How do you reach an increasingly unchurched, post-religious, post-Christian culture with the gospel?

[James Nored]

Churches across the United States are shrinking. In fact, every single fellowship, including Churches of Christ, is on the decline. It used to be said that healthy churches grow. In today's climate, with a shrinking percentage of the population being Christian, healthy churches may not necessarily grow. They may shrink due to the overall decline of Christianity in our culture. 

 

It will take more than just church health to grow churches. It will take more than "build it and they will come." Many churches are "building it"--and still they are not coming. Why? The reason is that we are in a missionary culture. No missionary could expect to go into a foreign country and just build a church building and have the local natives deciding that they want to go to church.

 

In his new book, The Road to Missional, author Michael Frost summarizes some statistics about the state of Christianity in the United States:

 

'In the West, researchers like George Hunter have concluded that the US is now the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere, and the fifth largest mission field on earth. Indeed, emerging generations continue to turn their backs on the church, rejecting it as an institution without necessarily rejecting the faith it should represent.

 

A recent survey of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 found that 18 percent of them say they attend worship nearly every week or more often. Compare that to the fact that 40 percent say religion is very important in their lives, 41 percent report praying daily, and 53 percent say they are certain of the existence of God. In other words, religious faith is way more popular than church attendance. In fact, church attendance has dropped right across all age groups, with the exception of the baby boomers. Further research recently found that 'more [younger unchurched people] would prefer to read an inspirational book than seek inspirational help from a church.'

It appears church is one of the last places they would go to satisfy their existential or spiritual cravings. This led the researchers to conclude, 'Remarkably, only one in six would go to church if seeking spiritual guidance.' I’m not sure why they thought that was remarkable. For many of us it is as clear as the nose on our faces. It is the world in which we live, and I don’t see any indications this trend will abate. In the same research, more than 80 percent of the unchurched young people surveyed agreed with the statement 'Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.'"

Frost, Michael (2011-10-01). Road to Missional, The (Shapevine) (Kindle Locations 180-195). Baker Books. Kindle Edition.

 

So, how can churches reach people that are in this dramatically changed environment? 

1. Train your people to think and act like missionaries in their daily lives. This is the number one way that people are reached--through relationships. Help people discover their Spiritual gifts, and coach them on using these gifts to bless the non-Christians in their lives. Have each of the members identify two non-Christians to pray for, serve/bless, social with, and invite to worship or into Bible study. Teach them how to talk about their faith in daily life and daily conversation (most don't do this at all).
2. Create church ministries that address the brokenness in peoples lives. These ministries also ought to flow out of people's giftedness. This is how our food pantry, clothes closet, Celebrate Recovery, Dynamic Marriage, and many other outreach ministries began, by helping people discover their Spiritual gifts. As you minister to people, you will have an opportunity to share the gospel. For this sharing, I recommend the Story of Redemption!
3. Capitalize on whatever Christendom vestiges still remain. While we are increasingly in a missionary environment, there are still people that are somewhat disconnected from a church that still desire to be part of one. Help them get connected at your church. Follow-up with visitors. Greet people that come. Take advantage of your location if you have a good one. Do things all things well. These type of "church growth" principles and church health related tools can still be helpful. They simply cannot be the full solution to reaching people today. 

 

Really, this is another way of saying, follow the missional outreach strategy that is advocated on this site. This strategy is modeled after the life and mission of Jesus and includes: 1) Seeking the lost (Lk. 19:10)--we must proactively seek out lost people, going to where they are physically, emotionally,  and spiritually, and not expect them to come to us; 2) Serve the community (Mk. 10:45) - serve or bless people in the areas of brokenness in their lives; and 3) Share the good news (Lk. 4:43) - this should be done in a culturally appropriate way that takes people where they are, sharing the great story of God's redemption.

 

What do you think of the above ideas? How do you think that we can primarily reach people today for Christ?

