burning issues

The validity of Relevant Magazine in the western Christian community is debated, but the fact remains that it is a key focal point for hip young people who identify themselves as Christians. Or at least Christ-curious. The May/June issue featured a piece called "Burning Issues: You Asked the Questions - We Found the Answers."

They asked a carefully selected response panel (Chuck Colson, Cindy Jacobs, N.T. Wright, etc.) about seven of what teenagers and young adults identified as the most important issues in our society. What is more interesting than the answers offered by renown writers and speakers is what issues were identified as "burning," and the results of the readers' poll on each issue.

I chose three for you this morning:

Q1: Is our focus on social justice out of balance?
RP: 74% of the Relevant target market said evangelism ("spreading the gospel") is equally important to service ("meeting the basic needs of others"). When asked what area the Church needs to work on most, 24% chose "social justice," another 24% chose "poverty," and 23% chose "unreached people."

Q3: Faith - What are the problems facing the Church today?
RP: When asked where the church has shown significant progress, 43% said "social justice," 26% chose "unreached people," and 17% indicated "poverty." When asked which issues they were most tired of hearing about, 33% said "war."

When asked what readers personally struggle with the most, the response was very nearly split between four of five possible answers. The majority (27%) chose "materialism," but "apathy" came in a close second (24%). "Disconnectedness" and "disillusionment" were tied for third at 21% each.

Q6: Consumerism - How do we escape the excesses of culture?
RP: 79% of readers are happy to tithe. When asked what would be most difficult to give up, 66% said relationships and 12% said money.

The other questions focused on homosexuality, political parties, influencing culture, and war. Serious stuff. I'm highlighting these three because they show a very interesting side of the emerging face of Christianity.

They do not separate the gospel with social justice. They believe that when Jesus said "go," He meant it. Those issues that they identify as the ones that the Church needs to work on, are also the ones they recognize the Church has made good progress on. They see that the Christian community is trying, but they're not satisfied yet. Most of them are happy to financially support a local church, but I'm guessing they're not doing so with ministries that do not reflect their passion for the practical work of the gospel.

At the same time, they realize they are being weighed down by the world. They know that they struggle with materialism and apathy. In the face of a digital revolution - where the world is at their fingertips every time they log on - they're feeling disconnected and disillusioned.

(To be continued ...)