How Cultural Narratives Affect Our Gospel Presentation

In his message at TGC Netherlands 2023, Michael Keller addresses the rise of secularism and the increasing indifference toward religion, contending that societies become secular not by completely rejecting religion but by becoming apathetic to it. He emphasizes the need for cultural narrative fluency to address the perceived irrelevance of Christianity in today's culture. Keller identifies four prominent secular cultural narratives—identity, freedom, happiness, and power—and advocates for Christians to present a compelling alternative, rooted in the gospel.

Secular narratives urge pursuing happiness through material means and power, but the gospel shows us that we can find true joy in Christ, using power sacrificially. Keller says that by retelling the story of Jesus in a beautiful and compelling way, Christians can offer a transformative narrative that brings joy and completeness to others.

The original conference media is courtesy of geloofstoerusting.nl.