Modern Gal - I agree, I don't think Obama would speak about abortion, but making these decisions aren't as pure as you - or I - would want them to be. Commencement is an expression of an institution's culture, which is why I also disagreed with Bush speaking at Calvin. Obama's beliefs don't fit ND's culture and either did Bush's beliefs fit Calvin's culture. Administrators have to take in consideration the culture, history and constituencies of the institution. Good administrations do not make decisions based upon their own ideology, but on the influences of a variety of stake holders. It isn't clean and clear, but it the ambiguous reality (which isn't easy to balance).  

Kristen - 

I argue that Christians do ALOT for the world - though I also believe we are to be doing a lot more. Just I don't see other organizations like Christian Community Development Association, World Vision, Salvation Army are making a huge impact. Christians are in the developing world and the inner-cities. I do think some Christians are behind on some issues (primarily environmental), but as far as sacrificial living many Christians (but not enough in my mind) live up to it.

Look at Champaign, who is in inner-city Champaign?  Churches, and the Empty Tomb, they are the organizations making a difference. I desperately believe Christians are called to do more and I believe we struggle with being more American  (which manifest in a multiplicity of ways)  than Christian, but I also believe that we already to a great deal. This makes me think of atheist, Matthew Parris' writing about the need for missionaries to Africa over non-Christian aid (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece)

Are there a ton of greedy, self-righteous, self-serving Christians? Yea, there are. But there are also many, perhaps more than people realize, who aren't even close to that assessment. I think it is easy for our critiques to becoming bashing  - I am included. Christians need to be calling one another to be more righteous, not calling each other out to the world.  Greed and Self-righteousness are sins, as are lust, pride etc. we have to realize that and realize that the family who lives in a 2 million dollar house with two kids are - in my mind - dealing with sin and in like fashion, the family who has individuals on drugs, in gangs and mismanages money is also dealing with sin. 

Here is my worry about stereotypes. People comment negatively about fundamental Christianity all the time. I personally have my disagreements with the movement, but I also know a lot of WONDERFUL people who are doing incredible things (look up the Unlikely Disciple the story of a Brown student who went to Liberty University and was actually amazed by the genuineness of the people there and exposed man of the faulty stereotypes of his friends as Brown). Stereotypes of all types usually occur when we don't know people. I think we need to be who we are and in that way debunk stereotypes, I don' believe it is our job to try to say "Oh that is stereotypical . . . fill the blank" because the group we are referring to be it religiously, ethnically, culturally etc. is then lumped into that stereotype. In a sense we saying "that is those people, I am not like them".Defending ourselves from being stereotyped by those who know us, should be unnecessary, because they know who we are and they trust us. 

I guess, working against stereotypes seems inconsequential to me. As I black male I cannot concentrate on making sure people realize I am not a stereotype (I struggle with not doing that) I have to simple be who I am. My Christian walk seems similar. 

Sorry for the long response.