Faithfulness in the Negative World: A Conversation with Aaron Renn about Christians in a Post-Christian Age
May 22, 2024
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Albert Mohler talks with Aaron Renn about his book 'Life in the Negative World' focusing on shifts in societal perceptions of Christianity, the decline of Protestant values, navigating societal norms, and challenges faced by Christians in a post-Christian world.
Aaron Ren's Three Worlds Model of Evangelicalism tracks the decline of Christianity through positive, neutral, and negative eras.
Increased societal negativity towards Christianity poses challenges for believers in the present era.
Christians must prioritize internal community health and identity to navigate external challenges in the negative world.
Deep dives
The Three Worlds Model of Evangelicalism
Aaron Ren discusses his Three Worlds Model of Evangelicalism that traces the decline of Christianity in America from the 1960s to the present. He identifies three eras as the positive world, the neutral world, and the negative world, each marked by shifting societal perceptions of Christianity with distinct characteristics and challenges.
Cultural Shifts and Societal Changes
Ren highlights significant cultural shifts and societal changes that have impacted the perception of Christianity in America. He emphasizes the increased negativity towards Christianity in the present era, where being a Bible-believing Christian is viewed with skepticism and even as a threat to the established moral order.
Implications for Christians in the Negative World
Ren underscores the challenges faced by Christians in navigating the negative world, where societal pressure and changing norms pose risks to adherence to Christian beliefs. He urges Christians to adopt a posture of exploration, recognize their status as a moral minority, and focus on strengthening internal community health in the face of external opposition.
Navigating the Negative World as a Minority
Ren advises Christians to reset their mindset from assuming a position of moral authority to acknowledging their status as a minority group. He calls for intentional stewardship of the Christian community's identity and health, promoting an inward focus to ensure a strong foundation for outreach and engagement with the broader culture.
The Future of Christian Engagement and Mission
Looking ahead, Ren emphasizes the importance of fostering strong, healthy churches as a foundation for effective outreach and mission in the negative world. By prioritizing internal community strength and engagement, Christians can navigate the challenges of a changing societal landscape while remaining faithful to their beliefs.
This is Thinking in Public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.
In this edition of the popular podcast series “Thinking in Public,” Albert Mohler speaks with co-founder and Senior Fellow at American Reformer, Aaron Renn. They discuss his most recent book, “Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture.” If you enjoyed this episode of Thinking in Public, you can find many more of these conversations here. You can purchase “Life in the Negative World” here.
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