Liking the Church but Not Jesus?

In 2007, Dan Kimball published the book They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. The title relays the mindset of many people across generations at the dawn of the 21st century. They, according to Kimball, like Jesus. They appreciate his love, humility, and appetite for justice. But, by and large, they do not see those admired qualities reflected in the Church. Many of us come across people who may not articulate the phrase, but the truth is, they like Jesus but not the Church. That is why Sid stunned me. Sid dated his way into our church. He wanted the lady. He was not interested in the Church, but because of the lady, we were thrown together. Sid was more than an unbeliever—he was hostile. I assumed that his hostility was aimed at the Church. I expected him to say, “I like Jesus, but not the Church.” I expected him to have his reasons (crusades, hypocrisy, bad coffee, etc.). To my surprise, Sid shared the very opposite. He told me he likes the Church just fine, but Jesus is the problem for Sid. In other words, he likes the Church, but not Jesus.

My initial reaction was that Sid had it backwards. I wondered if sin had skewed his perspective about which one he is supposed to like and not like. But the more I got to know Sid, the more I realized that he really does like the Church, and he really does not like Jesus.

Sid does not like Jesus because he is not clear about who Jesus is. Jesus comes with rough edges. He talked about forgiving enemies and dividing families. He called followers to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him. Jesus’ life and teachings were scandalous, demanding, and unsettling. Certainly, we know Jesus as the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God, and the Good Shepherd. We know the Jesus who calls, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened… for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-29). We know Jesus as loving and gracious. While those things are true, they do not change the fact that Jesus comes with rough edges.

Sid likes the Church because he is clear about who the Church is. For Sid, the Church is a place full of happy people who do some good and live with basic morals—nothing demanding or unsettling. He sees the Church as tame, easy, even bland. No rough edges. No reason to be offended. So, Sid likes the Church.

There are others, like Sid, who like the Church but not Jesus.; there are still plenty of people who like Jesus but not the Church; and, truth be told, many people do not have strong feelings about Jesus or the Church. Ambivalence is growing. Jesus and the Church simply do not show up on their radar. The most disturbing part of this conversation is that many people see Jesus and the Church differently. They find daylight between Jesus and the Church.

For the USA/Canada Region, 2025 is the year of Bringing People to Jesus. Whether people like Jesus and dislike the Church, like the Church and dislike Jesus, or are ambivalent, Bringing People to Jesus requires us to be honest and credible. People will always have perceptions and biases beyond our control. Here is what we can control: First, we can be honest about who Jesus is. Rough edges and all. By refusing to soften Jesus to make him more palatable for ourselves or others, Jesus actually becomes more interesting. More engaging. After all, we are talking about Jesus. Second, the Church must be credible in our witness. No daylight between Jesus and the Church. Jesus is bold and untamed. The Church can stand to be bolder and less tamed. Jesus calls followers into radical discipleship, so the Church can be more radical in our discipleship. A lot is required for us to bring people to Jesus, but it will not happen without our honesty and credibility.

The relationship did not last. Sid moved away. I think about him often; I talk with him occasionally. I want him to know who Jesus really is and who the Church really is. After all, if we bring Sid to Jesus, the only way I know how is through the Church.

Rev. Daron Brown lives and pastors in Waverly, Tennessee, with his wife, Katie, and children, Kendall, Parker, and Macy.

1 Dan Kimball, They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007)