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Transcript of The Postmodern Call to Change Source: Doug Murren To insert your company logo on this slide From...
The Postmodern Call to The Postmodern Call to ChangeChange
Source: Doug Murren
www.square1.org
Reasons This Age Reasons This Age Demands ChangeDemands Change
• 62%– The percentage of Americans today who
do not go to church
• 52%– The percentage of the unchurched who
said they would go to church if ...– a friend asked them – the experience was relevant
Sobering Facts about U.S.Sobering Facts about U.S.
• We no longer hold a religious monopoly.
• We are considered unintelligible in most arenas of culture.
• 39% US churches in serious decline.– Another 40% plateau at best– … and it’s not due to lack of devotion!
14 Characteristics 14 Characteristics of Our Cultureof Our Culture
• 1. Relativistic– postmoderns have trouble grasping anyone
speaking from a posture of final authority
• 2. Eastern Bent in a Secular World-View– from Beatniks to New Age – “life is cyclic and you are reincarnated”
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 3. Hyper-Individualistic– “joining anything” doesn’t fit this world view
• 4. Syncretic– truth is found by taking a little bit from
every faith or school of thought and making it your own, “cafeteria style”
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 5. Highly skeptical– leaders of churches, schools, government
are to be scrutinized and assumed guilty
• 6. Emotionally broken– depressive disorders rampant– sometimes irrational due to stress
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 7. Multi-sensory learners– communication conveyed through music– interactive video habits shape learning style
• 8. Participators– churches where 2-3 people do presentational
worship won’t cut it– want interactive hands-on ministry immersion
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 9. Hyper-segmented– not just ethnically, but life-style and values– churches of future will tend to reach more
narrow segments of society
• 10. Time-starved– they’ll give money before giving day-timer
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 11. Addictive behaviors– 12-step groups flourishing– recovery ministries key to dealing with
substance and process addictions
• 12. Overly stimulated– pace keeps from contemplating – anesthetized against “talking-head” talk
Culture CharacteristicsCulture Characteristics
• 13. Commitment resistant– fear closing off options– eternal commitment to Christ flies in face
• 14. Guilt resistant– foil manipulative devices– respond well to a model of servanthood
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?(10 places to start)(10 places to start)
• 1. Small group meetings will become more strategic than large meetings.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 2. Messages and services will need to be understood by the least initiated.– 1 Corinthians 14
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 3. Replace ministry measured against the past with ministry focussed on aims.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 4. Change the purpose of church from satisfying consumers of religious experiences to reaching and discipling lost people.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 5. Encourage more emphasis on and creative methods of church planting.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 6. Pastors develop more skills of leadership and vision-casting.– from
Pastor/Counselor model to Pastor/Evangelist model
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 7. Deploy women and single people in significant ministry roles.
• over 50% of the US population over age 18 is single
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 8. Churches need to become lay-ministry driven rather than professional-ministry driven.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 9. Invest more time in training bi-vocational ministers.
How Should We Change?How Should We Change?
• 10. Raise the overall level of excellence in our churches.
• our sound systems stink, our services are not prayerfully planned, & our music is too often a distraction due to its poor quality
ConclusionsConclusions
• Sociologists tell us a new culture is appearing in the U.S. every 5 years
• The rate of change in culture is accelerating
ConclusionsConclusions
• We must aggressively change how we do business to thrive in this environment.
The Postmodern Call to The Postmodern Call to ChangeChange
Dr. John P. [email protected]
Copy right John Chandler, 2000