CCC NEWS
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    Revival – by Daniel Forster

    Revival – by Daniel Forster

    Texas Resident Contracts Avian Flu After Contacting Infected Cows

    Texas Resident Contracts Avian Flu After Contacting Infected Cows

    Immigrants Given Third Gender Option on Naturalization Form

    Immigrants Given Third Gender Option on Naturalization Form

    Physicians Received Billions of Dollars from Pharmaceutical, Medical Industry

    Physicians Received Billions of Dollars from Pharmaceutical, Medical Industry

    The Challenge of Change – by Marilyn Ehle

    The Challenge of Change – by Marilyn Ehle

    5 Signs You Desperately Need a Break From Social Media

    5 Signs You Desperately Need a Break From Social Media

    God’s Relentless Pursuit – First15

    God’s Relentless Pursuit – First15

    Why Does a Good God Allow Evil Things to Happen?

    Why Does a Good God Allow Evil Things to Happen?

    Christian Leaders Slam Biden’s Easter Proclamation of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

    Christian Leaders Slam Biden’s Easter Proclamation of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

  • History
    Hymn-Enriched Resource Aids Children in Embracing Hymns

    Hymn-Enriched Resource Aids Children in Embracing Hymns

    Christian History: The Synod of Dort – A Momentous Protestant Debate

    Christian History: The Synod of Dort – A Momentous Protestant Debate

    ‘A Celestial Melody’ Echoed Through the Shadows of a Chinese Prison

    ‘A Celestial Melody’ Echoed Through the Shadows of a Chinese Prison

    Christian History: Juneteenth – The Answer to Centuries of Prayer

    Christian History: Juneteenth – The Answer to Centuries of Prayer

    Blind Musical Group Revitalizes Traditional Worship in Lebanon

    Blind Musical Group Revitalizes Traditional Worship in Lebanon

    The Ethiopian Church: A Hidden Inspiration for the Protestant Reformation | Christian History

    The Ethiopian Church: A Hidden Inspiration for the Protestant Reformation | Christian History

    John Calvin: Viewing Justice as a Worshipful Act | Insights from Christian History

    John Calvin: Viewing Justice as a Worshipful Act | Insights from Christian History

    Unveiling Lesser-Known Facts About C. S. Lewis: 10 Surprising Revelations | Christian History

    Unveiling Lesser-Known Facts About C. S. Lewis: 10 Surprising Revelations | Christian History

    Sign up for the Christianity Today Weekly Newsletter

  • Bible Studies
    10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

    10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

    World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher resigns

    World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher resigns

    Trailer of Bibles torched near Greg Locke’s church on Easter

    Trailer of Bibles torched near Greg Locke’s church on Easter

    Pastor shot at church says God told him ‘stop trying to die’

    Pastor shot at church says God told him ‘stop trying to die’

    Translators diminished women apostles in the Bible, pastor claims

    Translators diminished women apostles in the Bible, pastor claims

    Podcast: The Secret to Reaching the Next Generation (Kevin DeYoung)

    Podcast: The Secret to Reaching the Next Generation (Kevin DeYoung)

    Win the Next Generation with Love

    Win the Next Generation with Love

    Episode 36: J.S. Park – Sitting with the Dying

    Episode 36: J.S. Park – Sitting with the Dying

    Easter Sunday: 8 inspirational quotes about Jesus’ Resurrection

    Easter Sunday: 8 inspirational quotes about Jesus’ Resurrection

  • Music
    #homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

    #homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

    [Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

    [Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

    #Ichi #ndochokwadi #chiri #deep #Macheso #nema #Big #Gospel #Artists #deeper

    #Ichi #ndochokwadi #chiri #deep #Macheso #nema #Big #Gospel #Artists #deeper

    #Adharaney #leni #naku #nee #athmatho #shakthinichi #youtube #youtubeshorts #christianity #music #youtuber

    #Adharaney #leni #naku #nee #athmatho #shakthinichi #youtube #youtubeshorts #christianity #music #youtuber

