Wow what a well thought out, researched, and presented article, Jon. So very helpful and insightful.
I think we have a challenge ahead of us on the three solutions you offer. In terms of the unity needed--I agree wholeheartedly but wonder if Christians are less unified than we have been in some time. I do think we can be "united" at a local or neighborhood level in a way that gets this done for the nones--but they (and all of us) spend so much time online it will be hard to overcome the reputation for division. Also, we are divided, in some cases, over important issues either "side" is unlikely to budge an inch on.
On truth, it seems we as Christians have bought into a more postmodern way of thinking--in that we each have "my truth" which is of course a misnomer. I'm interested in what is THE truth, not just my opinion, a.k.a.: my subjective experience. Christians who were paranoid about postmodernism in the 90s, as you talk about, have embraced a very postmodern way of operating, especially if their worldview is challenged from outside of it (even if challenged biblically by their own pastor). Again, smaller communities may be the answer... a group that is saying "What does this passage say about God and people" instead of just "what is your opinion about God and people"... as you know and practice yourself, Discovery Bible Studies and Discipleship Groups do this well, and that's part of why I favor those methods over most any other Christian methods of evangelism and discipleship.
In regards to generosity--we have a challenge in that Christians are not seen as generous in the world today. We give to our own Christian stuff, and too many of us think "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible somewhere or the Sermon on the Mount ;-)... But again smaller communities can overcome this--becuase when people experience the generousity of neighbors, friends, and co-workers who come from smaller communities of the Gospel... the proof is in the pudding.
So godspeed in your work getting people in the game. THe only solution, I feel, to these challenges from Nones is not from the old wineskins, but new ones where our None Neighbors, None Friends, and None Co-workers are invited into relationship with us in smaller communities, microchurches, house churches, discipleship conversations, and missional communities. I highly doubt most Nones in the future will respond to invitations to yet another cool sermon series based on popular movies.
Wow what a well thought out, researched, and presented article, Jon. So very helpful and insightful.
I think we have a challenge ahead of us on the three solutions you offer. In terms of the unity needed--I agree wholeheartedly but wonder if Christians are less unified than we have been in some time. I do think we can be "united" at a local or neighborhood level in a way that gets this done for the nones--but they (and all of us) spend so much time online it will be hard to overcome the reputation for division. Also, we are divided, in some cases, over important issues either "side" is unlikely to budge an inch on.
On truth, it seems we as Christians have bought into a more postmodern way of thinking--in that we each have "my truth" which is of course a misnomer. I'm interested in what is THE truth, not just my opinion, a.k.a.: my subjective experience. Christians who were paranoid about postmodernism in the 90s, as you talk about, have embraced a very postmodern way of operating, especially if their worldview is challenged from outside of it (even if challenged biblically by their own pastor). Again, smaller communities may be the answer... a group that is saying "What does this passage say about God and people" instead of just "what is your opinion about God and people"... as you know and practice yourself, Discovery Bible Studies and Discipleship Groups do this well, and that's part of why I favor those methods over most any other Christian methods of evangelism and discipleship.
In regards to generosity--we have a challenge in that Christians are not seen as generous in the world today. We give to our own Christian stuff, and too many of us think "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible somewhere or the Sermon on the Mount ;-)... But again smaller communities can overcome this--becuase when people experience the generousity of neighbors, friends, and co-workers who come from smaller communities of the Gospel... the proof is in the pudding.
So godspeed in your work getting people in the game. THe only solution, I feel, to these challenges from Nones is not from the old wineskins, but new ones where our None Neighbors, None Friends, and None Co-workers are invited into relationship with us in smaller communities, microchurches, house churches, discipleship conversations, and missional communities. I highly doubt most Nones in the future will respond to invitations to yet another cool sermon series based on popular movies.