In American culture, the stories shaping people’s lives have significantly changed. That is, the chapter of Modernism is turning to the chapter of Postmodernism. In addition, a Christian story is giving way to Post-Christian stories.
These cultural revolutions force us back to the practices of Jesus, which in turn call for at least five revolutions in Christian ministry and preaching. Matt. 5-10 may be the most important season of Jesus’ ministry to explore in order to navigate these cultural revolutions.
Jesus does not remain on the mount of Matt. 5-7, inviting those in need to come to him for salt and light. Instead, Jesus comes down from the mountainside and draws physically close to the lost, lonely, and hurting people of Matt. 8-9. Jesus takes the salt and light to the people. One of the fundamental practices of Jesus was closeness—he drew close to people who were far from God.
This simple practice calls for another revolution in ministry. Because many of us developed ways of being salt and light that fit a Modern and Christian culture, we tend to focus on “attractional” strategies—attracting non-Christians to Christian “turf” and Christian events.
This may have worked in a Modern and Christian culture in which people had a positive image of the church and often attended church. But because more and more within America are living according to Postmodern and Post-Christian stories, and thus have negative images of church and less frequently attend church, congregations will benefit from relying increasingly on “missional” strategies—sending Christians to Non-Christian “turf.” Rather than telling our communities “We have the salt and light you need, come to us and get it,” Jesus’ practice of closeness compels us to say, “We have the salt and light you need and we will bring it to you.”
