Why Churches Struggle to Reach Culture: The Untold Reason

What if Christian churches, in our attempt to reach culture, are actually using strategies that push others away? What if a major reason we struggle to reach culture comes from a misunderstanding of what actually draws in those who are open to Jesus?

Truth be told, there’s no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution for churches, and there’s no single type of spiritual seeker, either. But when we follow the statistics of what our culture is generally looking for, and it’s the opposite of what most churches think they’re looking for… let’s just say we have a serious problem itching to become an awesome opportunity.

The Statistics Behind Why Churches Struggle to Reach Culture

It’s no secret that many people are spiritually open, especially in recent years. Not long ago, Barna Group surveyed just over 2000 U.S. adults, finding that 82% believe there is a spiritual or supernatural dimension to life, with over half of them saying they are certain. 74% of Americans want to grow spiritually, and almost half say their desire has increased since the pandemic. More encouraging statistics could be said about teenagers, whom Barna Group has even called “the Open Generation” in light of their largest study ever.

How do we respond as a church? Well, we often assume that spiritual openness is a hunger for solid truth, and so we lead with truth in our evangelistic efforts. This can be super helpful, but it can also be done poorly, such that the spiritually open become closed.

Closure vs. Curiosity in Cultural Engagement

To understand what’s happening, Barna Group senior fellow Mark Matlock points out that how people seek truth often differs from how many churches think they want to find it. Referencing an important study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Matlock explains how people have various degrees of “need for closure,” which is a person’s “inclination toward seeking definitive answers and their discomfort with ambiguity” (Matlock, Faith for the Curious, 90).

Some people have a very high need for closure. Questions, curiosities, and oddities bug them. They can’t sleep until they figure it out. When a solution appears to them, they feel the joy of resolution and are satisfied. Mystery solved. Other people, however, have a low need for closure. They spend more time wrestling with questions, more time playing with different perspectives, and often enjoy the thrill of the mystery.

The Imbalance in Modern Outreach

Here is where it gets interesting: Christianity offers solid truth, grounded in intellectual rigor, answering some of the most fundamental questions of life. Because of this, many people with a high need for closure are drawn toward Christianity. This creates an imbalance in the church, where we (in our high need for closure) assume that the outside world of the spiritually curious wants the same hard-and-fast “tell it like it is” truth that we once longed for.

But does this mean we are supposed to set aside truth to reach the lost?

Approaching the Truth Without Closing the Door

I know what some of you are thinking: We cannot compromise the truth! People need to hear the truth!

Yes and amen! Souls are on the line! Again, my concern is not that we give the truth. It is how we give the truth. But one truth we often forget is that the world is complex, and many people are suspicious of quick, simple answers. They may even feel out of place or unwelcome in a church environment that tries to just “shove truth down their throat.” What if (following Matlock’s advice in his book Faith for the Curious) we come alongside them in their curiosity?

What if we enter into their curiosity, encouraging further discovery? What if we started asking questions that stimulate their own curiosity-driven personality, such that they discover the answers themselves? In truth, this approach is not far off from the ancient pedagogy of the Socratic method, as well as the ancient rabbinical approach that Jesus took in his own day.

When I talk about “entering their curiosity,” I don’t mean to say we should pretend to be just as unsure about God as they are. That’s not what they need, it’s disingenuous, and they would see right through it. Likewise, if they genuinely want to know what you believe and why, go for it and don’t hold back! What I am saying is that it’s okay to affirm their journey and not try to rush them to all the answers if they are not ready. That could actually backfire on a low-need-for-closure personality because they feel misunderstood and possibly turned off by what they perceive as a pompous, know-it-all, black-and-white, Christian fundamentalist response.

Remember: for centuries, God kept in secret a holy “mystery” that was “hidden for ages and generations,” until “the riches of the glory of this mystery” was unveiled: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:26–27). So let them wrestle through the mystery! For it will only build up to a more glorious reveal as you journey with them, guiding them along the way that leads to Christ.

Even still, if Christianity ultimately answers the big questions of life, is it truly for people who prefer the journey over the destination?

Embracing the Mystery of Faith

Remember, many people embrace the wonder and mystery of this world. They may be concerned that the thrill of mystery will fade away and make life dull if they arrive at solid answers that Christianity claims to have. You may have heard people even say “we’re always on a journey” as an excuse for never arriving at answers! But here’s the beauty of Christianity (and a good reminder for all Christians): Even when we know Jesus, there is always profound mystery and curiosity to behold in wondrous awe. In fact, the frontier of discovery is far greater than before we began with God!

Consider the poet in Psalm 139. After a few verses pondering the infinite depth of God’s wisdom, he says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” (139:6) Likewise, after discussing a theological “mystery” of God’s divine election, Paul doesn’t simply state a clear answer. Instead, he finds himself breaking out into praise:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:33–36).

Perhaps the journey of wonder and curiosity people are on is mere preparation for the deeper places of wonder and curiosity to come. And it comes only when our souls find closure in knowing the true, living, infinite God.

Turning the Struggle into a New Opportunity

We have seen how one of our struggles in reaching our culture can become a great opportunity. Churches need to foster a culture that welcomes those on the journey and lets them explore their curiosity without feeling pressured beyond what they are ready for. Truth can and should remain a central pillar and value of our faith, but that is why we must be sensitive to how truth is digested in today’s world.

So consider those around you who are on their journey of spiritual discovery, and really pray with God how you might come alongside as their guide, pointing them to Christ. Perhaps invite them to read the Bible with you and ask questions. Or maybe you have some questions for them to help them think more clearly about Jesus. Whatever you do, affirm their quest for truth, because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.