As a cross-cultural missionary with the North American Mission Board I was taught to “read the culture”, to observe the community where I served for trends presenting either bridges or barriers to gospel communication. It’s a practice I have continued since returning to Texas. This is especially helpful since, even in southeast Texas, today we are all cross cultural missionaries.
With this in mind, here’s my list of seven trends in church and culture that will influence your ministry in the near future, along with three opportunities these trends present.
Trends
1. The decline of cultural Christianity and its replacement by secularity.
In the era of cultural Christianity, most churches relied on attractional evangelism. This was fruitful because even unbelievers shared our worldview. But as culture becomes increasingly secular, the worldview gap widens. Church attendance is no longer on their “to do” list.
Question: How will you mobilize members to infiltrate your community and engage unbelievers who have no predisposition to Christianity?
2. The increasing fragmentation of society.
With the multiplicity of information sources, people are ever more isolated into silos. People curate their friends and information sources to reinforce their worldview. Few have meaningful, non-work conversations with people who are different. This carries into the church.
Question: How culturally aligned with you must an unbelieve be to feel welcome in your church?
3. The declining influence of Boomers and Gen X, coinciding with the increasing influence of Millennials and Gen Z.
Many of the ministry models valued by Boomers and Gen Xers, such as the mega-church, attractional events, “cafeteria” ministry,” are not resonating with Millennials and Gen Z, who seek a more “authentic” experience.
Question: What preferences will you yield in order to reach persons of later generations?
4. The economic shift that accompanies the generational shift.
Boomers and their predecessors give 4 times more of their income than persons of later generations. This isn’t only about generosity. Older households at peak income with kids grown often have more to share than young families starting out with children.
Question: How will your church adjust to doing more ministry with less revenue?
5. The changing attendance pattern of members.
Thirty years ago core church members attended almost every Sunday. Today leading members may attend 30-40 Sundays in a year, with some absent as often as they attend. Travel sports teams, visits to grandchildren or parents back home, along with fluctuating work schedules that include Sundays, complicate ministry involvement.
Question: How will your church account for changing attendance patterns to assure believers engage with your disciple making pathway?
6. The distrust of institutions and authority.
The Boomers who rebelled in the 60s mostly returned by the 80s to a more conservative posture. Many adults coming of age today feel betrayed by their predecessors, as if they’ve been left a mess and no resources for cleaning it up. This leads to a distrust of authority and institutions, including pastors and the church. The failure of high-profile pastors further fuels this distrust.
Question: How will your church and those who lead humbly earn trust with those of younger generations?
7. The rise of expressive individualism, a dominant worldview that values individual freedom to express oneself in any matter that feels right.
The most recent 9 Marks Journal focused on Expressive Individualism, the belief that human beings are defined by their physiological core and must be free to fully express themselves. It’s the worldview at the root of today’s cultural debate, evident especially in LGBTQ+ politics. It recognizes only one sin, rejecting another’s self-expression.
Question: How will your church welcome sinners trapped in this worldview but clearly call them to “deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus”?
Opportunities Cultural Trends Provide
1. The openness of unbelievers to spiritual conversations.
As secular as society has become, unbelieving adults remain open to spiritual conversations (but not lectures).
Question: How will you equip believers to have such conversations without resorting to debates, arguments, or churchy clichés?
2. The desire of adults coming of age today to “save the world”.
Many Millennial and Gen Z adults, even as they struggle to find their way, take seriously their responsibility for making the world a better place (environmental stewardship, racial reconciliation, etc).
Question: How will your church leverage their desire for service into gospel opportunities?
3. The rising appetite for serious commitment and genuine disciple making.
Adults today are frustrated with superficial ministries; younger believers expect to see the gospel faithfully practiced (less cliché and more engagement; serious conversations; “radical faithfulness”). Churches reaching them ask for greater commitment from members than most congregations do.
Question: Will your church provide a disciple making pathway that mobilizes rather than occupies members?
Let me know what you think. Drop your answers to these questions in the comments below.
Blessings,
Jim