Secondhand Faith Impacts Everyone

My doctoral project on identifying postmodernism for pastors and church leaders transformed into this clear analysis and application over the years. It's here for your use anytime. You can read, download in digital form, or print the PDF document from this site.

Introducing Secondhand Faith

Conversations fill our daily lives. We wail about the weather. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. We crow about the champions in our favorite sports. We review the latest news stories with our neighbors on the borders of our yards. We gab about current events and critique past events with everyone. But there is one subject that has the hardest time finding its way into words that lead to meaningful conversations, and that subject is the Good News of Jesus Christ.

If you are looking at this page, then you likely believe as I do that the Good News of Jesus Christ is the most important message everyone in the world needs to understand. Yet so many of us find ourselves talking about trivial matters while talk of Jesus Christ gets blocked somewhere between our hearts, our minds, and our mouths. Over time feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration overwhelm a lot of us. To cope, some of us move onto a mood of indifference while telling ourselves that someone else will have those critical conversations with people about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sadly, too few of us are having those critical conversations with the masses of people who are occupied with fraudulent faiths.

Is there a more optimistic outcome than guilt, shame, frustration, and indifference? I believe there is a better option. This easy-to-read, call-to-action book can be used by individuals, by leaders, by cohorts, and within conference/workshop settings to assist each reader to redesign more effectively his or her approach to sharing the certainties of the Good News of Jesus Christ with people in these confusing times. Internal obstacles can be overcome with prayer, preparation, practice, partnerships, and persistence.

During one-third of my adult life while I spoke three languages, lived on three continents, and visited twenty-four nations I realized through friendships that the vast majority of people no longer follow a single, classical religious tradition; instead, they live out what I label as secondhand faith. In this book, I will offer the observations, experiences, and solutions I gathered while living among a sea of people embedded in a variety of cultural settings. I will share what I learned while partnering with others in order to share the Good News of Jesus Christ under all kinds of conditions and in different contexts.

What do I mean by secondhand faith? When I was a little boy, bargains were important to my family. We knew how to stretch our money. Items of necessity or gifts, whether they were new or secondhand made no difference to us. My most memorable gifts were a used guitar and a secondhand go-cart. However, after ceaselessly entertaining myself with song and speed for a season, I lost interest in the music and the motors. No surprise. They did not cost me anything. They were secondhand, so I easily moved onto something else.

Over the years, I discovered that most people are treating spirituality in the same way I treated my childhood gifts. They pick up their spirituality without a lot of thought. They hold it for a while. They modify it when they want. They mix their beliefs willy-nilly. They exchange their spirituality for another form whenever it suits their mood. And if life’s experiences threaten their sense of satisfaction or happiness then they discard their self-designed spirituality for another feel-good format. That is why I call this phenomenon secondhand faith. Here is my definition of secondhand faith.

Secondhand faith is the prevailing spiritual mood that allows individuals the freedom to create, recreate, or crush his or her customized spirituality without that spirituality ever being challenged by anyone.

            Secondhand faith has overtaken the lives of most people. I sense and observe evidence of this spiritual mood within the diverse cultures in which I move. This is not a coordinated movement; rather, it is a widespread individual choice. Those living by secondhand faith no longer believe in absolutes. This spiritual temperament has found its way into the secular and sacred places of our lives. Confusion has replaced certainties. Self-indulgence has replaced selfless service. Individual happiness has replaced shared responsibility. The Internet and instantaneous global communication show people that societies with opposing worldviews thrive and suffer at their own pace regardless of their spiritual affiliation.

In this free PDF book, I will . . .

·       Define secondhand faith.

·       Describe the six signs of secondhand faith.

·       Distinguish ten current trends that help us better understand others.

·       Detail twelve best practices that persuade people toward biblical faith.

·       Direct readers to answer questions that will lead to meaningful conversations.

I divided the book into four parts hoping to help you as much as possible. Part one introduces secondhand faith which is the centerpiece to the entire book. Part two, by using my personal stories, lists the six signs of secondhand faith and guides you into a deeper examination of the people in your world. Part three brings the observations and solutions from my decades of travel and lays them into your lap allowing you to see what may apply to your situation. Part four offers resources that will embolden you and others to create initiatives to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around you.

Throughout the book, the names of those involved will be changed to protect the privacy of the individuals. I want to be clear that there is no condemnation from me toward those whose stories I share, because if it were not for the grace and actions of the Lord, and my subsequent response to the Lord, I would be condemned and living a secondhand faith like most everyone else throughout the world. I am happy to say that some within my stories placed their faith in Jesus Christ. For others, I wait.

I hope you will allow my personal stories to sharpen your analysis of those around you. Please, adapt what I learned from years of global travel to your context, and refine the ideas to fit who you are in Christ. These materials will help you create meaningful connections with people that will sustain spiritual discussions that will hopefully lead to the salvation of many through Jesus Christ.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

May I suggest that you approach this book as an ongoing conversation? If we are going to rescue people from drowning in a sea of spiritual confusion and guide them to explore and embrace the certainties of the Good News of Jesus Christ we must become familiar with secondhand faith. Share this book with others. Discuss the contents with friends. I hope to see more of us elevating the Good News of Jesus Christ through our relationships and our conversations with people who are lost in the spiritual chaos because the urgency of the Gospel mission demands this passion from all of us.

I would love to hear the actions you started as a result of reading this book. You can share your news on social media by finding me on X or Facebook at DrTonyLLynn. I encourage you to attempt your changes in collaboration with others, not in isolation. The teamwork will strengthen and enrich your experience. I pray that the clouds of confusion concerning those around you who have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ will be pushed away and allow you to see more clearly how each person near you approaches life. The aim is to strengthen your conversations and relationships so that discussing the Good News of Jesus Christ becomes natural. You may also contact me at DrTonyLLynn@gmail.com or at TonyLynn.Org when you are ready to share stories. Thank you for joining others and me on this quest.

Review. Reflect. Respond.

            Throughout the book, you will be asked to review, reflect, and respond to the reading. Review the chapter, reflect on your thoughts and feelings to the content, then enjoy responding to each question. Completing the questions will help you to adapt the content to your situation and to personalize everything to your influence among people with whom you will share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

1. After rereading the definition of secondhand faith, would you underline the words or phrases that impacted your thoughts and feelings?

Secondhand faith is the prevailing spiritual mood that allows individuals the freedom to create, recreate, or crush his or her customized spirituality without that spirituality ever being challenged by anyone.

2. Would you describe why you were impacted by the words or phrases you underlined?

3. Would you make a note of one specific example you observe, in your world, when reflecting on people who are living out the description of secondhand faith?

4. What is it between your heart, your mind, and your mouth that blocks you from having conversations with others about the Good News of Jesus Christ?

5. What Bible verses, prayers, or songs could you meditate on or speak aloud that would strengthen your resolve to have meaningful conversations with others about the Good News of Jesus Christ in these confusing times?

A Practical Observation

People know more about the apps on their smartphones, the statistics of their favorite sports team, and the background of their most entertaining celebrity than they do about their own spiritual path.

Photo by Mauro Mora on Unsplash

Over the years meeting people in thirty different countries, my personal conversations showed me that people mix and mingle their spirituality like a mixed salad. When you start your conversations with others do not be intimidated by a Wikipedia explanation of their spiritual path or if they shrug their shoulders without an explanation of their spirituality; just be certain to express your delight you found in the certainties of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and you may just see your friend or family member decide to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. I am praying for you, and for those to whom you will speak and share life.