Spiritual Questions

One problem with sharing the faith is that evangelical Christians are answering questions no one is asking. But the Gospel is both a confrontation and an accommodation. We need to listen to the questions people are asking and see how the Gospel answers those questions. 

We need to balance confrontation and accommodation. We also need to make sure that are answers aren't seen as meaningless because they don't touch on the questions people ask. 

Every generation has different questions. Baby Boomers and those older grew up in a world where institutions were viewed as good. They live to work - career is tantamount. They underparented their children because schools did so much. They tend to be idealists and think problems should be solved. They experienced great social upheaval and they were last American generation to experience a great Christian revival (the Jesus Movement). They viewed truth as objective - there is the Truth. 

Key spiritual question: What is true?

These people are losing power in society. No longer largest cohort. 

Generation X is pessimistic rather than optimistic. These are the underparented. They do not view institutions as good. They work to live rather than live to work. They look to friends for identity - not society. First generation to experience postmodernism. They do not believe in objective truth. More comfortable with questions than answers. 

Key Question: What is real?

Millennials grew up in child-centered homes. Science and technology shaped them. They are not actually lazy. They are pragmatic and want to change the world for the better. 

Key Question: What is good?

Willing to partner with anyone, regardless of belief system, to reach their goals. 

Today's children, born after 2003, greatly influenced by the democratization of art. 

Key Question: What is beautiful?

What does the Gospel say to these questions? We need to think differently. We need to be peacemakers, carrying forward the incarceration of Christ into the world. We will measure our success, our spiritual authenticity, by how much good we bring to others. 

Three activities of peacemaking:

1. Refuse to objectify others. It is not a black-and-white world. Receive and love people regardless. Bring Christ to everyone. If we can't do this, our mission is dead in the water. 

2. Seek reconciliation. We need to be a mediating influence. What can I do to bring Christ into this place. 

3. Bring the Kingdom where it is not. If you see hungry people, violence, environmental damage, etc. - these are not of the Kingdom. 

How can we bring beauty to the world?