Attempting to identify major trends influencing the way Christians think and live in the world today through discussions with theologians from several leading Bible colleges in the UK, the editor of the evangelical magazine Premier Christianity (January 31), Sam Hailes, emphasizes the importance of adaptation, spiritual depth, and openness to the supernatural elements of Christianity. The shifts he identifies can be observed in the UK, but are not limited to it.
St Albans Cathedral, Hertfordshire (source: Alex-David Baldi | Flickr).
First among the four trends Hailes identifies is migration. People are moving at an unprecedented scale, with projections showing that 1.2 billion people could live outside their birth country by 2050. Power in Christian mission has shifted from “West to the rest” to a more widely distributed, polycentric model. In a place like London, this gives a new impetus to Christian presence, with black people making up 14 percent of the population, but representing 60 percent of church attendees, according to some figures. Chris Howles, director of cross-cultural training at Oak Hill, claims that “Christians are more migratory than any other religion,” while conceding that “the speed of cultural change has been ‘unsettling’ and ‘disruptive’ for some” in the UK.
The article goes on to observe a potential religious renaissance, with a renewed interest in faith and spirituality. “We’ve got an open goal for Christianity in our culture,” states the principal of Moorlands College, Andy Du Feu, while the New Atheism has become less fashionable. Still, it would need to go beyond a “general curiousness.” At the same time, another reported trend is a growing emphasis on spiritual formation among Christians, with an increasing interest in spiritual disciplines and practices. This may include rediscovering liturgy or developing new prayer habits. The trend is said to be partly driven by reactions to church scandals and a desire for authentic faith. Finally, the article encourages Christians to embrace the supernatural aspects of their faith, which may sometimes have been downplayed. This call stems from the observation that many people in the UK believe in angels and are interested in the supernatural. “Talking more about the supernatural could be an effective evangelistic strategy.” The article suggests that these trends are interconnected and represent shifts in how Christianity is practiced and perceived in contemporary culture, particularly in the UK.
(Premier Christianity, https://www.premierchristianity.com/features/the-4-biggest-trends-in-church-and-culture/18833.article?t)
