Generational and Millennial Changes

My wife gave me a t-shirt a few years ago that displayed this message on the front: NORMAL ISN’T COMING BACK. JESUS IS. The first phrase that normal was never coming back seemed overly dramatic to me. On the other hand, the world around me was changing so quickly that it almost triggered dizziness. I sometimes felt bewildered and disoriented like a person tuning into a science fiction movie an hour after it started without a clue of what it was about or how it would end. 

Change is normal, but oftentimes uncomfortable and challenging. Change is a part of life, but since I am a senior citizen, change may be more difficult for me than for those born long after me. Senior citizens are often more comfortable with a normal that may seem old-fashioned or archaic to younger generations. That’s just life, as our grandchildren will discover when they realize their grandchildren consider them old-fashioned. Hair styles change, music changes, and technology changes. I call this “generational change”, and it is normative. 

But there is another type of change that is more significant. I call it a “millennial change.” This kind of change occurs after centuries of generational changes and is much more disruptive. Millennial change is a definitive change in “culture.” The Roman Empire flourished for centuries. The citizens shared a common culture that shaped how they understood and viewed reality. Culture is the lens through which people view the world and understand their roles in the world. You can’t see culture, but you see almost everything else through the lens of culture.

The emerging Christian church viewed the world through a new new lens. This change threatened the Roman Empire in the first century. The authorities felt threatened and soon made it illegal for believers to even meet in homes. Every believer, like every other citizen in the empire, was also required to offer a small sacrifice to the emperor (as a god) annually and pay a tax. This made sense to most citizens who saw it as their patriotic duty. But many disciples of Jesus refused to offer the sacrifice viewing it as idolatry, not civic duty. This countercultural view was an existential threat to the empire. Consequently, their view of the mandatory sacrifice cost countless disciples their lives. They chose martyrdom over idol worship. 

The persecution came in waves. More than once, an emperor ordered the execution of church leaders, confiscated church properties, and/or enslaved or killed any known Jesus-follower. Multitudes of disciples were martyred. The stories of the early Christians being thrown to the lions in the Coliseum for the entertainment of the masses are true. The followers of Jesus marched to a different drummer. Their beliefs required them to live countercultural lifestyles because their ultimate loyalty was to a different King and Kingdom.

Culture is like Glue

The culture of the Roman Empire, the mightiest empire on earth, eventually crumbled because people began to view the world, the empire, and each other through a different lens. The Jesus movement grew rapidly in numbers and became a greater threat as more people rejected the old ways of understanding, which had been the glue that held the Roman Empire together. Other minority groups also undermined the cultural glue that had once unified the empire. This new way of seeing life gradually weakened the empire from within because people rejected what formerly had made Roman Empire great. The empire lost its solidarity. 

In A.D. 312 Constantine became emperor of the empire. Soon after, he converted and apparently became a follower of Jesus. The empire was never the same. In 321, Constantine made Sunday, the day of resurrection, a holiday. By the end of that century, Christianity’s status had been turned upside down, and the formerly outlawed religion became the religion of the empire. The church rapidly gained power and influence over the next few centuries. Every part of life for apprentices of Jesus was turned upside down. Instead of punishment, they were granted privileges. 

Julian, Constantine’s nephew, remained a pagan. He became emperor in 337 and sought to return the empire to the old ways of paganism. But it was futile because people no longer believed in the old ways. The culture was undergoing a millennial change which even the emperor was powerless to reverse. A new cultural glue bound society together and brought a new solidarity. Culture provides the meaning and purpose of life in every age and in every society. The church had been countercultural before Constantine, but after his conversion the church became a force in the emerging culture. 

The Empire had imploded when the people no longer believed and understood life through the old lens. It wasn’t conquered by enemies as much as it imploded upon itself. This describes millennial change, the most disturbing type of change for those who experience it. They feel everything is being turned upside down. The transition to the new culture, often called “Christendom”, must have felt like a continuous earthquake that lasted for decades. Every part of life was shaken again and again. The movement that Jesus had started was no longer a counter-cultural movement but a part of the mainstream culture. The church became an important institution, part of the establishment, in the new culture called Christendom.

