Changing Culture

This summer, when I talked to pastors about the most significant challenges to ministry, the top three items were isolation, burnout (feeling overworked), and developing leaders. The fourth most common response was around a changing culture. There were drastic changes in American culture from the post-war 1950s, the space-race of the 1960s, the flower power of the 1970s, the sensationalized 1980s, the dawn of the information age in the 1990s, and globalization since 2000. However, many churches have not made changes over the years. Holding to the status quo is understandable because the Christian worldview is countercultural to secular society, yet this divide has grown, and pastors have felt the weight of this difference. The following are some ways that a changing culture has become a challenge for pastors guided by their own words.

Church is not a Priority

While the church was once the center of community and connection between people, there are many alternatives these days.

The church is irrelevant. It's not central to anyone's life. Regular attendance is once every six weeks.

The world offers fun and it's tough to compete with athletics, fame, and fortune.

Since church is not a priority, there is little commitment to a local church.

People are not as willing to commit as they used to, the seed among thorns.

Commitment doesn't wane in how much faith people have, but actions wane.

Lack of Respect

The world does not have a natural respect for the pastoral office.

There was a time when pastors were automatically respected. Not anymore.

There is a lack of respect for leaders like pastors and the police. Christianity used to be looked up to, and then it was tolerated; now it is opposed.

People do not go to church for the same reasons that they used to go to church.

Church is more and more "against the way of the world." People used to go to church to be in good standing with the world. Not anymore.

The church may need to look for a new approach.

The old ways of doing church are gone.

The big-box mode of church is less prevalent.

The culture increasingly has different values than the church.

One pastor was warned about the discrepancy between church and culture when giving a message about society's values.

Cultural topics are hard, but I was told at my ordination that if people aren't a little upset with me I probably wasn't preaching the Gospel of Jesus.

This is another powerful discrepancy.

We want to be judged on intent and not actions, but we judge others on actions and not intent.

Polarization

One of the ways that culture has shifted, at least within the United States, is related to how far apart opposing sides have become. There have always been differences, but these differences are increasingly irreconcilable.

We are living in a world of extremes with no middle ground.

You can't make everyone happy, especially when dealing with problems.

The pandemic has exacerbated those differences.

Lots of people have been angry since we navigated the Covid season - we just couldn't get it right with all groups of people.

One response from a pastor gave a sobering forecast about how bad things could get.

Demographic studies show that Christianity is declining, but we're not on the bottom. It is going to keep going down.

Even when it seems impossible, holding the tension of the differences is critical for the work of a pastor, and managing a pastor’s own feelings is vital to success.

Pastors need to stay tethered to diverse opinions. They can do this through humility and managing their self-reactivity.

Technology

Pastors also described the challenges of rapidly changing technology. Some people have compared the dawn of Artificial Intelligence software (AI) as world-changing as the invention of the printing press or the rise of the internet.

Artificial Intelligence is outpacing the church's imagination around social issues.

Another aspect of technology that has changed our culture is social media. Many have used this tool to further the Kingdom of God, but aspects of these different platforms have also eroded parts of church culture.

Social media makes it easy to see others' lives and we are never enough. The competition is crippling.

Pastors are left to wonder if and how this technology should be used.

How do you bring about meaningful transformation in a TikTok world?

Vicarious Engagement

Some pastors have felt a shift away from community and toward a Sunday morning product.

There are a lot of lukewarm Lutherans, a lot of consumer Christians who expect an experience on Sunday more than discipleship.

Instead of church members learning to interact with the changing culture, they request that the pastor do it on their behalf.

It's a challenge to navigate the societal issues. They are asking pastors to engage in isues, but they won't engage themselves.

Pastors then feel the need to become experts on rapidly changing cultural issues quickly.

I feel inadequate to handle the complexities around sexuality. It feels like a trap.

Generational Leadership

One pastor pointed out the tendency for generations to see the weaknesses of younger generations rather than their strengths.

Every generation believes that the one after it is softer.

Pastors in the Millennial generation feel that their gifts are not wanted. Those feelings are dangerous when the rate of those leaving the ministry is greater than those entering it.

The model of ministry has changed since 2012. Pastors are leaving ministry, some are retiring, no one is stepping up to be next.

Closing Thoughts

Culture changes. Technology changes. Society changes. Christ does not change. The message of the Gospel transcends barriers and shines in dark places. People who resist the organized church on earth can still be drawn into the power of Grace and Truth revealed in the person of Jesus living in the hearts of imperfect messengers. These cultural challenges are significant, but so is the work God enables through the Holy Spirit to bless the world and spread Love. If you would like to learn more about how to transcend life's pressures on this side of heaven to be the leader God created you to be, please Contact Us.