The era for gospel hesitancy is ending

(Image: Alison Condon reading a story she wrote titled “Gifts at Christmas – The Story of Saint Nicholas”, to children in a public library.)

 

The hesitancy Western Christians have been schooled in regarding how we talk about our faith in public now needs winding back. Culture is changing. There is an increased openness to Christian things. An intentional DECISION to adapt is needed.

 

Some examples

Amongst a myriad of possible examples, one that stood out to me this past weekend was a report by Dave Rubin, who is a liberal in America. He is, however, as a liberal now considered a conservative – and I’ve been enjoyed listening to his news commentaries for a few years now. He is also a happily married gay man. Then consider this conversation with Dinesh D’Souza which plays right into biblical prophecy.

Another example that took me by surprise was the discovery Tommy Robinson, who has become outspoken against corrupted power in the UK in recent times, has also turned toward (if not to) faith in Christ. I didn’t see that one coming – while the thought process that would lead to this makes sense. The benefits of Western civilisation aren’t Western; they are Christian.

(I very-much look forward to my book about the history of our cultural values, currently titled ‘Aotearoa-New Zealand’s Untold Story’, coming out mid 2026!)

Then add to that list a wide and growing range of atheistic, agnostic and ‘mystic’ liberal (Left)-voting academics and news commentators including Russell Brand, JP Sears, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Naill Ferguson, Douglas Murray, Joe Rogan, Pierce Morgan and Tom Holland. All are now highly positive toward the Christian faith – if not having actually embraced it.

Others who may have been ‘conservatives’ already are also speaking a lot more of Christianity – including Tucker Carlson (likely a cultural Christian prior), Jordan Peterson (likely an agnostic prior – and still), and Konstantin Kisin (who I suspect is an atheist, of Russian descent, yet who categorically states that the Jewish-Christian value system is the foundation of Western prosperity, charity, equality, freedom and more.)

Each of them is now engaging in a range of conversations that esteem the Christian faith. This stands in contrast to the culture of public discourse even just five years ago. These conversations are being viewed by countless millions.

To understand: There really is a new openness. This change in culture isn’t imaginary.

An assessment: The consistent decline of Christianity across the past 60 years in our culture has now reached its bottom point.

A prediction: The NZ Census will continue to show about 1% decline in those calling themselves ‘Christian’ for another 5 years – I have long-predicted (since about 2012) bottoming out at about 27 or 28% ‘Christian’.

• This is nothing more than those whose families were historically ‘affiliated’ with Christianity now becoming more honest – and admitting they aren’t actually Christians. This has been happening at about 1% per year for about 50 years.
• Concurrently, church attendance – regular attendance (monthly) being at about 15% (with occasional at about 22%) currently, will begin to increase.
• We will then see the percentage identifying as ‘Christian’ in the census growing again, because the number of actual believers will finally be growing again – as a percentage of population.

Application: The hesitancy we have been schooled in regarding our faith needs winding back.

The challenge to understand: This won’t come naturally. This, therefore, needs talking about, to understand and model new appropriate approaches for conversation and storytelling.

To not misunderstand: If you intend to proclaim the (‘your’) gospel at someone – they still won’t want to be preached at. There are still some quite specific people-skills that need acquiring.

To not misunderstand: The older generation of the baby boomers is still a generation of ‘self made’ men and women ‘who don’t need God’. They can’t be told anything. Gen X is still sceptical. They grew up in the age of post-modernism, during which objective truth and morality were being thrown out… But the younger generation is different – and the ‘vibe’ of what is happening culturally is working its way upwards through the age groups!

This is to say, if we speak with intent to convince (or ‘convert’) others this still won’t work overly well. A social boundary is being broken. However, if we speak simply to state our own view or amazement at something – this will now cut through in increasing measure!

 

Conclusion

And that is it. No further commentary is needed – while other articles about gospel communication can be found in this same blog here. We who are cautious about discussing our faith are now increasingly misaligned with culture.

The lesson: If you are too scared to talk with non-Christians about a Biblical prophecies that amazes you, or something in the Creation that convinces you afresh that we were created, or …people are OPEN and READY for this!

The challenge: The many Christians and Christian leaders who have been schooled in ‘hesitancy’ and ‘shyness’ regarding their faith now need to adapt – and this won’t happen by mistake.

This needs talking about – so a new path can be forged in a timely manner.

(For more: Hear a 12min interview by Andrew Urquhart of Radio Rhema with Dave Mann on this topic here. titled, “Renewed Interest in Spirituality: Be Ready to Engage!”)

 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few…”

Matthew 9:35-38