Christendom and Western Culture

This historical review has been simplified to explain what I am calling millennial change and the rise of Christendom. Christendom grew and matured into what is now called “Western Culture.” For the 1600 years or so after Constantine, Western Culture prospered in Europe and then in North America. It gave birth to the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Enlightenment synthesized new ideas about nature, humanity, and God into a world view that soon was adopted as an essential part of Western Culture. The Enlightenment celebrated reason, which enabled humanity to acquire knowledge, to understand more of the universe and to improve life for much of humanity. Science blossomed. The goals of human reason were knowledge (truth), freedom, and happiness.

The Enlightenment fostered multiple revolutions, the American and French being the two most significant. The American version was a hybrid which embraced both reason and a biblical view of morality. A system of biblical morality became the main ingredient in the glue that held the emerging nation together. The French version focused on reason alone and intentionally excluded any role for God in public life. The American hybrid of the Enlightenment was not an attempt to make a Christian nation, but to build a nation that embraced the biblical views of right and wrong, good and bad. This became part of America’s DNA, and part of what made America unique. Biblical views of morality helped shape and unite Americans, brought solidarity, and provided the standard which Americans used to understand the meaning and purpose of life. The American approach was a modified version of Christendom. This became the glue that held culture together and became the “normal” for each new generation of Americans. 

Our Glue Has Failed

The common consensus about the meaning and purpose of life has slowly eroded in the USA over the past five or six decades. The war in Vietnam was very divisive and undermined the trust of many in our political process. The Civil Rights movement caused Americans to realize racism and injustice continue to plague us. The sexual revolution challenged the traditional standards of morality and eventually changed the way people understood families. The biblical moral code component of the American branch of the Enlightenment has been discarded by large numbers of citizens. Many, perhaps unintentionally, have aligned themselves with the French form of the Enlightenment that firmly opposed any role for religion in the nation’s public life. The old concept of absolute truth has been rejected, reducing truth to whatever an individual chooses to believe. The list of the nation’s historical failures seems to grow longer each year. Meanwhile the new challenges we face feel overwhelming. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 elevated anxiety levels. An undercurrent of mistrust has dissolved the glue that formerly held us together. We have lost our solidarity. Political opponents are now viewed as enemies. The states are divided into red and blue states. The only thing we can agree on is that we disagree. The glue that once held us together (biblical morality) no longer distinguishes us. My t-shirt, NORMAL ISN’T COMING BACK was and continues to be accurate. Most of us realize that now, that we disagree on much of what the new normal should look like. 

The pressing question that cannot yet be answered is “What will become the new normal?” What cultural glue will hold America together and bring solidarity out of our current confusion and conflict? We are struggling with something more challenging than many people want to acknowledge. We are experiencing millennial change, not simply generational change. We are dealing with the collapse of Christendom, and the dying groans of Western Culture. Like the Roman Empire, we have reached a point where what we once considered normal has changed. It cannot be reversed because people no longer believe what formerly was accepted as normal. 

The emerging standards of morality are different. New views on marriage and family, abortion, gender, and sexuality, but also basic concepts like truth telling, and simply caring for one another challenge us. America no longer views life through the lens of biblical morality and even followers of Jesus differ on how to love and live with those they disagree with. A new normal that restores unity and solidarity will emerge only after our divided nation works through its struggles to understand the very meaning and purpose of life.

An Opportunity

Everything seems to be changing, but things are not always as they appear. Disciples believe in absolute and unchanging truth and are convinced that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). God does not change and neither have his standards changed. Disciples choose to live by God’s standards even if the culture they live in appears to have rejected them. This takes personal courage and the support of a loving community. As in pre-Christendom, the church will flourish only as a countercultural movement, rather than as a mainstream cultural institution. The era of Christians enjoying a privileged status in society has ended. Instead of privilege, disciples may encounter suspicion, intolerance, and outright hostility. Jesus said his followers would face persecution (Matt 13:21) which is also a possibility. 

