In keeping with the theme
of Preaching the Gospel message here is
an interesting article reference that will challenge us in our methods and
approach of reaching people with a message of hope and peace.
It is time to explore some of
the distinctives of our time and place which challenge our own ability to be
effective expositors of God’s Word. In a recent article entitled “Responding to
the Post-Modern Mind,” published in the summer 2007 issue of Affinity “Table Talk” in the U.K., the Christian sociologist Rob Tyler asks how we
are to reach a post-modern culture without compromising biblical truth or
alienating our culturally-conditioned hearers. He outlines eight
characteristics of post-modernity which are most pertinent (and challenging) to
the truth claims of the Bible and its [1] contemporary
expositors. His listing, in briefest summary, is as follows:
1. Rejection of
meta-narratives—any theory or claim to be able to explain everything.
2. Anti-foundationalism—the view
that there are no indisputable criteria by which to judge the truth or falsity
of any belief system.
3. Anti-totalization—“because we
cannot know everything about a topic, it is arrogance to claim any kind of
truth because more can always be added.”
4. Globalization.
5. Eclecticism—this is the pick
and mix mentality which “allows and encourages the mixing of different
internally valid ideas to create new ones.”
6. Media-Saturation.
7. Individualism—incessant
choosing, living how you wish, infinite choice, and self-expression.
8. Consumption encourages style at
the expense of substance.[2]
Unbelievers are increasingly hesitant about coming to
presentations which they know to be evangelistic, fearing the hard-sell, the
manipulative emotional ride, or the sign-up, give your money club-membership
approach which they anticipate as the purpose of the exercise. They are much
more likely to visit on a regular Sunday, anonymously and unannounced, so that
they will experience a regular sermon and determine their response from that.
