Re-imagining mission for a spiritual age

Steve Hollinghurst June 10

Re-imagining missionRe-imagining missionfor a spiritual age for a spiritual age


Double listening Double listening (Mission-Shaped (Mission-Shaped Church)Church)

Two ears one mouthTwo ears one mouthUse accordingly in missionUse accordingly in mission

Failure to enter the other persons world leaves us like the Failure to enter the other persons world leaves us like the tourists who keep speaking louder in their own languagetourists who keep speaking louder in their own language

To the Mission Context

To the essence of the Christian Inheritance


Changing cultureChanging culture Modernity toModernity to PostmodernityPostmodernity

I tell my story

I choose my beliefs

I buy my identity

The logic of consumerism


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10

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Age in 2005

perc

enta

ge o

f pop

ulat

ion

under 15

monthly

Post-Christendom?Post-Christendom?

9% monthly

26% De Churched

65% Non Churched

76% of New Christians Come from 26% De-Churched finding faith today 1992

This section of the population is older and decreasing over time

Church attendance 2005


Post-Christendom?Post-Christendom?Not just about church attendanceNot just about church attendance– Grace Davie, Grace Davie, - Believing without belonging and vicarious - Believing without belonging and vicarious

faithfaith•But changing beliefBut changing belief•Fading of occasional officeFading of occasional office•Decline in Christian identityDecline in Christian identity

– Stages in the decline of Christendom not a Stages in the decline of Christendom not a new way for it to persistnew way for it to persist


Belief in GodBelief in God

0

10

20

30

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50

60

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80

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100

1947 1981 1990 2000

life force

personalGod


Infant Baptism C of E 2007Infant Baptism C of E 2007

0102030405060708090

100

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

percentage of births by year


Church Weddings 2007Church Weddings 2007

0102030405060708090

100

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

percentage of marriages by year


Christian Affiliation UKChristian Affiliation UK

0102030405060708090

100

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010date

perc

enta

ge o

f pop

ulat

ion


Christian Affiliation 2001Christian Affiliation 2001

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100Age in 2001

perc

enta

ge o

f pop

ulat

ion


Christian Affiliation Christian Affiliation

0102030405060708090

1981 1999

15-2930-4950 +


Not belonging to any religionNot belonging to any religion

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Builders (born 20s+30s) in Builders (born 20s+30s) in 20052005

0102030405060708090

100

raised inchurch

nowattend

monthly +

christianaffiliation

raisechildren

to believein God

believe in

life force

personalGod


Boomers (born 40s+50s) in 2005Boomers (born 40s+50s) in 2005

0102030405060708090

100

raised inchurch

nowattend

monthly +


raisechildren

to believein God

believe in

life force

personalGod


Gen-Xers (born 60s+70s) in 2005Gen-Xers (born 60s+70s) in 2005

0102030405060708090

100

raised inchurch

nowattend

monthly +


raisechildren

to believein God

believe in

life force

personalGod


Gen-Yers (born 80s+90s) in 2015?Gen-Yers (born 80s+90s) in 2015?

0102030405060708090

100

raised inchurch

nowattend

monthly +


raisechildren

to believein God

believe in

life force

personalGod


Post- Secularism?Post- Secularism?• Post-modernity - multi-faith in a post-secular agePost-modernity - multi-faith in a post-secular age

– Post-modern move from truth as fact to truth as Post-modern move from truth as fact to truth as experience - From universal truth to true for me may be experience - From universal truth to true for me may be different to true for you.different to true for you.

– Rejection of objectivity for subjectivityRejection of objectivity for subjectivity– Personal belief re-enters the public squarePersonal belief re-enters the public square– Any and every belief …. All are equally unprovableAny and every belief …. All are equally unprovable– All of this much to the annoyance of Richard All of this much to the annoyance of Richard

Dawkins…….Dawkins…….and Christians?and Christians?

– Religion once more on the agenda but any religion with Religion once more on the agenda but any religion with no way back to Christendom …..indeed is Christianity no way back to Christendom …..indeed is Christianity disadvantaged compared to the alternatives?disadvantaged compared to the alternatives?


The MediaThe Media• Growth in TV shows on the supernatural, Growth in TV shows on the supernatural,

spiritual and paranormal –spiritual and paranormal –– Fiction … supernatural, sea of souls, Buffy, Fiction … supernatural, sea of souls, Buffy,

demons, Hex, charmed, Sabrina the teenage demons, Hex, charmed, Sabrina the teenage witch, apparitionswitch, apparitions

– ‘‘fact’…..haunted homes, most haunted, healers, fact’…..haunted homes, most haunted, healers, Britain's psychic challenge, documentaries on Britain's psychic challenge, documentaries on mediums, Pagans, teenage witches etcmediums, Pagans, teenage witches etc

• Move from ‘Scooby Do’ approach where the Move from ‘Scooby Do’ approach where the ghosts are found not to exist to an approach ghosts are found not to exist to an approach where the balance is to believe in themwhere the balance is to believe in them

• Replacement of the priest with the medium, Replacement of the priest with the medium, investigator or demon hunter.investigator or demon hunter.


