Jesus consistently met people right where they were. To follow his example, we must understand the evolving world around us and the diverse people who inhabit it.
Understanding Our Post-Christian Reality
Evidence of a “post-Christian era” is everywhere. Christianity is no longer the dominant social and cultural force it once was in the Western world. This is reflected in the fact that church closures are outpacing new church openings.
This reality means we’re serving a community with an ever-increasing number of people who fall into two main categories:
The “Nones”: These are people who were not raised Christian and have little to no experience with the church. They may have been raised in other faiths, identify as spiritual, or have no specific religious beliefs at all.
The “Dones”: This group includes people who once had a relationship with the church but have since left. This may be because they drifted away, disagreed with theology, or were hurt by the church—sometimes deeply. We can’t ignore that in these cases, the church itself may need to seek forgiveness and offer healing.
Generational Divides and Changing Values
Our society is composed of many generations, each with unique life experiences, family structures, and cultural influences.
Millennials and Gen Z are particularly passionate about social justice and making a positive difference. If the church isn’t involved in these issues, it can seem irrelevant to them.
LGBTQ+ acceptance is a significant factor, especially for younger generations. Many have heard a message from some other churches that they cannot be both gay and loved by God, or that they are not welcome in the church. This disconnect is a major reason why many younger people have left the institutional church or have no interest in joining.
Growing polarization and mistrust due to politics, media, and social media also seep into our churches, creating division.
Our Mission in This Context
This isn’t about abandoning the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s about living it out more fully. We are called to love all people as Jesus did, reaching out to those who have been ignored, judged, or treated as outcasts. Let’s make it our mission to love them, just as they are.