This week, an excellent essay, written by Michael Dimock of the Pew Center, discusses with statistical research the many social and cultural changes that have taken place over the eight years of the Obama Presidency.  Regardless of how you view our outgoing President and our incoming President, it is important that we recognize some of these significant changes over the past eight years and attempt to formulate in our minds the ways we can take the gospel to the shifting mindsets of our post-Christian culture.

What has changed in America’s mindset and culture over the last presidency?  Dimock says: “the country is undeniably different” in the following ways (quotation marks represent direct statements):

*Research shows that “race relations are generally bad.”

*Although some aspects of the economy have improved, “the country faces serious economic challenges.”

*We saw changes in social issues such as legalizing marijuana, legalizing same-sex marriage.

*Millennials now represent the largest living generation in our country.

*A majority of newborns are from racial and ethnic minorities.

*The electorate is the most racially and ethnically diverse ever.

*The largest increase of “nones,” those who claim no religion at all, rose from 16% (2007) to 25%.

*Education has fast become a dividing line separating those with conservative or liberal social/political views.

*Partisan division exists everywhere, especially from opposing political viewpoints concerning presidential performance, gun control, immigration and climate change.

*There is a genuine distrust and skepticism of government, especially over its ability to provide protection from domestic terrorism and the invasion of privacy.

*People are growing more wary of the U.S. engaging in international affairs.

*There have been swift changes in technology, especially in the way social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is used as a persuasion strategy.

*There is escalating skepticism towards the media over the production of “fake news,” helping us understand that we are in times marked by “post-truth politics.”

*Technological changes will continue to accelerate at a faster pace, “reshaping the way we communicate, travel, shop and work.”

*In less than 40 years, “the U.S. will not have a single racial or ethnic majority group.” Ours is truly a land of deep, diverse ethnicity.

*Despite the fact that more people are living with pessimism in this country, a majority of the population believe that “racial and ethnic diversity make the country a better place to live.”

What do I take away from this analysis?

• Only the Christian gospel can sufficiently address the race-relations issue this country faces.  It is time for churches of all ethnic backgrounds to demonstrate proactive measures towards this dilemma.  God is neither Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green Party, Independent, or any other party.
• With the emergence of the Millennials and a growing number of “nones,” a new mindset has come to our culture.  We must understand this population group more than ever before and contextualize the gospel to engage them.  There are resources on this website that can assist in this contextualization.
• The deconstructionists have been winning the battle in the American classroom for several decades now.  It’s time for greater numbers of Christians to choose teaching not only as a worthy and admirable profession, but also as a mission field.
• We must find greater ways to use technology, especially social media,  to reach this culture with the gospel.
• Christians and the church must set the pace when it comes to integrity and authenticity.  We must mean what we say, say what we mean, and handle our affairs with dignity, honesty, and credibility.  This is especially true in our heterosexual marriages, finances, parenting, work ethic and business contracts.
• Churches must intentionally target the respective ethnic groups in their communities for church planting, evangelism and discipleship in greater ways.
• People will begin to look at a church will more good will when they see the congregation matching the ethnic make-up of their respective community.  For example, if a community is 50% White, 25% Asian, 15% Black and 15% Hispanic, then the church that closely matches their community’s constitution will not only stand to receive greater respect from the community, but also that church will be better poised to reach a larger percentage of people in their community.

While the gospel does not change, CULTURE CHANGES, and this study confirms this in vivid ways.  We need to get more serious about the days we’re living in, and become more proactive in reaching this culture for Christ and his Kingdom.