“In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned” -Titus 2:7b–8a
We live in a postmodern post-Christian context where the world tells us that nothing matters, absolute truth does not exist, and what’s good for you may not be good for me. In other words, everything is relative and everything is tolerated (except Christianity) in this politically-correct pluralistic utopian-like society. The word “whatever” sums up this worldview because what’s true for you may not be true for me. In Bible times, the equivalent of this “whatever” lifestyle can be found in Judges 17:6b, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (ESV). The HCSB states, “everyone did whatever he wanted.”
How do we minister, and specifically evangelize a generation that increasingly adopts the postmodern mindset? I have taken much time in prayer, in the Word, in seeking God, in research, and in study during my leisure time to attempt to arrive with a plausible answer to this crucial question. I do not have enough space in this blog entry to write all the answers I have found or have been revealed to me. Most experts will tell you that sharing your story within sharing The Story (Creation, Fall, Rescue, Restoration) is foundational. I would agree with this assessment as the biblical worldview seen through the lens of Scripture presents a perfect balance that makes sense out of all of life.
However, I want to share with you my personal thoughts and feelings on the subject of ministering in a postmodern world. We know that images capture the attention of the next generation more than words. Young people often live their lives vicariously through the media. The next generation often make sense of their world through their music, movies, and games. How many times have you heard a teenager quote a movie, sing his or her favorite lyrics, or talk non-stop about their favorite video game? Thanks to technology and social media, the next generation could almost be considered to have multiple personalities in the form of a real-life self and a virtual-self. In essence, these two people should be the same, but oftentimes they are worlds apart. This makes ministering to the next generation twice as hard.
But it’s no time to give up! In working with the next generation, there is a lack of seriousness (see the verse above). We next generation ministry leaders often contribute and sometimes unintentionally add to the lack of seriousness in the next generation that we minister to. In this world of random, where kids say things out of the blue that have no bearing on anything whatsoever, we leaders often respond with the same postmodern lingo or say nothing and let our students carry on adlib. The result is neither party gaining anything of substance. In postmodern lingo, one word has many meanings. This is one reason in which secular songs are so popular because a song or even a word in a song takes on so many different meanings to different people.
In contrast, the Word is full of substance. The Word is spirit and life (John 6:63). The Word is truth (John 17:17) and The Word is a means to how one worships (John 4:24). When we next generation leaders pray the Word, speak the Word, sing the Word, or most importantly live the Word, the next generation takes notice. The next generation sees Christ (John 13:34–35) and in turn sees hope (Col 1:27). Hope is what the next generation desires and is what is highly sought after by postmoderns. We have to tell the emerging generations that there is hope, but more importantly, we must show them who Hope is.
The postmodern movement is not all bad. There are actually some good elements within postmodernism that have nudged ministry leaders to reform the church today! However, there are extremes on both sides of the movement and any philosophy or worldview left to itself and without Christ is hopeless and can easily deceive (Col 2:8).
Next generation leader, let’s teach with seriousness, but more importantly, let’s live serious lives. You can still be cool and hip. You can still relate and have fun. But when it comes to the Word of God, let’s make sure the next generation understands God’s Word and life itself is no game.