The Isolation-Engagement Spectrum and the Ability of Christians in America to Positively Influence the Lives of Non-Believers

The central subject of this project is Christian – non-Christian engagement. Recognizing that Christians often isolate themselves from the non-believing world, this work identifies the reasons for that cocooning and discovers ways in which believers can overcome the attraction of withdrawal and begin to engage the non-believing world in meaningful ways. Core topics addressed are the widening gulf between Christians and non-Christians, the reasons behind that widening divide, the withdrawal that results from this widening chasm, and the consequences of withdrawal. This project also addresses the role of homophily and heterophily communication in Christian isolationism, historical influences, the impact of current affairs, cultural forces, and the necessity for Christians to understand the world of the non-Christian. The project results in several significant findings. First, the vast majority of believers accept that Christians should interact with non-Christians. Second, while most believers agree that they should interface with non-believers, there is definite hesitation in doing so. Fear is the primary reason behind that reluctance. Third, although many Christians interact with non-believers on a regular basis, the interactions are primarily superficial. Consequently, the encounters with non-Christians in their day-to-day lives are rarely impactful. Thus, many Christians have concluded that significant interaction with non-believers is a lost art. The goal of this project, therefore, is to revive that lost craft. The objective is to discover and seek to restore in believers a way of being in the world as exemplified by Jesus, who the gospel writer Luke said, “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and in the process meaningfully engaged those who had not yet come to believe.