Cultural Observations For Rent or Sale

I’ve been a casual reader of the popular group blog boingboing for the last several years. Occasionally I get turned off by some of their content choices, but there will typically be one or two fairly interesting posts every time I pull it up. More than anything else, I think it gives a decent window into the mind of those who are “controlling” much of the uncontrolled content of the web; many of the same trendsetting people who happen to be the emerging leaders of popular culture.

One of the trends I’ve been noticing lately while reading boingboing and other related websites is an increasing hostility towards Christianity (no surprise there), but also belief in God in general, and even a passé attitude towards spirituality. In fact, the “trend” appears to be rapidly heading towards rigid atheism, with the popularity of authors such as Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins leading the popular charge. All of the sudden, I am hearing recycled and stylized arguments against the existence of God or the physical existence of Jesus that I heard in college and defended by regurgitating Josh McDowell. In the late ‘90s, a shift occurred in ministry to begin understanding “post-modernity” and all its related definitions and forms. We became enamored with the idea that the post-modern would naturally be a spiritual seeker, and would value authenticity and experience over the hard facts about Jesus and the Bible. After investing so much energy into apologetic debate, it was a welcome proposition. But I wonder if post-modernity is really turning out how the evangelical “experts” predicted?

What if the post-modern mind is selectively returning to certainties found in the rationalism of modernity as a reaction to the uncertainties and injustices that the trendsetters are holding out as the cause d’jour – ending the War on Terror, hating George Bush, Darfur, global warming, etc? Waking up to another headline about sixty Iraqis dying from a roadside bomb makes rational arguments disproving the existence of God that much more attractive and convincing. Christians have become more aware recently that we must dive into these issues that our culture is discussing with the firm belief that our God cares and is energizing his people to serve. Yet, in spite of our action, the tide of popular opinion turned against evangelical Christianity a long time ago.

So where does this leave us, ones who desire to understand our place in God’s redemptive mission to the world? Not in an enviable place I’m afraid. Our apologetics will always appear to be a second-rate attempt at bailing out a sinking ship, sort of how the trendsetters make jokes about oxymoronic “creation science”. Our emphasis on creating environments where post-moderns can “experience God” have been too shallow and lack anything compelling enough to be anything more than a diversion. When are we going to realize that cultural relevancy is a waste of time? Attempting to relate to the culture represented by sites like boingboing in a church context would be simply laughable.

The greatest apologetic we have as followers of Jesus in this culture is the web of relationship we are creating as we share the life of the kingdom with each other. Ask my friend Jason Evans about his atheist friend Matt...the only compelling thing Matt finds about Christianity is the selfless relationships he was witnessed between Jason and his community of faith. I would argue that Jesus will only make sense to this generation if his love is demonstrated between those who call themselves his followers and then in turn to those who are suffering in the world. A tall order, but I no longer see another way forward for the church in the West.