‘Jesus Swagger’ Author Calls Out ‘Poser Christians,’ But Is Accused Of Being Just That

Jesus Swagger: Break Free from Poser Christianity is a new book by popular Christian blogger Jarrid Wilson that has the Christian world buzzing.

A recent piece published by Baptist News highlighted the book as a much-needed return to “authentic” Christianity and a turn away from pastors like Rob Bell, who have, for the most part, been ideologically excommunicated from the faith.

Also equated with the 30-year-old “seeker movement,” poser Christianity has been blamed for a relentless watering down of many of the tenets of Christian teaching, but Baptist Alan Rudnick sees hope within the pages of Wilson’s book.

“I think it’s reached its zenith with coffee and hipster pastors and bands — there was more style over substance,” said Rudnick, pastor of First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, N.Y. “I hope we’re done with that superficial Christianity.”

Jesus Swagger is credited as a step in the right direction, but some readers of Jarrid Wilson’s blog aren’t so sure. In fact, if you look back to popular posts like “Why ‘Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner’ Isn’t Working,” you can see that some Christians have accused Jarrid Wilson of the very thing he rails against in his book.

“Love one another? Amen! But can that be done by refraining from calling out people on their sins as the Bible tells us to?” asks Brian Verteifeuille.

“Not in the slightest… That IS NOT Biblical love… No offense man, but this seems more of a ‘kiss butt’ blog post to cater to what pop culture or the secular world deems to be loving and accepting. Be bigger than that friend. Real love is truthful even if it may offend sometimes… Because telling the hard truth in love might be the difference between where someone spends eternity and that is not something to be taken lightly… Live up to it friend.”

Verteifeuille isn’t the only self-professed Christian who feels that way either.

“No offense, but this just ends up sounding like a capitulation to the culture’s most overblown biases against Christianity,” says another commenter.

“I don’t buy your premise that you can’t separate the sin from the sinner,” says another. “I hate my sins but I still love myself and I’m sure that’s how most people are. What people do is not who they have to be. Helping others see that is part of loving them.”

What do you think about the Jesus Swagger author’s views on “hate the sin, not the sinner,” and do you think he’s guilty of being a “poser Christian” himself? Sound off in the comments section.