Involved with this are generational shifts. Boomers are definitely modernist in outlook. Generation X has been called a "hinge generation" raised in modernity yet living in post-modernity. Millennials show signs of dramatic reversals of attitude compared with Generation X. Strauss and Howe in their new book, Millennial Rising: The Next Great Generation, see some very positive new characteristics.

For preachers it is vital to note too the dramatic communication shifts which are part of changing culture. Marshall McLuhan claimed that society has always been shaped more by the nature of the medium by which people communicate than by the content of the communication. The first era of communication was oral. Words as sounds were heard by the ear and were rich for building community, relationships, and memory. Remember, Jesus never wrote a book. Then with the invention of print there were widespread words for eyes which are significant for individual study and for the development of literature. Now, since 1985 (the year when more videos were checked out than library books) we have entered an electronic era. This impacts both the ear with amplified sound, so important to younger generations, and also the eye as vast amounts of information build up, especially on Internet. Now it is stereo communication as never before -- ear and eye.

The impact of these changes is only being slowly felt in some churches. "Most Christians do not perceive the church to be in the midst of the most severe struggle it has faced in centuries."5

How aware are we of popular culture? Recently Christianity Today published a leading article on the Simpson's animated sitcom called "Saint Flinders."6 It stated that for American students the name most associated with the word Christian -- other than Jesus -- is not the Pope or Billy Graham but a goofy looking guy named Ned Flanders. A 1999 survey found 91% of American children aged 10-17 and 84% of adults could identify each of the characters. And Flanders, according to some, is "television's most effective exponent of a Christian life well-lived." You can imagine the correspondence columns had heated exchanges, but it was a 26 year-old who wrote to say "good job." Does it matter that many preachers wouldn't have a clue about the Simpsons?

Bill Hybels is right when he says that most unchurched people think that pastors are woefully out of touch with reality. He selects 60-70% of his illustrations from current events. "I read Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, and Forbes. Every day I read the Chicago Tribune, watch at least two TV news programs and listen to an all-news radio station when I'm in the car."7 What do you find yourself reading and watching?

What matters most is that we do not treat people in culture change as objects to stereotype or groups to generalize about. Love is always the key to God's communication, and however wide the gaps opened up by secular culture, His love and ours should cross it.

3) Be real about your spirituality.