Is Your Church Reaching Today's Culture?

What you’re thinking about Church is probably more cultural than it is Biblical

This past Christmas my wife bought a game for us to play as a family. It’s called ‘OK Boomer’, which is funny because that’s what my kids call us now (even thought we’re not, to be clear). The game was a blast to play and it highlighted different cultural experiences that we all had in our little generational slice of American historical experience. After playing the game until late at night with lots of laughter and story telling, I couldn’t help but notice how different the cultural markers were and how those cultural markers draw parallels to that generation’s expression of church.

So as a follow on to my last blog post: " "Be Open to the Online Expression of Church,"  I wanted to talk about what seems to influence how Church gets expressed more than anything else.

You can see it in the differences between Jewish culture and Gentile culture of the first century heavily influencing the way each expressed devotion to Jesus and culture’s affects can be seen today around the world where the American expression of church is wildly different from the church seen in other parts of the world like Africa, India, or Asia.

But what about generational culture? As I reflected on generational cultural markers, I couldn’t help but notice that they too have influenced the way we express church.

So, I started to do some real scientific in-depth research. I asked ChatGPT. And what came up was surprising (which ChatGPT usually is), especially when thought of in comparison to each generation’s cultural markers in America with the American church expression that particular generation builds.

Here’s what ChatGPT said about the Baby Boomer generation, but as you read it, think of it in the light of the Boomer church:

'The period between 1946 and 1964 is often referred to as the "Baby Boomer" generation, and it was characterized by several cultural markers that defined this era in American history. Some of the key cultural markers of this period include:

These cultural markers defined the era between 1946 and 1964, and had a profound impact on the social, cultural, and political landscape of the United States. They continue to influence American culture today, and are remembered as an important part of the nation's history.’

I can’t help but notice how the church the Boomers built is prosperous, suburban, and thinks of technological advance in terms of television. Also, the counterculture movement was known for ‘sex, drugs, and rock and roll’ which seem to also have influenced the church as well.

Now I don’t see this as necessarily a bad thing to adjust to the culture in order to win it, even Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 :

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

It’s just worth noting that our current expression of Church may be more cultural than we think it is. If you want to reach Boomers, talk about prosperity, plant your church in the suburbs and use TV and pop worship music, it all makes sense.

But what if you want to reach the emerging generation? What about Gen Z?

Well, here’s what ChatGPT says about Gen Z culture, and again, think of this in terms of what the church will need to become in order to reach this new culture. Here’s what the American cultural markers of Gen Z according to ChatGPT:

‘American Cultural Markers between the Late 1990s and Early 2010s:

These cultural markers reflect the significant social, cultural, and political changes that took place between the late 1990s and early 2010s, and continue to shape American culture and society today.’

When I see this new culture we are called to win, I can’t help but think of distributed and fragmented global expressions of church using smartphones in social networks, and gaming platforms for starters. Sounds like the new Digital Church to me.

And for those who think the prevailing model of church is the right one, just look around at who shows up.

Also, it’s not as if the American model of a church service actually reflects how Paul said to do in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (and if you’re brave enough to continue on to verse 40). I haven’t seen a 1 Corinthians 14 church service liturgy anywhere in America.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing either, especially where parts of that direction from Paul were also culturally driven for gentiles in the first century.

We just need to be sure which culture we’re intending to reach and let that culture’s expression of church be what Jesus wants it to be as that culture follows Jesus. No matter how weird it might seem to our generational culture.

Jesus wasn’t a boomer either.

What do you think? Why else should Pastors and ministers be on social media?  Share your ideas below or on social media.

Through the Digital Church Network we are helping physical and digital churches better understand the discipleship process, and helping churches and church planters understand this and other decentralized mindset shifts. Joining the DCN is free and be encouraged!