 

[Donald Moore]

While I'm at it, I hear and read much about the younger generation wanting "authentic" Christianity.  All this means is putting our claims of loving our fellow man into practice.  Shame on us for not putting our claims into practice during previous generations (in general that is).  We focused solely on worship and forgot to bring the lost in on it as well.  No wonder the current generation doesn't see any utility in organized worship.  However, to ignore worship completely only means the swinging of the pendulum to the other extreme.  We have to restore balance with loving our fellow man to the point we go to them with the gospel, guiding them on the path of salvation, and worshipping him according to His will.  They are all interrelated activities and if we ignore any component we do so to our eternal peril.

[Donald Moore]

I agree we should be disciples of Christ.  Many today think that only means being "missional".  Well, last time I checked the disciples also grew the Church and worshipped God in specific ways as described in scripture. 

 

As an elder charged with protecting the flock from false doctrines, I find it interesting when Christians attempt to create a false dilemma by characterizing women's roles, instrumental music, and other "stances" as "issues" to ignore.  The role of women only becomes an issue when people disagree with the fact there are established roles in a family and the Church.  The use of instrumental music only becomes an issue when scriptures are ignored or not logically reasoned instead of explained as revealed by God.  It amazes me how willing current generations are to focus solely on God's mission and His loving nature and ignore the other aspects of his nature, such as goodness, justice, righteousness, etc.  We are oh so willing to embrace the components of His nature we like and claim to be his true disciples at the expense of fulfilling every aspect of discipleship.

 

For those that don't want to focus on how we do church but only on loving God and loving people, my question is why can't both be done?  My other question is when we have loved people and done God's will to seek the lost, what are they supposed to do then?  I'm pretty sure they are to become Christians after the New Testament pattern.  I would think they would worship God as well, also according to the New Testament pattern, with men leading the worship and no instrumental music. 

[James Nored]

Mike, you said so many things that are true about today's culture. Obviously, you are well in touch 9having 20 and 19 year olds helps!). The Boomers, speaking generically, were driven by issues. While there may be some overlap in things that they see similarly on particular issues, these are secondary matters for them if they are even on the radar screen. A church that genuinely loves God and people, that actively serves others, that is making a difference in the world and the community, and that helps them to experience God in worship, is what will impact them. As you say, they can spot a fraud a mile away.

 

You say, "Let's be disciples and see what happens to church growth." I like this. And a disciple is one who goes out and fishes for people. If we concentrate on reaching people for Christ, more will come into his kingdom. And this will certainly be a blessing to the church.

[Michael Neill]

I have a 20 year old and a 19 year old.  They believe in God.  They love God.  They attend church.  However they attend church differently than I do.  They attend church's where they feel they "experience" God.  Music and worship are important to them.  Being part of a group where they dialogue about how they can live better in important to them.  Being engaged in service is important.  They have been on many mission trips and my son will intern this summer in Honduras.

However, they don't want to "hear" about God.  They want to experience God.  The way the typical church operates is of no interest to them.  They don't care about issues such as women's roles, instrumental music, or our stance on anything.  I think the Godly element of this generation is more Christian the religious.  And that worries some.  Could it be that they are more right then we are?  I think we are living in a post-religious era.  So let's not focus on how we do church but on loving God and loving people.  My kids can spot a fraud from a mile away, as can all young adults these days.  If you are religious but not a disciple, they spot it from a mile away and want nothing to do with it.

 

Let's be disciples and see what happens to church growth.

[James Nored]

Thanks, Glenda. I'm sure that you have experienced this dramatic decline personally in the churches in California.

It is interesting that you mentioned megachurches here. These churches have done a tremendous amount of good. But Frost points out that "the number of US megachurches (those with more than 2,000 weekly attendees) has leaped to more than 1,300 today—from just 50 in 1970." And still this great decline. It will take a different approach and paradigm to fully reach the culture again for Christ.

 

Frost, Michael (2011-10-01). Road to Missional, The (Shapevine) (Kindle Locations 197-198). Baker Books. Kindle Edition. 

[Glenda Thomas]

great ideas. the facts speak for themselves. there so many churches in
California that are going out of business. then there are new mega churches.
the newer churches connect with relationships not dogma.