Pastor's Circle - Johnnie Moore

Johnnie Moore, Campus Pastor for Liberty University, has written a book about how we as Christians can really live out our faith. On the Matt Friedeman Show Johnnie talked about how to do that and why it's so important.

Apparently you have a book coming out. Honestly. 

There's a lot of buzz about it, because it addresses hypocrisy.

It's why a lot of young people get turned off by the faith. 

What are the difficult things for us to live out? 

I think we as evangelicals get caught up on the big things. We don't drink, smoke, take drugs.  But for us, the enemy's been at us in a little more deceptive way.

He's been working on us on our belief system and our self righteousness.

While we have our salvation, we need to be about everyday relationship.  If I'm not talking to my wife everyday, I don't have much of a relationship with her.

What are the things that irritate the world with what we do or don't do? 

People out there who aren't part of our Christian club find it offensive when a pastor gets caught in his indiscretions.

But what annoys them more is when, on Sunday afternoon, the churches empty out and that single working mom is working her heart out at a restaurant, but wishes she didn't after all the church people come in and we are the poorest tippers in town. 

People judge Jesus based upon on behaviors and our attitudes.

How can we regain integrity? 

Christianity for 2,000 years has been a bottom up movement.

I think the integrity of the greater church is affected by the integrity of the individual believer.

Walk across the street and befriend the guy who scowls at you everytime you walk by.

We can never be perfect, but we should be honest....and apologize for when we fail.

Is part of the problem that people see us too ensconced in our churches? 

Yeah, totally.

But that has never been the DNA of the church.  We exist best outside the church and in the world. 

We are the only light of truth in a lot of ways, but it doesn't have to be delivered harshly.

We have been loved, and so we love.

Do Millennials have a sense of integrity better than the rest of us? Or are they just talk? 

Unfortunately, the Christian church ought to be more focused on getting Christians to behave like Christians.

A lot of the Millennials are saying, "Be hot or be cold."...too many of our churches have a form of godliness without the power.

I'd say that every one of us know a young person, and the best we can do is make sure they see an authentic Christianity, an honest Christianity.

If you were to put your finger on three things that could help us live lives of integrity, what would those be? 

First of all, I would say you've got to start with the basics.

You cannot just read the Bible like an academic textbook. You have to inculcate yourself with it.

You have to be around other Christians...to struggle through your doubts about faith.

Make sure you're in a rich Christian community.

Christianity was always meant to be lived outside. It was never meant to be lived inside a bubble.

As quick as we can, we need to leave the sacred halls of the church and go out.