Postmodern Church
What is postmodernism? Obviously, no single post can describe it. But one way to think about it is to recognize that we no longer live in a time or culture where there is a single agree-upon version of, or story about, reality. Instead, there are lots of competing stories about what makes the world go round. For centuries Christianity offered, if not the only story, at least the dominant one through which we made sense of the world. Now we live in a world of multiple worldviews and contrasting “grand narratives” that purport to offer the “truth” about the ways of the world, and that can be both exciting and confusing. Exciting because there are so many possibilities to help us make sense of our lives in the world; confusing because they don’t all agree and it can be hard to discern and choose among them.
In this kind of world of competing stories and different options for making sense of our lives, we can no longer assume that people will go to church just because their parents did. Instead, they’ll give their time and their money and their energy – and in all these ways their allegiance – to those activities and narratives that most inform and shape their lives. This, more than any other single factor, helps explain for me the decline of the Christian church (the mainline traditions over the last 40 years, but also Evangelical traditions over the last decade).
But sometimes I get worried that we live in something of a time-warp. That is, we know the culture has changed, we know there are lots of other options for your time and attention on Sunday morning, but we act as if we’re still living in the 50s and people will keep going to church just because that’s what you’re supposed to do. Do we recognize, that is, that the current reality is that the church – and, indeed, the Christian faith – has a lot of competition. And just to be clear, that competition isn’t always from other religions. Most congregations I know aren’t struggling because their members have suddenly converted to another religion; rather, they’re opting to go to their kids’ hockey match or soccer game, or their using Sunday morning to catch up on work or spend some quality time with their families after another hectic week.
At the same time, however, there hasn’t been a time or generation in recent memory where more people were curious about the spiritual life and had questions about the mystery of our lives and the possibility for an encounter with God. But the thing is, these folks won’t just come to church because they’re supposed to. They’ll come – if they come – looking for an experience, hoping for an encounter with something that may transform them.
Are we ready for them?
In the following video, Pastor Jay Gamelin explores the possibility that we’re not. That while we’re set up to meet the needs of folks who came of age in a culture that assumed church attendance and denominational loyalty, today’s seeker is looking for something different. So when folks come and want to know what we believe, we tell them about our denomination…or potluck. And when folks come seeking an experience of God, we invite them to become members of a religious organization (i.e., our congregation). How might we better meet the needs of a “spiritual-but-not-necessarily-religious” generation? Watch Jay’s video and then chime in with your thoughts, questions, and suggestions.
Very interesting insight, and it sounds right. But… getting the modern church to “learn” how to “show” the faith is the trick. Does that mean we should “advertise” that we feed those in need from our food pantry??? We shelter the homeless once a year? That we visit people when they are in the hospital??? I don’t think that’s it. Life with Jesus is so transformational, and in my opinion, something that can take years to “experience,” that it is hard to “show it” to anyone. It’s not a flashy car or a movie…
I preached about these very issues this last week asking the question: how do we be church in a world that no longer recognizes the voice of the shepherd as it spoken in the current language of Christian America? I quoted a lot of DJL and talked about what people mean when they say, “I don’t go to church because it doesn’t do anything for me” when what they mean to say…rightly is, “I don’t go to church because it doesn’t do anything TO me.” For some, it was a crucial sermon. For many others though… Pr. Jay Gamelin was helpful to hear. Maybe we should listen to him as a council.
Serving in a congregation in a college town I live in the tension between the 50’s generation who see God and the church as one while trying to reachout to the ‘spiritual not religious’ generation that surrounds us.
We live in a time of change full of challenges and opportunities. With both sides acknowledging that the other exists, while not comprehending why the other does not understand them.
I think Pr Jay is asking good directive questions. How do we move from the ‘Fall and Redemption’ stories to lifting up ‘Creative and Restoration’ stories.
As a Lutheran, following in the mode of Martin Luther, I continue to wrestle with how do we reform the church, more specifically individual congreations into post-modern communities of faith and service?
I agree with Pr Jay. No one has time for just “one more thing to do.” Even in the rural community in which I live and serve Sundays and sports practice is just one example of the competition for worship as a family. But despite the things that compete for our time we are a congregation that is very visibly serving our communities and county (I have 5 school districts in my congregation). People who join our church know that worship is a chance to refuel as we expend our energy out in the community the rest of the week as servant leaders (intergenerationaly). The question I challenge my congregation with is this: “If our church were to close the doors forever, would the communities around us miss us?” We can honestly and humbly say “yes.” Most of our folks are involved in our many ministry outreach opportunities in some way or another…it’s not just a small percentage. I am very thankful for my congregation in the ways they do live out their faith….all the while knowing they are not perfect and are in need of Jesus and his saving grace.
The answer now (“post modern world”) is same as it always has been.
Scripture says we are to make disciples not just Christians.
That is the failure of church (organization) since bodies of believers (real church according to scripture) began. Simple-just read & do what the Bible tells us to do