Part 1 – Sharing the Gospel with a Postmodern Individual

Section 1

To make things rather straightforward in understanding what a postmodern individual is it is important to lay a brief foundation of what a worldview is. A worldview is holding to certain presuppositions about certain things to be true. For example, how did the universe come into existence or what is morally right and wrong? These are largely philosophical questions, but if we go back in history largely before the mid to late twentieth century, there was a more judeo-christian worldview on many beliefs. The United States was largely founded on Christian Ideas. However, in the mid to late 20th century, we started to see a large shift for example on different views of romanticism, rationalism and naturalism for example. Postmoderns are leaning more in the direction of reason and are more skeptical of what is true. They are more subjective vs objective on beliefs. A postmodern may largely see through the lens of science and not faith.

A postmodern is going to be more skeptical on making a decision to follow God. There is going to be a much needed heart change from the core for one to often convert. In Crossing Cultures with Jesus, a person who holds more more traditional assumptions about God may make a quick decision to follow Christ and it may end up in something that is not true conversion. Postmodern westerns prioritize community . In fact Jimmy long in 1997 said that Conversion (attraction) to community before conversion (to Christ) is the norm for postmodernists. When talking about the innocence-guilt values and fame-shame values we see the following in Postmoderns. According to Crossing Cultures with Jesus, for the postmodern, fame-shame is an individualist form of honor in which people vie for public approval through social media and think less or no thought in saving face. The innocence-guilt lens for a postmodern of the 20th centuries for people in the US are motivated by obeying the law and avoiding a guilty conscience.

The Gospel is radical in nature in that is not about conforming to a set of rules or even seeking approval. There is nothing we can do to earn favor with God, so the question is how does one go about sharing the Gospel with a postmodern who sees that you have to obey rules to earn favor with God or even to go to heaven? There are five thresholds to go about with sharing the Gospel to a postmodern. Threshold 1 is about making community and developing trust. Threshold 2 is becoming curious about Jesus. Threshold 3 is opening up to change. Threshold 4 is seeking after God and Threshold 5 is Entering the Kingdom.

Section 2

Before you can even begin to share the Gospel, you have to remember that community must come first. A postmodern will be more likely to come to know Jesus Christ if they are felt loved and know that you truly care about them, before accepting you just preaching to them. The scriptures say in 1 Cor 13 that no matter what I do or what I say or what I believe, I am bankrupt without love ( The Message). There are several methods that one can go about sharing the Gospel and beginning with a postmodern who doesn’t believe. Some of the methods I might use are The Way of the Master; in that What Would Jesus Do? I might ask them about the 10 commandments and ask these questions to them. Would you consider yourself to be a good person ? Do you think you have kept the 10 commandments? On the day of judgement, if God judges you by the 10 commandments, will you be innocent or guilty? Finally, will you go to heaven or hell? This is one tool I may use to share the Gospel.

Part 2- Sharing the Gospel with an Eastern Individual

Section 1

When it comes to the Eastern Individual these are just general characteristics and can differ among groups such as perhaps someone from Asia, Africa or even the middle east. Eastern individuals place a high value on community in that they are often are collectivist and not Individualist. Where Westerners often place a large value on words and speaking, in easterners it may be good to remember not to speak so much and listen more. Speaking too much could be a sign of disrespect. Eastern individuals often communicate indirectly vs. directly, so in this case they may be more visual and artistic. Other characteristics to consider are mixed-gender relations. Easterners are more hierarchy oriented vs equality oriented.

If we are talking about the Eastern worldview, they would see through the lens in which God is not personal as in the Christian worldview, but impersonal. They see life through as more challenging where suffering is normal and are not optimistic about things. In terms of the honor-shame and power-weakness lens, where societies where honor is the leading value ( e.g East Asian and Middle Eastern societies) people are motivated to increase or protect the honor of the group or self and avoid shame in the eyes of people. There is also a high value placed on how strong or weak you are and how much power you have.

Section 2

Before even opening up a conversation with them, I would take the time to do my homework on their culture and want to make them feel welcomed. I want to know what they like and what They value it. I would invite them over and have a setting where they feel at home and would develop a relationship with them first before anything. At some point I would consider using Bill Fays approach by Sharing Jesus Without Fear. Once I have established a bond, I would ask them the following questions. Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs? To you,who is Jesus Christ? Do you think there is a heaven and hell? If you died, where would you go? If heaven, why? If what you believe is not true, would you want to know? These are simple, non threatening questions. If they are comfortable with these questions, I may proceed with some indirect method ff using visuals of scripture such as the evangecube, or even videos. I really love the book of and would love to get to a point of The Romans Road with them. I think the book of Romans Is the crown jewel when it comes to nailing the Gospel on the head. I would end with asking them simple questions of what do you think of all this and how do you feel? Depending on their response, I would proceed in a certain way. Our job is to plant the seed. God will cause the growth to occur.