    #TAMIL #CHRISTIAN #SONGS #EASTER #SONG #SPECIAL

    #TAMIL #CHRISTIAN #SONGS #EASTER #SONG #SPECIAL

    DCLM Daily Manna – Don’t Hold Back The Wages » GospelHotspot

    DCLM Daily Manna – Don’t Hold Back The Wages » GospelHotspot

    #Karen #gospel #song #Bible #Hel #Nay #Blut #MooOfficial #Music #Video

    #Karen #gospel #song #Bible #Hel #Nay #Blut #MooOfficial #Music #Video

    Seeds Of Destiny Devotional – The Inevitable Appointment

    Seeds Of Destiny Devotional – The Inevitable Appointment

    #Christian #lofi #music #Christian #Hip #Hop #Instrumental #Gospel #Worship #Music #Live #Bible #Study

    #Christian #lofi #music #Christian #Hip #Hop #Instrumental #Gospel #Worship #Music #Live #Bible #Study

  • FOUNDER & EDITOR
  • EDITOR’S BLOG
  • News
    Revival – by Daniel Forster

    Revival – by Daniel Forster

    Texas Resident Contracts Avian Flu After Contacting Infected Cows

    Texas Resident Contracts Avian Flu After Contacting Infected Cows

    Immigrants Given Third Gender Option on Naturalization Form

    Immigrants Given Third Gender Option on Naturalization Form

    Physicians Received Billions of Dollars from Pharmaceutical, Medical Industry

    Physicians Received Billions of Dollars from Pharmaceutical, Medical Industry

    The Challenge of Change – by Marilyn Ehle

    The Challenge of Change – by Marilyn Ehle

    5 Signs You Desperately Need a Break From Social Media

    5 Signs You Desperately Need a Break From Social Media

    God’s Relentless Pursuit – First15

    God’s Relentless Pursuit – First15

    Why Does a Good God Allow Evil Things to Happen?

    Why Does a Good God Allow Evil Things to Happen?

    Christian Leaders Slam Biden’s Easter Proclamation of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

    Christian Leaders Slam Biden’s Easter Proclamation of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

  • History
    Hymn-Enriched Resource Aids Children in Embracing Hymns

    Hymn-Enriched Resource Aids Children in Embracing Hymns

    Christian History: The Synod of Dort – A Momentous Protestant Debate

    Christian History: The Synod of Dort – A Momentous Protestant Debate

    ‘A Celestial Melody’ Echoed Through the Shadows of a Chinese Prison

    ‘A Celestial Melody’ Echoed Through the Shadows of a Chinese Prison

    Christian History: Juneteenth – The Answer to Centuries of Prayer

    Christian History: Juneteenth – The Answer to Centuries of Prayer

    Blind Musical Group Revitalizes Traditional Worship in Lebanon

    Blind Musical Group Revitalizes Traditional Worship in Lebanon

    The Ethiopian Church: A Hidden Inspiration for the Protestant Reformation | Christian History

    The Ethiopian Church: A Hidden Inspiration for the Protestant Reformation | Christian History

    John Calvin: Viewing Justice as a Worshipful Act | Insights from Christian History

    John Calvin: Viewing Justice as a Worshipful Act | Insights from Christian History

    Unveiling Lesser-Known Facts About C. S. Lewis: 10 Surprising Revelations | Christian History

    Unveiling Lesser-Known Facts About C. S. Lewis: 10 Surprising Revelations | Christian History

    Sign up for the Christianity Today Weekly Newsletter

  • Bible Studies
    10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

    10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

    World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher resigns

    World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher resigns

    Trailer of Bibles torched near Greg Locke’s church on Easter

    Trailer of Bibles torched near Greg Locke’s church on Easter

    Pastor shot at church says God told him ‘stop trying to die’

    Pastor shot at church says God told him ‘stop trying to die’

    Translators diminished women apostles in the Bible, pastor claims

    Translators diminished women apostles in the Bible, pastor claims

    Podcast: The Secret to Reaching the Next Generation (Kevin DeYoung)

    Podcast: The Secret to Reaching the Next Generation (Kevin DeYoung)

    Win the Next Generation with Love

    Win the Next Generation with Love

    Episode 36: J.S. Park – Sitting with the Dying

    Episode 36: J.S. Park – Sitting with the Dying

    Easter Sunday: 8 inspirational quotes about Jesus’ Resurrection

    Easter Sunday: 8 inspirational quotes about Jesus’ Resurrection

  • Music
    #homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

    #homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

    [Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

    [Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

    #Ichi #ndochokwadi #chiri #deep #Macheso #nema #Big #Gospel #Artists #deeper

    #Ichi #ndochokwadi #chiri #deep #Macheso #nema #Big #Gospel #Artists #deeper

    #Adharaney #leni #naku #nee #athmatho #shakthinichi #youtube #youtubeshorts #christianity #music #youtuber

