I want to begin by stating that as spiritual leaders in America, the message of the cross has been entrusted to you for such a time as this. With all of our human failures and mistakes, God has chosen you to play the long game. Rest, vacation, sabbatical or whatever you need to do – stay in the long game. This is our most important hour.
Regarding the digital space, I want to offer the following observations.•2-in-5 practicing Christians now believe that it is inappropriate to share their faith with the idea of persuading someone to forsake their faith to join yours.•50% of believing Millennials state that you should not share your faith. That same 50% also believes that accepting Jesus Christ is the greatest thing that could happen to anyone.•There is a real tension and yet there is cognitive dissonance. These stats from Barna Research point to an abject failure of discipleship in the church. We are not helping people to discern this modern era.
Currently, there is a real tension in the digital space. There is also a real cognitive dissonance in this space. Think about the stats that I just referenced. To me this represents an abject failure in our discipleship training and equipping. We are not preparing people to operate in this new digital era.
Truthfully, everyone is being evangelized or evangelizing around a set of beliefs and habits. Our world is not neutral!
Consider that Google has hired Child Psychologists to figure out the attention span of young children and what grabs the young minds of our children to keep them engaged in an online platform. We are living in a world where cohesion and contested spaces exist together.
The million-dollar question: What is the Church supposed to do?
Perhaps it is time to start asking a different question sequence that provokes deep thought and reflection Vs. winning a debate to prove our correctness. It is time to move in the direction of “FORMATION!” In this arena we ask the following…
Who are you becoming as a result of what you are doing? This question provokes thought in the area of life rhythms, my actions, and am I becoming a better disciple that impacts my world? This one question gets at the heart of an Apologetic shift that needs to occur. We have understood traditional apologetics exists to make Christianity reasonable and logical. The shift should now move to Cultural Apologetics in which we make Jesus beautiful. In making Christ beautiful we are creating a tension for people – We help them see what they are missing out on.
Let’s face the facts, Christianity has become a consumption based religious system and not so much an activist approach to reaching our world. Activism is needed because this is not the first time our nation has been involved in crazy making. Consider the Jesus Cultural Movement of the 1960’s. This was a Revival movement born out of the Hippie Culture that went global. To appreciate this fact, consider the following timeline of historical events that were taking place.
1960’s Historical Timeline of the Hippie Counter Culture Jesus Movement
Consider the following assassinations of this time-period: MIK, Malcolm X, Black Panther Leaders in Chicago, JFK, Robert Kennedy.
Consider the corruption of our government with Watergate and the Nixon Presidency
Consider that Race relations were broken, Politics was broken, our Nation was broken – We were in search of something good.
Consider the birth of the Jesus Movement that started a rebirth of the Kingdom of God among us as a nation. This movement was noted by the “Coffee House Movement” throughout the country. I am old enough to remember going to some of those coffee houses. Believe it or not much of the modern church as it has been understood by the Boomers and Elders was a by-product of the Jesus Movement. Under the surface, the real key was going to where the lost were – It started by going to the Hippie camps of California. Out of this the Calvary Chapel movement emerged in the 70’s.
Therefore, we need to engage the narrative – telling a 1,000 ways that Jesus makes us better. Our modern counterculture is telling their side of the narrative by telling a 1000 ways why their far-fetched narratives are normal. This is done by algorithms. This allows a few to appear as the majority in our nation. This is how the redefinition of family has been altered and certain credit cards will allow for sexual-self-identification to put on a person’s card. Engaging the narrative of our time is vital because of several societal theories that all begin with an incorrect beginning premise. “In the beginning, God…..” is the key missing premise that must be acknowledged. This why formation has become far more significant than winning debates over correctness. Communicate a 1000 ways that Jesus makes us better.
In closing, consider the Overton Window to better understand why this shift is vital now.
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Garry Brackett brings his experience as an executive coach and non-profit leadership specialist to every conversation on the Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical exploration of how leadership principles intersect with faith, culture, and the daily challenges of making a meaningful impact. Garry engages with a diverse range of guests-people who are actively shaping their communities and organizations-to uncover the real-world strategies and personal convictions that drive effective, compassionate leadership. You'll hear discussions that feel like a thoughtful mentorship session, covering topics from organizational health and personal resilience to the spiritual foundations that guide service-oriented work. This podcast serves as a resource for anyone, whether in ministry, non-profit, or broader community roles, who seeks to lead with purpose and integrity. Tune in for authentic stories and grounded advice that equips you to navigate the complex landscape of modern leadership with confidence and clarity.
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