Would you please clarify this paragraph in Generous Orthodoxy?

I've read the same criticism over and over on different blogs and websites about A Generous Orthodoxy. It seems to me that these critics...

...take the following soundbite out of context. Would you mind clarifying your intent?

"I must add, though, that I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all?) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts. This will be hard, you say, and I agree. But frankly, it's not at all easy to be a follower of Jesus in many 'Christian' religious contexts, either."

Answer: Thanks for your question. It’s a shame people have taken this so out of context. It always amazes me how hard it is for any of us to fairly read things we don’t already agree with.

First, Trennis Henderson, a respected Baptist journalist, has done a good job of analyzing both what I said and how some people have misread me. (I hope interested people can find his article online.) He accurately points out that I am not affirming anything close to universalism or relativism here: rather, I am affirming my desire to “help people become followers of Jesus.” At heart, I’ve always been an evangelist, and that’s what I still am.

Second, I am not saying that followers of Jesus should remain loyal to all the doctrines or practices of Buddhism, Hinduism, or whatever. I’m saying they should “remain within their … contexts.” Because of recent U.S. foreign policy and the sometimes careless religious rhetoric of some of our political and religious leaders, along with our country’s export of a lot of filth (pornography, etc.) – today in many countries to be identified with “the Christian religion” is to be identified with U.S. military aggression, religious bigotry, and moral degeneration. I can’t blame people for wanting to avoid association with those things, since I myself do not want to be associated with them. Just as in the time of and after Constantine, Christianity became too closely linked with the Roman Empire, if Christianity becomes too closely associated with Americanism … sincere followers of Jesus in many countries face needless dangers and trouble. This awareness – that people can be identified as Christ-followers without having to endorse everything associated with the word “Christian” – is widespread in the missions community, and has been an accepted methodology among missiologists for a long time.

Finally, the way some people have misread what I wrote gives a good example of why I said that even in some so-called Christian contexts, it’s not terribly easy to be a follower of Jesus. I hope that’s helpful – and please send this clarification to anyone you come across who was given a wrong impression by anyone’s review, blog, etc.