Western culture is rapidly becoming post-Christian. As a result, the church faces her greatest missional opportunity in centuries. ‘Spirituality’ is now being pushed to the center. Followers of Jesus will have the opportunity to showcase their faith alongside every other faith in the world. Canada, which is rapidly becoming a post-Christian society, is a fertile ground for relational Christian witness. Post-modernity faces the church with its most dangerous challenge, in its anti-Christian perspective in its belief and practice. This new culture will be foreign to anything that we have ever known.

World history has known several cultural epochs: pre-historic times, the ancient world, medieval times, and the modern world. As we move away from modernism, we enter a post-modern culture. The modern era gave us everything that we knew and held dear. It handed us our form of education, worldview, culture, how we think and process knowledge. The scientific method, along with reason were elevated to the highest good. It was symmetrical, secure, certain, orderly, optimistic, neat and tidy. Humanity was at the center.

Several events from the last century began to knock modernism off of its perch: 1) new discoveries in twentieth century science and philosophy; 2) the first and second world war; 3) the European holocaust; 4) the Great Depression; 5) the invention and use of the atomic bomb; 6) existentialism; 7) deconstructionism; 8) the rapid growth of technology. Each of these have contributed in their own way to begin to push modernity with its optimism, hope, belief in absolutes, certainty, objectivity, off the shelf. The new era offers an emerging cynicism, a belief in no absolutes, and uncertainty.

The post-Christian era brings with it a full fledged set of values: the belief in no grand stories; truth is discovered only in community; personal experience and perspective is key; a growing distrust in the institution; relationships are integral; uncertainty is certain; mystery; nonconformity; a respect for free minds and spirits; a rebirth of the imagination; tolerance; the end of a coherent worldview looms. Post-modernism offers us a glimpse into the first century perspective on life.

This post-Christian era is a dangerous one. Some well known Christian leaders argue for adaptation. However, engagement would be a better response. This is the belief of N.T. Wright, the late Stanley Grentz, as well as contemporary Christian cultural critics Brian Walsh and Richard Middleton.

But what is this engagement to be? In the next article, it will be argued that the best form of Christian approach in meeting the challenge of post-modernity will be “the church as an apologetic.” This is a lifestyle approach to faith, where the lives of believers become the best defense for the gospel that they hold dear. It will be an approach, and an engagement based upon living and exhibiting faith as lifestyle in relationships.

This is the second in a series of articles submitted by Dr. Bryan Hagerman (Regal Road Baptist Church). A new one will be posted each month. We invite your comments on the form below as we dialogue about these issues. Comments submitted will be posted after approval is granted.