourorganization
st
needsabitmorestructure.Inparticularyourthesis,The21centuryChristianlifestylefadof
themillennialgenerationhasbothintriguedandrepellednonChristiansduetotheappealing
faadeofthelifestyleanditsquestionableintentions,isntclearlydevelopedthroughout
theessay.ThereareportionsofyouressaythatIdontfollow(butIdotrytobringsome
coherencetosomeoftheparagraphs),butIthinkthereisaneedforarefiningoftopicsentences
thatdirectlyconnecttoanexamplesandthenanalysisthatexplainstheexample(notanalysis
thatexplainsanotherpoint).Ithoughttherewereseveralanalysesthatcouldhavepotentially
beenusefulinotherparagraphs.