‘‘Spiritual’ experience in 2000 Vs Spiritual’ experience in 2000 Vs 19871987

55% saw a patterning of events – up 90%

38% felt God’s presence – up 41%

37% had answered prayer – up 48%

29% felt sacred in nature – up 81%25% the presence of the dead – up 39%

But what are they experiencing?

25% the presence of evil – up 108%

1987 48% aware of having a religious/spiritual experience

2000 risen to 76%


Belief in God or higher powerBelief in God or higher power

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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90

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Not belonging to any religionNot belonging to any religion

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45

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Children to be raised with belief in Children to be raised with belief in GodGod

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90

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Believe in the soulBelieve in the soul

0

10

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60

70

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90

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Believe in an afterlifeBelieve in an afterlife

0

10

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60

70

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Believe in restless spiritsBelieve in restless spirits

05

101520253035404550

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Believe in KarmaBelieve in Karma

0

5

10

15

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35

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45

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Experience of fortune telling, Tarot, Experience of fortune telling, Tarot, astrology, psychics, palmistsastrology, psychics, palmists

05

101520253035404550

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Believe in magicBelieve in magic

0

2

4

6

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10

12

14

16

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Australian Gen Y – like Britain?Australian Gen Y – like Britain?

Floating 46 %

‘new spiritual’ 23% Religious 17%

Non believing

14%

Rationalist humanist

Includes neo pagans and followers or frequent participants in the esoteric/occult

Moral relativism, pick ‘n’ mix, truth in all religions but not just one, something ‘out there’ occult and paranormal experienced

BUT open rather than committed or seeing as important


D.I.Y. style

Post Christian spiritualityPost Christian spirituality

• My experience is trueMy experience is true• Things that happen are not coincidences but Things that happen are not coincidences but

ruled by spiritual forcesruled by spiritual forces• My ‘faith’ is assembled from the bits I like in My ‘faith’ is assembled from the bits I like in

other spiritualities other spiritualities


New SpiritualitiesNew Spiritualities‘‘New Age’ backgroundNew Age’ background

EasternEasternUnity in spiritual realmUnity in spiritual realmTranscending the bodyTranscending the bodyConsumer orientated Consumer orientated

‘‘Pagan’ backgroundPagan’ backgroundWesternWesternUnity in physical realmUnity in physical realmCelebrating the bodyCelebrating the bodyConsumer suspiciousConsumer suspicious


Japan BritainJapan Britain

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religiousattendance

reigiousaffilitaion

belief inGod

religiousattendance

religiousaffiliation

belief inGod

percentage population 2000

annual

festivals

monthly


Crossing culture - Crossing culture - The Early ChurchThe Early Church• In JerusalemIn Jerusalem

– The Pentecost Sermon to Jews Acts 2The Pentecost Sermon to Jews Acts 2– The Jerusalem church Acts 4The Jerusalem church Acts 4– The Hellenists – fresh insight & PersecutionThe Hellenists – fresh insight & Persecution

• In Judea and SamariaIn Judea and Samaria– The dispersal of the HellenistsThe dispersal of the Hellenists– Philip – the Samaritans & Ethiopian Eunuch Acts Philip – the Samaritans & Ethiopian Eunuch Acts

88• To the ends of the earthTo the ends of the earth

– Peter and Cornelius Acts 10Peter and Cornelius Acts 10– The Church in Antioch Acts 11The Church in Antioch Acts 11– The Gentile mission from AntiochThe Gentile mission from Antioch


Paul does ‘double-listening’Paul does ‘double-listening’• Acts 14 – LystraActs 14 – Lystra

– After healing a crippled man the crowd think Paul and After healing a crippled man the crowd think Paul and Barnabas are Hermes and Zeus.Barnabas are Hermes and Zeus.

– Paul reasons from nature not scripture to explain his Paul reasons from nature not scripture to explain his faith….and struggles to communicatefaith….and struggles to communicate

• Acts 17 – AthensActs 17 – Athens– Paul goes round the temples learning about Greek beliefPaul goes round the temples learning about Greek belief– He debates with the philosophers in the market place….and He debates with the philosophers in the market place….and

struggles to communicate – they call him a ‘spermalogos’ – struggles to communicate – they call him a ‘spermalogos’ – someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about!someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about!

• Acts 19 – EphesusActs 19 – Ephesus– Debates in the lecture hall - for several yearsDebates in the lecture hall - for several years– Break through when he is seen not as a magicianBreak through when he is seen not as a magician– Conflict with DemetriusConflict with Demetrius


Paul’s two sermonsPaul’s two sermons

• Jesus is the expected Jesus is the expected messiah who will fulfil messiah who will fulfil the prophets and lawthe prophets and law

• He was killed as a He was killed as a sacrifice but rosesacrifice but rose

• He has been appointed He has been appointed judge and we must now judge and we must now change the directions of change the directions of our livesour lives

• We are all searchers We are all searchers after Godafter God

• The God of the universe The God of the universe doesn’t live in templesdoesn’t live in temples

• That God has set a day That God has set a day to judge the nations so to judge the nations so we must now change the we must now change the directions of our livesdirections of our lives

• The judge will be Jesus The judge will be Jesus who was raised from the who was raised from the deaddeadMission in Christendom is like Jewish

Mission

Jews …….and…….Greeks?


