"It is well known that the greatest obstruction to Christianity in heathen countries is the palpable and undeniable depravity of Christian nations. They abhor our religion because we are such unhappy specimens of it. They are unable to read our books, but they can read our lives; and what wonder if they reflect with scorn a system under which vices seem to have flourished so luxuriantly. The Indian of both hemispheres has reason to set down the Christian as little better than himself. (British occupation of India and the slaughter of native Americans, the crusades, slavery, bombing Hiroshima and all the other things true Christians are ashamed to have attached to the name Christian.) 

He associates with the  name, treachery, fraud, excessive greed, and slaughter. Can we wonder he is unwilling to receive a religion from the hand which has chained or robbed him? Thus, bad example is the great obstruction to Christianity abroad as well as at home; and perhaps little good is to be done abroad until we become better at home, until real Christians understand and practice their religion more thoroughly, and by their example and influence spread it among their neighbors and through their country, so that the aspect of Christian nations shall be less shocking and repulsive to the Jew, Mohammedan and Pagan. Would much be gained to heathen countries were we to make them precisely what nations called Christians now are? (Where we are purveyors of pornography and ever vile affection is promulgated in Hollywood and even in our schools and our leaders are corrupt.)  

They need to give up their severe inquisition into their neighbors opinions and to begin in earnest to seek for themselves, and to communicate to others, a nobler standard of temper and practice than they have yet derived from the Scriptures. In a word, they need to learn the real value and design of Christianity by the only thorough and effectual process; that is, by drinking deeply into its spirit of love to God and man." William Ellery Channing.  

  

  When I look at much of todays Christianity with its approach to the LGBT community, the endless threats of eternal conscious torments in hell, the proud declaration that the way of Christ is the only way and all others are excluded and doomed, while many within the faith cannot even agree on a Bible translation; the inter-denominational bickering and quarrels over every possible interpretation of texts that matter little; accusing different faiths as Babylon the great whore; turning on their own if they don't line up with their interpretation, and the little care for the poor, downcast, war Vets and oppressed, here and abroad, its clear to me, that far too many a church has "lost its savor."