    #Adharaney #leni #naku #nee #athmatho #shakthinichi #youtube #youtubeshorts #christianity #music #youtuber

    #TAMIL #CHRISTIAN #SONGS #EASTER #SONG #SPECIAL

    #TAMIL #CHRISTIAN #SONGS #EASTER #SONG #SPECIAL

    DCLM Daily Manna – Don’t Hold Back The Wages » GospelHotspot

    DCLM Daily Manna – Don’t Hold Back The Wages » GospelHotspot

    #Karen #gospel #song #Bible #Hel #Nay #Blut #MooOfficial #Music #Video

    #Karen #gospel #song #Bible #Hel #Nay #Blut #MooOfficial #Music #Video

    Seeds Of Destiny Devotional – The Inevitable Appointment

    Seeds Of Destiny Devotional – The Inevitable Appointment

    #Christian #lofi #music #Christian #Hip #Hop #Instrumental #Gospel #Worship #Music #Live #Bible #Study

    #Christian #lofi #music #Christian #Hip #Hop #Instrumental #Gospel #Worship #Music #Live #Bible #Study

  • FOUNDER & EDITOR
  • EDITOR’S BLOG
No Result
View All Result
CCC NEWS
No Result
View All Result
Home CCC Bible Studies

The Ignored Demographic of Spiritual Secularists

Benjamin Gaini by Benjamin Gaini
February 2, 2024
in CCC Bible Studies
The Ignored Demographic of Spiritual Secularists
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Aaron Bjerke is planting a church in NYC out of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Having been an Assistant Pastor there for seven years, he is excited to see a new expression of the gospel take root in the city for those searching for a spiritual experience. Originally from Minnesota, he lives with his wife, Erica, and two kids in Manhattan. Visit his church at www.TheWellNYC.life

Throughout my pastoral experience over the past decade, I’ve noticed a new demographic emerging through questions that I’ve been asked by other congregants. There is a growing sub-demographic in the secular population that is searching for a spiritual experience, and it hasn’t received a lot of attention from the church. Whether it’s feeling stressed at work, increasingly dissatisfied with a relationship or money, postmodern Americans are increasingly seeking a spiritual remedy.

In 2017, the meditation market (as it has been called) was a $1.2 billion industry in the U.S. Some project it will be worth over $2 billion by 2022. This growing trend is everywhere. For example, meditation rooms are the hottest new work perk, and CEOs are personally seeking out a practice of meditation in order to become better leaders. One observation is that the meditation movement is where the yoga movement was in the mid-90s, which means the ceiling for the meditation market is still miles high.

The meditation market represents a spectrum of practices—such as mindfulness, transcendental meditation, or various forms of Buddhism—and promises an experience of peace, productivity, happiness, etc. This is done by taking back control of the mind and taming it. 

Consumers of these practices are generally not “skeptics”—the Richard Dawkins of the world who are hostile toward spirituality—nor are they “seekers” who are exploring the Christian faith and dialoguing with other Christians. These two groups have been engaged with success through various evangelism programs. Rather, those in the meditation market are what I’m calling “searchers”: seculars searching for a spiritual experience. 

Is it true? Vs Does it work?

This difference comes down to Modernism and Postmodernism. Modernism attempts to construct a coherent worldview through the pursuit of an absolute truth. The Church’s response was to make a fact-based case for Christianity—e.g., eight reasons why Jesus was historically real, five reasons why the resurrection is true, etc.

Postmodernism, on the other hand, is marked by relativism and individualism, which has produced a culture defined by the phrase “you do you.” The value proposition for a Postmodern person is whether or not something works. “What works for me works for me, leave me alone.” This is where searchers reside, and they are not initially looking for a 200-page book of claims or a bulletproof sermon. They would rather taste and see whether what is offered is good.

In other words, the modernist asks the question “Is it true?” whereas the postmodernist asks, “Does it work?” And if it works, then for the postmodernist, it is true–because truth is found in something that works. 

This is not to say that facts do not matter to the postmodernist. But the searcher says, “If something gives me peace, relieves my stress, gives me satisfaction, or provides a feeling of transcendence, then it works, and it surely must be true.” This is the story I’ve heard when Ivy League-educated lawyers in New York convert to Buddhism—it gives them an experience of peace. 

