Have you noticed the times are different? Me too.
A few forces are combining to make our time in history different from anything else that’s come before:
- Aggressive secularism — Secularism isn’t new, but it’s increasingly aggressive. Christians are now the bad guys, as Steve McAlpine writes.
- Social upheaval — Trust in public institutions is unraveling. Populations are increasingly polarized. The economy’s in turmoil. We’re living through the fourth turning, and things don’t look like they’ll settle for a while.
- Technological change — The introduction of the smartphone, social media, and the advances in Artificial Intelligence are changing the way we function as humans. We’ve just begun to grapple with what these changes mean.
- Crises within the church — Trust in clergy is at a low. We’re no longer surprised when we hear of a moral failure within the church. We face our own series of crises inside the church, not just as we react to the world outside.
Any one of these four factors would make this a challenging time. Combine all four, and even the bravest among us might feel overwhelmed.
No wonder so many of us feel unsettled. We sense something’s happening in society that makes our time unique. How should we respond?
First, we should pay attention to our particular challenges. We’re called to serve Jesus in our time. This means learning the issues of our time, as well as how to respond. As we make disciples, we must cover old topics that have become new again: for instance, how to respond to increasing apathy and hostility from culture. We must also cover new topics: how to practice spiritually healthy digital habits that help us grow. We must help people understand and articulate a Christian vision of sexuality, and why it’s a truer and better one than the world offers.
Second, we should avoid overplaying the discontinuity between the old and the new. Every generation faces its unique challenges. Some of our challenges are new, but facing challenges isn’t. It’s hard to argue, for instance, that we face greater challenges than Augustine of Hippo did in his day. We have much to learn from how the church has handled the challenges she faced in the past.
Third, we should also pay attention to the basics. The more the world changes, the more we need the basics: a robust theology, a vibrant walk with God, and a strong church led by godly leaders. No matter what changes, these basics are foundational. If they’re not in place; nothing else matters. If they’re in place, we’ll be well positioned to respond.
Do we live in different times? Yes. The church always has. As Christians before have learned to meet the challenges of each age, we can too. Don’t emphasize the discontinuity or ignore it either. Don’t fall for quick fixes or fads. Let’s resolve to double down on the basics, and to trust that God is at work at all times, including ones like ours.
Believing this, let’s stay faithful and expect that God will work, thanking him for the privilege of serving him in our challenging times.
