God Still Speaks (Part 5)

Do you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief to things you see going on in our world today?

Do the things people say confuse you?

(as to how they come up with such an idea)

Are the approaches and methods you have relied on for years not working like they used to?

(especially when trying to share your faith)

In this issue of our newsletter we want to talk a little bit about the far reaching philosophy of our day that is most likely behind it all, a post-Christian worldview and the culture it spawns. Let’s start with a reality we need to be aware of and understand the implications it brings to every person who follows in the way of Jesus.

The Root

The ever growing people group created by this Post-Christian worldview actually live and work all around those of us who follow Jesus. They live next door, down the hall, and sometimes in the same room with us. We (those who believe in Jesus) feel the effects and experience the struggle without knowing exactly what it is keeping us from being effective. Our systems and ways of doing things no longer reap the results we were once accustomed to experiencing.

What we do know is that what used to work simply doesn’t anymore.

The root of this particular view of our world goes back years and years as it slowly developed over time and infiltrated our nation’s thinking. Established during the enlightenment period we feel the effects of its unrelenting assault on the way many people have thought about life. Things have certainly changed; at times it is almost as if yes means no and no might mean yes.

Our busy lives kept the attention of many people from noticing what was transpiring around them. This reality is even more true when we talk about those who are part of the church, the gap widened often times leaving an “us-versus-them” mentality in its wake.

The Pied Pipers

The young men and women, both from within and without our churches, came into our colleges and universities across the nation and were influenced by those who espoused such a way of thinking. We missed it, we didn’t see the effect it all was having on the way people would one day live their lives. Now it’s here and we don’t know what to do with it.

With time the university students grew up, finished their education, and took their space in the market place. They were sent out as pied piper evangelists into every sector of American life. The leaders of this ideology were patient … over and over they sent them out, one class after another, decade after decade. As they went they carried the creeds and doctrines of a way of life that didn’t include the organized church, sometimes even rejecting God Himself.

We need to come to grips with the reality that America is no longer the nation we once knew. The influence of the people who make up the general populace of this country have little to do with the Church, its leaders, doctrines, or systems. In short, the church simply doesn’t hold the privileged position it once held among our people.

Post-Christian for Average Types

We learn from author, Mark Sayers, that post-Christian is a term about a people’s attempt to move beyond Christianity while simultaneously feasting upon its fruit. In other words we like things like kindness, gentleness, and love, but resist authority, guides or commands for living, and the Lordship of Jesus.

At the heart of their thinking are attempts to retain the solace of faith without the costs, commitments, and restraints the Gospel places upon the individual will. As followers of Jesus we are taught to deny ourselves, prefer others over ourselves, and lay down our lives. We must understand that in the post-Christian world the individual rules through the ideals of extreme individualism. The people who live through this worldview intuitively yearn for the justice and shalom of the Kingdom of God, while simultaneously defending the reign of the individual will. They struggle to see the lostness of their lives even though they have lost their way.

In essence, Post-Christianity is Christianity emptied of its content and faith in God while trying to keep some of its practices for living and the fruit that it all yields. They think we can get the results we want without a need for God or the authority of the church. We can do it on our own, all we need is ourselves. It is the world we live in.

God Still Speaks

In the midst of all the craziness God still speaks as we who are followers in the way of Jesus are still hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit calling us, sending us, empowering us, to bring Good News to post-Christian America. We just need to learn how to talk with this people group about the spiritual hunger in their lives and discover ways to share the gospel with our neighbors, co-workers, and families.

Join the movement and discover a missionary pathway that can take you there.