The church must return to its roots to survive. Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18) and then, after his resurrection commissioned it to “make disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded” (Matt 28:19,20, NIV). Perhaps if the church had focused on making disciples, the glue would have held longer, and we would not be dealing with the current cultural turbulence and change. I am reminded of Os Guinness’ description of the church:

The Jewish and Christian faiths were the original revolutionary faiths long before the French Revolution. Both were called to be countercultural protest faiths, though the Christian church too often abandoned its biblical calling and became the chaplain to the status quo and even the cheerleader to a series of oppressive establishments. (The Magna Carta of Humanity, p. 12)

In fact, the idea of turning the world upside down came directly from the Bible, where the prime revolutionary, and therefore, the subversive of the status quo, is said to be God himself. As the Hebrew Scriptures see it, God is the true revolutionary. God creates order, but humans create disorder. …the disordered must itself be overturned and God’s order reasserted. Turning the world upside down is therefore God’s way of turning the world the right way up. (p. 12)

…the early Christian movement was regarded as subversive and countercultural. They believed the good news they proclaimed was truly revolutionary. (p. 13)

The good news has not changed and will once again prove to be revolutionary. Perhaps sometime in the future when our great-grandchildren are daring to live The Jesus Way, people who do not follow Jesus will describe them just as people described the first generation of disciples: “people who have turned the world upside down” (NKJV). The first-century Christ followers became a countercultural movement, just as disciples will be who live in the post-Christendom of the twenty-first century. Faith-filled and faithful disciples will be God’s agents bringing about the changes he intends.

Hope Not Panic 

We are not called to be like Chicken Little who ran around shouting, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” On the contrary, of all people, we should be the most hopeful and optimistic. We know God is in charge and will work history out according to his purposes. Instead of becoming Chicken Littles, I urge disciples to become lions of hope by praying, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This is a radical, counter-cultural request.

I encourage you to memorize Romans 12:2, which outlines our marching orders in this time of millennial change. Meditate on this verse, repeat it frequently, take it to heart by internalizing it, and most importantly, do what it says. 

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Let’s take a closer look at this verse. The first phrase is an imperative (a command): “Don’t conform any longer to the pattern of this world….” “The pattern of this world” refers to a culture, a system of beliefs or behaviors that are hostile to Jesus and his Way. The J.B. Phillips version (a paraphrase popular in the 60’s) translates it this way: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold….” There may be significant social pressure to conform to cultural norms, but disciples simply refuse to believe or to repeat lies. The greatest lie is to deny Jesus. Jesus speaks and embodies the truth. Stay true to Jesus and he will stay true to you. Demonstrate Kingdom Living so others can see the contrast and futility of the “pattern of this world.” Stay true to the Kingdom and the King. Resist social pressure and refuse to believe lies. This requires courage.

The second phrase is also a command, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Memorizing this passage is the first step toward transformation by renewing your mind. Perhaps it would be helpful to reread Challenge 5, Part A (“The Mind of Christ”). Pray, think, anticipate, and plan. “So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matt 10:16). 

The third phrase of Romans 12:2 reads, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This is God’s promise to you. If you do what God commands in the first two parts, you will discover (test and approve) what God’s will is for you, whatever your unique circumstances. God will help you discern what is good and what is evil and help you make good decisions. (If Adam and Eve had done this, God would have shown them his “good, pleasing, and perfect will.”) Trust him to reveal the Jesus Way to you. 

I also encourage you to “stand firm.” This theme is repeated throughout Scripture. For instance, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” (1 Cor 16:13). We overcome temptation and evil by standing firm on what is good and true, refusing to compromise with evil. That’s what courageous faith does. It does not force one’s beliefs on others, but it also does not waver in those beliefs. Courageous faith stands firm, not retreating an inch. God does the rest. We must rely on the Spirit to help us stand firm on the gospel truths, which is another way of describing Kingdom living. 

Not only are we challenged to stand firm in how we live out our faith, but we must also continue to love those with whom we disagree. We are called to sincerely “speak the truth in love” show compassion and do these without compromising the truth. We can only do God’s work in God’s way, which always requires sacrificial love. This appears to be an impossible task. But God always equips us to do whatever he asks us to do. We can do all thing through Christ. 

The Emerging New Normal

Americans on both the left and the right are increasingly recognizing the implications of living in this post-modern and post-Christian era. We all agree the future will be very different from the past, but we are divided on what we want that future to look like. Those on the extreme right and those on the extreme left embrace competing visions for the future. There appears to be no middle ground. Apparently, when the dust settles, there will be only winners and losers. The winners will exercise the power to choose and to try and implement the new normal, the cultural glue that brings solidarity. 

