Tracy's Response to an article: How are we Communicating the Gospel?

 The questions and issues for lost people have changed. I am not sure that we are listening to the questions any longer. Is it possible that in our efforts to communicate we are simply shouting our answers at a higher pitch?

Sometimes we continue to use old methodologies because they have worked in the past and therefore we resist adapting "new approaches." Some may fear that changing the approach is compromising the message or too much trouble. In the context of the statement “are we listening to the questions any longer”? The author is comparing the modern and postmodern thinking and how the questions raised by both systems are inherently different. 

Modernity is more factual and scientific while postmodernity is subjective, pragmatic, and spiritual (all religions) in its scope. I would say that most Christians approach to evangelism cater to the modern thinking which can be still relevant to those who are older but the younger millennium generation is postmodern in its beliefs. 

Adapting the right approach to reach those with postmodern thinking should not involve compromising the biblical message but rather using the right language and right evangelistic approach. If we wanted to bring the gospel to a different culture we have to learn the language and customs of that culture which entails some training. To reach the postmodern culture we have to learn their language and culture and wisely develop strategies to reach them just as if we were missionaries abroad. 

Another characteristic of the postmodern culture is that they are more relational and want the church to “demonstrate the truth” verses “talk about the truth”. They don’t want a bunch of facts but rather want to know how Christianity can help them in a practical sense. The church loses credibility and integrity with postmodernist when we fail to “love one another” and this invalidates our message. 

The servant evangelism method is a good approach to reach postmodernist because we demonstrate the love of Christ. Most postmodernist will never grace the four walls of a church but rather it will take Christians leaving the comfort and confines of the church and be willing to invade the postmodernist domain. For example, we will have to take a genuine interest in those around us who are lost. In detail, in “Evangelism Is” the authors put forth the excellent idea of concentric circles (p.197). This involves identifying family, relatives, friends, neighbors & associates, acquaintances, and strangers. We write their names down and begin to pray for them and then look for opportunities to serve them. As we build genuine relationships and serve them this builds a bridge where we might be able to demonstrate Christ love and communicate the gospel.