Evangelism: shift to Evangelism: shift to ChristendomChristendom• Early Church incarnate in local cultureEarly Church incarnate in local culture

– Greek Church - Paul uses poetry to ZeusGreek Church - Paul uses poetry to Zeus– Roman Church - Jesus as OrpheusRoman Church - Jesus as Orpheus– Coptic Church - the image of Isis becomes MaryCoptic Church - the image of Isis becomes Mary– Celtic Church - Jesus the Druid (Columba)Celtic Church - Jesus the Druid (Columba)– Germanic Church - the HeliandGermanic Church - the Heliand

• Christendom one faith one empireChristendom one faith one empire– The Saxon Church and the war bandThe Saxon Church and the war band– Synod of Whitby - the date of Easter; monks hairSynod of Whitby - the date of Easter; monks hair– Evangelism ends within empire, Evangelism ends within empire, – becomes conquest beyond itbecomes conquest beyond it

• Modernity evangelism recovered in Modernity evangelism recovered in ChristendomChristendom– Individuals called to belief in a Christian countryIndividuals called to belief in a Christian country– Aimed at intellectual conviction and crisis conversionAimed at intellectual conviction and crisis conversion


Mission in ChristendomMission in Christendom

• Mission (abroad)Mission (abroad)– Cultural export Vs Cultural export Vs

Inhabiting local cultureInhabiting local culture

• Evangelism (at home)Evangelism (at home)– Calling people back to Calling people back to

‘the national faith’‘the national faith’


Learning from foreign missionLearning from foreign mission• ““Do not call people back to where they Do not call people back to where they

were (they never were there)were (they never were there)• Do not call people to where you are, as Do not call people to where you are, as

beautiful as it may seem to youbeautiful as it may seem to you• But travel with them to a place neither But travel with them to a place neither

of you have been before”of you have been before”

Vincent Donovan – ‘Christianity re-discovered’


Changing Mission?Changing Mission?• From: sharing the From: sharing the

Gospel in “come to Gospel in “come to us” modeus” mode

• To: Exploring To: Exploring Church in “go to Church in “go to them” modethem” mode

Church Missions

Courses

‘Seeker’ Services

To boldly go where no church has gone

before


From individuals to all creationFrom individuals to all creation

Restoring the whole story of salvationRestoring the whole story of salvation

sin salvation

creation

New creationIndividuals saved

All creation saved


Who are on the way?Who are on the way?

Bounded set ? Or..


Who are on the way?Who are on the way?

Bounded set ? Or…….Centred Set?


A new apologetics?A new apologetics?• Hearing – relating to what is going on in people’s Hearing – relating to what is going on in people’s

lives not assuming a patternlives not assuming a pattern• Holistic – not just brains but people drawn to GodHolistic – not just brains but people drawn to God• Hopeful – assume God is at work in others, ‘see Hopeful – assume God is at work in others, ‘see

what God is doing and join in’what God is doing and join in’• Humble – we have a lot to learn too from God and Humble – we have a lot to learn too from God and

others, including those of other faiths and no-faithothers, including those of other faiths and no-faith• Hidden – the parable tradition – people ignore the Hidden – the parable tradition – people ignore the

obvious answer but explore the open ended.obvious answer but explore the open ended.• Heavenward – focus on where we are going and Heavenward – focus on where we are going and

invite people on the journeyinvite people on the journey


Three levels of mission communityThree levels of mission community


What is connecting?What is connecting?Mind Body Spirit FairsMind Body Spirit Fairs

Local FestivalsLocal Festivals

And national ones…And national ones…


What is connecting?What is connecting?BuildingsBuildings

The EnvironmentThe Environment

Prayer Prayer


Bible Study?Bible Study?


ResourcesResources


Wise travellerWise traveller


Sgmlifewords.comSgmlifewords.com• Historic catalogue Historic catalogue

(cards to leave in churches)(cards to leave in churches)

direction

faith

peace

rest

Look around you


Evangelism is…..Evangelism is…..• Not getting people to Church ………………..….……..Not getting people to Church ………………..….……..

but getting people to be Churchbut getting people to be Church• Not taking God to people …………………………………Not taking God to people …………………………………

but seeing what he is already doing in their livesbut seeing what he is already doing in their lives• Not first about getting people into heaven ……………Not first about getting people into heaven ……………

but getting heaven into peoplebut getting heaven into people• Not saving people from the world ..…………………..Not saving people from the world ..…………………..

but allowing God to transform them but allowing God to transform them as part of a plan to transform the world alsoas part of a plan to transform the world also

Your Kingdom come your will be done Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heavenon earth as it is in heaven

Re-imagining mission for a spiritual age

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