Over the past few months we have been exploring Christ and Culture, looking at how we live faithfully in an increasingly post-Christian culture.
In this article we explore a post-Christian worlds impact on Christian mission. What opportunities are we presented with in this time, and what challenges do we face?
We are less aware of Sin
A culture that is secularised becomes increasingly less aware of its Sin. Many of you will know the work of the anointed evangelist Billy Graham, who saw thousands and thousands of people make a decision for Christ all over the world. Without wanting to oversimplify this amazing man’s ministry, it is clear to see that many of those who made a decision in response to Billy Graham’s ministry had some sort of understanding of sin, or at least that there was a way you should and shouldn’t live. Many in my grandparents generation were unsaved, but still knew it was wrong to lie. This came from their culture, they were taught that lying, cheating and hurting others was wrong, they may have done it, but at least they were aware of the sin. In an increasingly post-Christian culture this general awareness of Sin becomes less common. Many are unaware of their own destructive choices and the impact that it has on their lives. A post Christian culture wants the fruit of the Kingdom of God without accepting Christ as king, and therefore believes it can live morally, justly, and rightly without Jesus. How do you reach a generation that has little awareness of Sin? How do you reach those who think it is ok to lie, cheat and hurt others? This is a huge challenge for Christian mission.
Building meaningful relationships
Our world of individualism is causing havoc in the creation of deep and meaningful relationships. A street in the 1950’s or 60’s may have had several significant relationships in it. Many worked with people they lived with or lived near to their family. As the ideology of individualism increases people gradually pull away from one another. Families are less connected than they have ever been, houses almost become ‘pods’ where we sleep, eat and watch television, rather than a location we are connected to. This creates many challenges for Christian mission because so much mission happens through meaningful relationships. In the New Testament whole ‘households’ came to faith together. In John 4 Jesus speaks to the ‘woman at the well’, because of what Jesus says she goes and tells all the people in her town. John 4 v 39 says that “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” She was clearly a well-connected person. But if there are no meaningful relationships, and if we do not have meaningful relationships outside of our immediate family then we face a huge challenge in Christian mission.
Here I am, don’t send me!
Most significant and positive change in our world comes through those who are willing to give their entire lives for a cause. We know that many, over the years, have even died for what they believe. I wonder though whether this has become less common over the past 60 years or so? As individualism gathers pace then the individual life becomes equally important, if not more important than a collective, cause or community. Whilst there is truth in the importance and sacredness of the individual this presents problems to bringing about meaningful change. A documentary I was watching recently investigated many of the cultural revolutions that have failed in the last 50-60 years because people simply weren’t willing to lose their life for something bigger than themselves. This documentary suggested that we may even be in an era now where collective action is impossible, due to the power of the individual. I wonder if this thinking has crept into Christianity? How many of us would genuinely see our lives as expendable on the call of Christ? Just think about how many countries received the Gospel because people were willing to lay down their lives for Christ. In Isaiah 6 Isaiah sees the Lord enthroned in glory and majesty. The Lord then asks ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Isaiah’s response? ‘Here am I, send me.’ I don’t give this example to condemn you, for I am in the same boat as you. When you are part of an individualistic culture it is a huge challenge to give your life up for the sake of others.
But once again, it’s not all bad news!
Meaningful relationships
Just like I have said before our greatest challenges are so often our greatest opportunities. Although building meaningful relationships is difficult in our culture, if we can, by the grace of God, build meaningful relationships then they can be hugely impacting for those we are seeking to reach. Many in our culture do not have many, if any, deep and meaningful relationships. One of the great opportunities of our day is to welcome those around us to connect with and participate in relationships that we are building. Imagine how impacting a meaningful Christian relationship could be in our time. A relationship that is based on love and mercy, where forgiveness abounds, where we share our burdens, our pain and our loss. The Bible teaches us to look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others. (Phil 2 v 4) What an incredible yet simple demonstration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at work in our lives. Why not invite your non-Christian work colleagues to a BBQ along with your Christian friendships? Why not go out for coffee with a non-Christian friend and Christian friend at the same time? As Jesus said “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13 v 35)
Post-Christianity won’t work
Whilst our post-Christian culture tries hard to ‘have the Kingdom without the King’ we must be confident and remember that it won’t work. You cannot have truth, justice, freedom, grace, mercy without the involvement of God. And so, whilst we should always be working to reach and love those around us, we can also have a confidence that as people increasingly push God away from their lives, their own need for Him will become increasingly evident. This does not mean we do not get involved in people’s lives, quite the opposite, we need to be in people’s lives in order to share the truth and be there as and when the lies of a post-Christian belief system become apparent. What a great opportunity we, as the church, have in our day to be a place of refuge and welcome, a place people can run to from the ruins and chaos of a post-Christian world. As we continue to faithfully live out the way of Jesus, we demonstrate a different road. It is a narrow road, but it is a road that leads to life.
“For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7 v 13-14
When the darkness gets darker, the light shines brighter
One of the challenges of mission when I was growing up (1985-2005 sort of time), was that many people were just quite nice. Now, I know this was not everyone’s reality, but I imagine many of us will identify with the problem of trying to share Jesus with really nice people. We had friends who gave to charity, had small groups of friendships that they met with, they would care and respond well to the needs around them. There was even a sense that if you looked at the life of a Christian and their non-Christian neighbour there wouldn’t be too much of a difference. This may be a reflection of the Christian we are comparing, but it is also reflective of the influence of the Christian culture that still shaped those around us. This can be a real challenge when thinking about mission, the response can sometimes be ‘well, I do everything you do, why do I really need Jesus?’ Whilst a post-Christian world creates huge challenges for mission, it also means that as the dark becomes darker the light becomes brighter. As people live lives less and less in the remnants of a Christian culture their lives naturally become darker. Break down in family, the mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse and addictions are all current symptoms of a turning away from the ways of God. Of course we never celebrate the degeneration of our society, and God takes no pleasure in the destruction of those who have turned away from Him (Ezekiel 18 v 23 & 33 v 11), but it does create an opportunity for mission. As we live in truth of the way of Jesus our lives will shine brighter and brighter, and we will be able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us.
– Tim Barton