The Australian Situation
Australia has changed dramatically. It is into this new situation that we must think about how to connect the gospel with people.
They arrive at truth differently
This generation of Australians is thoroughly postmodern. That is, they no longer arrive at truth through reason, but through experience. While we cannot accept this view of truth, neither can we ignore it or our evangelism will not connect with this generation. At the same time as we give them the reasons to believe, we must also give them the experience of real Christianity.
They are longing for community.
Where the previous generation tended toward individualisation, this generation is pursuing community. Because of the breakdown of the family they do not have the tools to create effective community and so they are starving for it. We must offer them Christian community.
Our message is foreign to them
The growing majority of non-churched Australians have never been to church, even as children. When they hear the gospel, it is not just that they don't believe it yet - it does not even sound believable!There is no underlying set of beliefs that gives credibility to the gospel. We must first give these people a Christian worldview. Once they see that the struggles of life are because we are fallen people, that there is a God who is involved in our lives, that he has communicated to us in the Bible, that he made a provision for our restoration through Jesus, then the gospel just "fits"!
Australia has changed dramatically. It is into this new situation that we must think about how to connect the gospel with people.
They arrive at truth differently
This generation of Australians is thoroughly postmodern. That is, they no longer arrive at truth through reason, but through experience. While we cannot accept this view of truth, neither can we ignore it or our evangelism will not connect with this generation. At the same time as we give them the reasons to believe, we must also give them the experience of real Christianity.
They are longing for community.
Where the previous generation tended toward individualisation, this generation is pursuing community. Because of the breakdown of the family they do not have the tools to create effective community and so they are starving for it. We must offer them Christian community.
Our message is foreign to them
The growing majority of non-churched Australians have never been to church, even as children. When they hear the gospel, it is not just that they don't believe it yet - it does not even sound believable!There is no underlying set of beliefs that gives credibility to the gospel. We must first give these people a Christian worldview. Once they see that the struggles of life are because we are fallen people, that there is a God who is involved in our lives, that he has communicated to us in the Bible, that he made a provision for our restoration through Jesus, then the gospel just "fits"!
posted by Drew and Leanne Chislett at 12:03 AM
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