Re-imagining Ministry

The church must respect the searcher posture if it’s going to make any missional inroads into today’s culture, and the Bible gives us a picture to consider. In John 4, Jesus first told with the woman at the well “I work.” He said “I know you’re thirsty. I’ll quench your thirst forever.” It’s only after that that he has a theological conversation about mountains and her sin. He interacted with what she wanted to satisfy most—her thirst—and showed her that he works.

What is it for the church to take a “Does it work?” approach to ministry? It means we must consider how we can help others experience God in non-modernist ways. The Bible and prayer give great opportunities for such a mission.

Regarding the Bible, the skeptic/seeker approach (modernist approach) would seek to show that the Bible is presenting facts: spiritually, historically, and scientifically. The searcher’s approach is more reflective in nature, asking questions such as “What does this mean?” This question points to the importance of story, because what drives a story is meaning—“What’s the point?” And, if it’s true that the best stories always win, then a ministry approach for searchers does the hard and important work of learning how, as the hymn says, to re-“tell me the old, old story, of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love” in a way that is less about facts and more through the lens of the story of the power of Jesus in one’s life. For what could be more powerful than quenching your thirst forever?

Regarding prayer, the claim of Jesus working in one’s life is not the prosperity gospel: follow Jesus and your life turns around. Rather, it’s saying that even if your life doesn’t turn around you can still have peace and joy amidst the chaos and unmet expectations, which is exactly one of the promises in the meditation market: peace in a chaotic life. Except unlike meditation, which is a form of control (and any therapist worth his or her weight knows the problem emotion of control is anxiety), the path of Jesus is one of prayer. This is significant because when you pray, you learn that God is in control—not yourself. Therefore prayer is not a posture of control but a posture of surrender, and it is that posture of surrender that the church needs to introduce to searchers. 

Up to this point, this demographic has largely been ignored by the American church. Like the woman John 4 who told her friends “come and see” the one who told me everything about myself, the church too must decide to strive to introduce and show searchers the same claim that Jesus revealed of himself at the well: I work.



Source link

Previous Post

#MSANII #MUSIC #GROUP #SDA #MIX

Next Post

26 Attorneys General Demand Government End UNRWA Funding

Next Post
26 Attorneys General Demand Government End UNRWA Funding

26 Attorneys General Demand Government End UNRWA Funding

Stay Connected test

  • 23.9k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

A Young Christian’s Guide in Today’s World

January 16, 2024
Shannon Harris’s Dissatisfaction as a Purity Culture Stagehand

Shannon Harris’s Dissatisfaction as a Purity Culture Stagehand

September 28, 2023
Parenting Children with Godly Guidelines

Parenting Children with Godly Guidelines

January 20, 2024
Zach Williams on his Prodigal Journey: Jesus Saved Me from Drugs & Alcohol

Zach Williams on his Prodigal Journey: Jesus Saved Me from Drugs & Alcohol

February 8, 2024

Hello world!

0

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay on the Nintendo Switch

0

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review

0

Hands on: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review

0
#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

April 2, 2024
Revival – by Daniel Forster

Revival – by Daniel Forster

April 2, 2024
10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

April 2, 2024
[Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

[Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

April 2, 2024

Recent News

#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

April 2, 2024
Revival – by Daniel Forster

Revival – by Daniel Forster

April 2, 2024
10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

10 Lesser-Known References to Jesus in the Old Testament

April 2, 2024
[Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

[Video] More – Aghogho » GospelHotspot

April 2, 2024
CCC NEWS

We bring you the global gospel news

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Blog
  • CCC Bible Studies
  • CCC History
  • CCC News
  • EDITOR'S BLOG
  • Music

Recent News

#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

#homies #music #indierock #elderemo #indiepop #indiemusic #shorts #chamberpop

April 2, 2024
Revival – by Daniel Forster

Revival – by Daniel Forster

April 2, 2024
  • News
  • History
  • Bible Studies
  • Music
  • FOUNDER & EDITOR
  • EDITOR’S BLOG

© 2023 Christ Centered Creations.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • History
  • Bible Studies
  • Music
  • FOUNDER & EDITOR
  • EDITOR’S BLOG

© 2023 Christ Centered Creations.