Metamodernism
A cultural shift from cynicism to longing for sincerity, meaning, and hope.
A synopis of Patrick Miller's article "Preaching the Gospel to People Sick of Irony", published on May 15, 2025, in Mere Orthodoxy.
Miller explores how Christians can effectively communicate the gospel in a culture going through an attitudinal anð intellectual paradigm shift. If this synopis interests you I encourage you to click the linked article title and read it in its entirety.
The basic premise of Miller's article is that both the church and culture have experienced a "winter" season marked by spiritual stagnation and pervasive irony caused in no small part by postmodern cynicism. However, He sees signs of a "spring" season of renewed longing for sincerity, meaning, and hope emerging, which he calls “metamodernism”. This new modernity is defined by a desire for authenticity, transcendence, and meaningful narratives. Miller argues that this cultural shift is creating an environment ripe for the gospe because the Gospel offers the very fulfillment metamodern individuals seek.
Main Points
1. Cultural Shift to Metamodernism: The transition from postmodernism to metamodernism reflects a move away from irony and deconstruction toward a pursuit of sincerity and meaningful engagement.
2. Contextualizing the Gospel: Drawing on Tim Keller's insights, Miller emphasizes the importance of contextualizing the gospel by understanding and addressing the cultural aspirations and objections of the time.
3. Church's Seasonal Cycles: The church experiences seasons—winter (spiritual dormancy), spring (renewal), summer (cultural influence), and autumn (marginalization). Miller posits that both the church and culture are entering a spring season, offering new opportunities for gospel engagement.
4. Strategies for Engagement:
Embrace Informed Naivety: Approach the gospel with a balance of sincerity and awareness, acknowledging complexities without resorting to cynicism.
Offer Hopeful Narratives: Present the gospel as a compelling story that provides meaning and direction in a fragmented world.
Foster Authentic Community: Create spaces where individuals can experience genuine relationships and belonging.
Encourage Creative Expression: Utilize art and creativity to communicate the gospel in ways that resonate with metamodern sensibilities.
Engage in Active Listening: Listen to the questions and concerns of the culture, responding with empathy and truth.
Miller's bottom line is that our gospel presentations, both corporate and individual, need to resonate with the metamodern desire for authenticity and meaning.