Where do we stand?
Feb 2, 2013 11:08 pm
In today's America the view has been extremely shifted from one side of the spectrum to the other. We have gone back and forth in our values with no signs of ever stopping, but now we have the chance of a lifetime to make an amazing breakthrough.
American culture began during the Enlightenment era where people had began to "see" that the world could be explained through science instead of having to rely on the mysticism of the former generation. As people began to view their world as explainable, Christianity had to change its tactics in reaching the lost. Christianity was the major driving force of the previous generations, but now science had begun to take Christianity's place as authority. During this time frame Christianity began to put aside the mystery of God and tried to rely more on scientifically proving the Bible.
As Christianity is trying to prefect its tactics in order to stay in the race, the world begins to move into what we call the modern era. The modern era was marked by a view that said the world is constantly getting better. Science and technology were improving at unbelievable speeds and things seemed to be at peace. It was in this era that America was formed. America seemed to be a place of even greater hope than home. Things were constantly improving.
However this era of "improvement" did not last long. The world became marred by wars of all sorts. It is through this time period that a new generation arose. known as Boomers, and were followed by the Generation X'ers. These were a people who were born out of war and knew that the world was not improving and actually began to see the world as falling apart. This is what leads us to where we are now.
Through all of these differences in world views, certain ideas were lost. Families have become easily broken, many neglect those who need help, and the church doesn't really seem to care. The Boomers had a large heart for their children and worked hard to provide for them and give them everything they could ever ask for. The Gen X'ers have then learned that it is important to get what they want. This is more than likely not what the Boomers had in mind, however it's what they understood. So as the Gen X'ers grew up and became leaders of families they didn't really understand how to handle things. That's why so many families today are broken and mislead. The values are not correct.
So where do we stand. The truth is that my generation, the "postmoderns", do not know where they are. Broken dreams are all that is left of many postmoderns. They have big dreams and big ideas and do not know how to cope when their parents statements of "you can be anything you want" fall through. We live today in swirl of confusion and in a whirlwind of searching. Unlike previous generations the postmoderns are looking for answers, they do not want to be left alone. Where they find the answers though is never consistent. Some look to violence, some look to belief systems, some look to drinking, some look to partying, some look the opposite sex, others look to the same sex, and many others go many different directions. The generation of today is crying out to be understood but they fall on the deaf ears of their elders. There seems to be no hope for them, but Christ will make a way.
In a world that seeks spirituality and seeks answers the church has an amazing opportunity to become involved in God's plan. We need to become transformers of culture rather than barricading ourselves like we've done for so long. We cannot be afraid, in reality there is nothing to be afraid of. The American Christian culture has developed a fear of having its feelings hurt. We have forgotten the saints of old who faced lions in the arena with shouts of praise to God and those who were beaten, stoned, and killed in the streets simply for preaching the redemptive message of Christ. We have forgotten that the worst that will really happen to us is perhaps some criticism and the possibility of them saying "no".
i encourage you to become relevant to the culture around you. Do not become part of culture per say, but become knowledgeable of it. We must know what is going on if we ever expect to reach out. Just as someone would not go to a foreign country to share the gospel without first trying to become acquainted with the language, we need to become acquainted with today's culture. Please attempt to make a new friend that is not in your comfort zone. There is nothing greater that the postmoderns need than a friend who can help guide, encourage, and pursue them. When it comes time for someone to make the leap of faith to Christianity, they're going to jump to the side that their friends are on.
So as for where we stand today, we stand in the middle of a crossroads where Christianity has to make a decision as to how they are going to react to today's postmodern culture. The world is looking to you for the answer, are you going to give it to them?
In today's America the view has been extremely shifted from one side of the spectrum to the other. We have gone back and forth in our values with no signs of ever stopping, but now we have the chance of a lifetime to make an amazing breakthrough.
American culture began during the Enlightenment era where people had began to "see" that the world could be explained through science instead of having to rely on the mysticism of the former generation. As people began to view their world as explainable, Christianity had to change its tactics in reaching the lost. Christianity was the major driving force of the previous generations, but now science had begun to take Christianity's place as authority. During this time frame Christianity began to put aside the mystery of God and tried to rely more on scientifically proving the Bible.
As Christianity is trying to prefect its tactics in order to stay in the race, the world begins to move into what we call the modern era. The modern era was marked by a view that said the world is constantly getting better. Science and technology were improving at unbelievable speeds and things seemed to be at peace. It was in this era that America was formed. America seemed to be a place of even greater hope than home. Things were constantly improving.
However this era of "improvement" did not last long. The world became marred by wars of all sorts. It is through this time period that a new generation arose. known as Boomers, and were followed by the Generation X'ers. These were a people who were born out of war and knew that the world was not improving and actually began to see the world as falling apart. This is what leads us to where we are now.
Through all of these differences in world views, certain ideas were lost. Families have become easily broken, many neglect those who need help, and the church doesn't really seem to care. The Boomers had a large heart for their children and worked hard to provide for them and give them everything they could ever ask for. The Gen X'ers have then learned that it is important to get what they want. This is more than likely not what the Boomers had in mind, however it's what they understood. So as the Gen X'ers grew up and became leaders of families they didn't really understand how to handle things. That's why so many families today are broken and mislead. The values are not correct.
So where do we stand. The truth is that my generation, the "postmoderns", do not know where they are. Broken dreams are all that is left of many postmoderns. They have big dreams and big ideas and do not know how to cope when their parents statements of "you can be anything you want" fall through. We live today in swirl of confusion and in a whirlwind of searching. Unlike previous generations the postmoderns are looking for answers, they do not want to be left alone. Where they find the answers though is never consistent. Some look to violence, some look to belief systems, some look to drinking, some look to partying, some look the opposite sex, others look to the same sex, and many others go many different directions. The generation of today is crying out to be understood but they fall on the deaf ears of their elders. There seems to be no hope for them, but Christ will make a way.
In a world that seeks spirituality and seeks answers the church has an amazing opportunity to become involved in God's plan. We need to become transformers of culture rather than barricading ourselves like we've done for so long. We cannot be afraid, in reality there is nothing to be afraid of. The American Christian culture has developed a fear of having its feelings hurt. We have forgotten the saints of old who faced lions in the arena with shouts of praise to God and those who were beaten, stoned, and killed in the streets simply for preaching the redemptive message of Christ. We have forgotten that the worst that will really happen to us is perhaps some criticism and the possibility of them saying "no".
i encourage you to become relevant to the culture around you. Do not become part of culture per say, but become knowledgeable of it. We must know what is going on if we ever expect to reach out. Just as someone would not go to a foreign country to share the gospel without first trying to become acquainted with the language, we need to become acquainted with today's culture. Please attempt to make a new friend that is not in your comfort zone. There is nothing greater that the postmoderns need than a friend who can help guide, encourage, and pursue them. When it comes time for someone to make the leap of faith to Christianity, they're going to jump to the side that their friends are on.
So as for where we stand today, we stand in the middle of a crossroads where Christianity has to make a decision as to how they are going to react to today's postmodern culture. The world is looking to you for the answer, are you going to give it to them?
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