How to Communicate with Emerging Postmodern Generations

Written by Ed Stetzer

The word “postmodern” was first found in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1949. Simply defined, postmodernism is the culture following, and sometimes a reaction to, modernity. Though the term has been around for over 50 years, it seems churches today are just now dealing with the issue. With many of our churches bringing out their guitars and projectors, it seems many churches are just now catching up with contemporary culture, only to see that a new culture has already arrived.

How to communicate with this emerging generation of postmoderns creates an interesting task, because the urgency is immediate. Young emerging evangelicals are rising leaders in American churches. In order to communicate with them, we need to understand them and the terms that accompany this movement. Emerging postmodern generations are hearing and responding to the message in churches that emphasize:

Vintage faith
Most emerging leaders would define their churches as ‘post-seeker-sensitive’; meaning churches designed to reach postmoderns seek to implement a more ‘ancient’ faith, than to update one. Emerging churches are more likely to use more symbols in their worship, instead of seeing them as irrelevant and outdated. These congregations look to the early and ancient church as a primary example. In a postmodern world there is no assurance of truth, so these churches intend on anchoring them to Jesus; because He never changes.

Authenticity
These congregations also have a heightened sense of a community. While the modern world was focused individualism, the postmodern world seeks to find community. Consumerism has crept into our churches and removed an important part of what the church is about—the community. Building an authentic community of believers is a high priority for churches reaching emerging generations. This often means they are willing to reach the ones that will most likely never enter a church otherwise. Your outward appearance does not forfeit the right to attend with these churches.

Relevance
Interestingly enough, younger evangelicals do seem to engage culture more than previous generations. Where the church has fought “Hollywood” and attempted to remove any type of secularism (music or otherwise) from their lives; the postmoderns have embraced this culture, and desire to see it change. They no longer wish to simply attest to culture, but they desire to engage it. A cross-over artist 10 years ago meant they were selling out, but today it means they are making progress.

Community
Emerging congregations also pride a more organically designed fellowship over a linear one. These congregations adopt a genuine perspective on community. Though a formal outreach program may exist; their main source of worship and assimilation is through an association with the community. You will sometimes see pastors refer to themselves as ‘cultural architects’, because they see their position as directing and defining a church culture that engages its community. In communication, they are much more open and honest with struggles and temptations – attempting to create a community that will do ‘life together’ in their active pursuit of God.

If we want to be in ministry tomorrow, we can’t expect methods from yesterday to work in the changing world today. Learning to communicate to emerging generations will make sure that the church is birthed again in a new cultural context. They need to hear about the unchanging Christ as described in His perfect word, but they need to be communicated to in a way that they can understand.

Ed Stetzer has planted churches in New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia and transitioned declining churches in Indiana and Georgia. He has trained pastors and church planters on five continents, holds two masters degrees and two doctorates, and has written dozens of articles and books. Ed is a columnist for Outreach Magazine and Catalyst Monthly, serves on the advisory council of Sermon Central and Christianity Today's Building Church Leaders, and is frequently cited or interviewed in news outlets such as USA Today and CNN.

Ed is Visiting Professor of Research and Missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Visiting Research Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has taught at fifteen other colleges and seminaries. He also serves on the Church Services Team at the International Mission Board.

Ed is currently interim teaching pastor of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN.

Ed's primary role is President of LifeWay Research and LifeWay's Missiologist in Residence.

Visit Ed's blog at edstetzer.com

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