But disciples are the real winners because they are citizens of God’s Kingdom, and King Jesus has already defeated our most dangerous foes: sin, Satan, and death. We follow the ultimate Victor and live anticipating his coming coronation, when Kingdom living will become the norm. In the meantime, we practice Kingdom living as a countercultural and counterintuitive alternative. This alternative lifestyle is filled with challenges, but it is rewarding, life-enhancing, and a purpose-filled way of living that cannot be taken from us. Every Sunday is our Fourth of July and a celebration of our citizenship in God’s everlasting Kingdom. We will consider this countercultural way of life, which is the Jesus way, more fully in Part C.

THINKING IT THROUGH

Keep your heart on the right course. Proverbs 23:19b

THE TRUTH: Jesus responded to opposition, rejection, and hatred with truth, courage, grace, and love. 

THE CHALLENGE: Disciples seek to respond to opposition, rejection, and hatred with truth, courage, grace, and love. 

The Scriptures, questions, and notes are for group discussion and personal reflection. Our goal in Tier III is character transformation which requires sustained effort and growing faith. Thinking through the questions can help you understand this challenge at a deeper level. We encourage you to focus on those questions that you find most interesting or helpful. This is not a test, but a tool to help you respond to the challenges.

Related Scriptures 

1 Kings 18:21 ²¹ Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!”

Ephesians 6:11, 14
¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

2 Chronicles 2:20 ²⁰ Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Luke 21:19 ¹⁹ By standing firm, you will win your souls.

1 Corinthians 15:1, 16:13
¹ Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.
¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

2 Corinthians 1:21 ²¹ It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ.

Colossians 1:23 ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 ⁸ It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 ¹⁵ With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

Matthew 13:20-21 (From the Parable of the Sower) ²⁰ “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

Romans 8:35-39 ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ As the Scriptures say,
“For your sake we are killed every day;
we are being slaughtered like sheep.”
³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 21:5 (NIV) ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

1 Peter 3:14-15 ¹⁴ But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. ¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. 

Isaiah 53:12b He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Questions

You are encouraged to use these questions for group discussion or personal reflection. Respond to the questions that are most relevant or interesting to you (I urge you to write your responses in a journal or notebook).

Please note, there may be significant disagreements in how people respond to some of these questions. It is important to listen carefully and not merely react. Exercise mutual respect, unconditional love, and self-control during the discussion. Make it safe for everyone to share honestly. Share your answers but don’t attack those who have different perspectives. We are all seeking to live under the Lordship of Jesus. 

1. Parts A “A Privilege and Calling” and Part B “Post-Christendom” are intended to give us context for following Jesus in our post-modern and post-Christian culture. Part A focused on Jesus’ example and the context for Jesus’ life and ministry. None of the contending factions in Palestine could claim Jesus. His way was different and unique. Part B seeks to provide historical context for the era in which we live. Identify and list any parallels between Jesus’ context and our current context. 

2. Part B begins by identifying the magnitude of the change we are now facing. I created two terms to describe the two types of cultural change. What were the two types of change and describe how are they are different. Do those two categories of change make sense to you? 

3. The narrative associated what people experience as normal in a society as the glue that holds a culture together. How was this helpful to you and/or why did you not find it helpful? 

4. In one sentence, explain what the Enlightenment was about.

5. The narrative identified the changes that caused the fall of Roman Empire as being closely associated with the changing beliefs of its citizens, not a military defeat at the hands of its enemies. How do you see our culture changing and how is that change impacting our nation? Identify one change you view positively and one change you consider to be negative. 

6. Most observers of culture describe the period in which we are living as post-modern and post-Christian. How do you understand the meaning of these two terms?

7. In the section labeled “An Opportunity” there are three quotes from Os Guinness’ book The Magna Carta of Humanity. Reread those quotes. He believes the church often has functioned as a “chaplain to the status quo” instead of as a “countercultural movement.” How do these highlighted terms relate to God’s plan for his church? 

8. Do you believe Guinness’ statements, “God creates order, but humans create disorder” and “God is the true revolutionary” are consistent with scriptures? Support your answer with an example.

9. The narrative stated when the U.S.A. came into being that it was not a Christian nation but a nation that adopted biblical standards of right and wrong. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

10. Do you believe “our culture has become increasingly “hostile to Jesus” or do you think that statement exaggerates cultural trends?

11. Why does James Davison Hunter describe the American version of the Enlightenment as a “hybrid Enlightenment.” What was different from the French version?

12. If the author of The Jesus Way was sitting across from you, what would you ask or tell him after reading and thinking about Challenge B?

    Copyright © 2024 Don Waite

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