Isn't this just a generational thing?
No... but it looks like it!  A ministry targeting post-moderns will have a younger average age than a modern church.  Most fifty-somethings are moderns, and most twenty-somethings are post-moderns.  The younger the group, the higher percentage of post-moderns you will have.   But remember, it is truly a cultural difference, not simply an age issue.

How is this any different than "the generation gap" in the 60's?
The major battles that parents and teens had in that period of time were about style and taste issues.  Although the "gap" seemed wide at time, both were generally coming from the same basic worldview.  Today the "gap" is not only age, but cultural as well... in other words, a much wider "gap."

Where do they get their strange combinations of beliefs?
Post-moderns see life as a smorgasbord.  They tend to pick and choose various (strange to our eyes) combinations of things.  They are very eclectic in the way they choose from: authors, teachers, denominations, mystics, and what we would call bizarre cults.  Logic and reason are not a factor - it doesn't matter if the teachings contradict each other.  They will take symbols, values, and rituals from various religious traditions and combine them into their own personal spirituality.  To them, their conclusions are every bit as valid as anyone else's beliefs

Won't they eventually "grow up" and fit in with our church service?
No, this is a different culture we are talking about.  When they "grow up" they will be "grown up post-moderns" and our modern services still won't touch their needs!  It is not an issue of age or musical taste, but of mindset and worldview.

What different things do post-moderns want in a church service?
To the post-moderns, most of our modern churches are presenting a show up on stage that you sit and watch.  To them it looks more like "The Tonight Show" (band and all) than a serious religious experience. Meaningful and authentic is more important than a polished show on a stage.  If they are going to go to a church, they want to feel like they actually participated in worship, and leave feeling they had a chance to meet with God (what a concept)! 

Aren't we sacrificing scriptural truth to target post-moderns?
We need to differentiate between our traditions, and the gospel.  Good foreign missions have for years, first learned the target culture, then learned to communicate the gospel to those people within the contest of that specific culture, so that the message could be understood and accepted.  In the late 1800's Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China, whom God used in a powerful way.  However, he was strongly criticized back at home for his methods.  He understood that his ministry was cross-cultural and that he needed to relate to the people in different ways, not in the "English way" if he expected to reach them for Christ.  We don't need to alter scripture, but we do need to "repackage it" to fit the target culture.
Recall Paul's words:  Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV)
Jesus put it this way:  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  (John 17:15-18 NIV)

Do we have a Biblical example of church ministry in changing cultures?
Yes.  In the Book of Acts the early church struggled with this issue.  The whole church was made up of Jewish believers.  Then all of a sudden they had to deal with these Gentile Christians.  In Acts 15 the leaders debated just what they were going to lay on these folks as far as religious requirements.  It could have been a donkey cart full of scrolls containing all their traditions… but it was only 29 words (the letter was longer, but the actual requirements listed in the NIV are 29 words).  That was it!!  They were left to determine for themselves what a Gentile church would look like.  I think we moderns will have a harder time than that… maybe 29 volumes, or at minimum 29 pages… but only 29 words!?!?!?  How could we possibly impart all of our priceless wisdom in only 29 words?  It seems that the early church leaders (Peter, Paul, James, etc.) trusted that the Holy Spirit was capable of leading the Gentile believers in the right path.

If the post-moderns shy away from the scientific method and reason, are their views irrational?
No, they simply don't believe that scientific discovery and human reason hold all the answers to life's questions.  Think about that for a moment.  From a Christian perspective that is a good thing!  Remember, you will find much more openness to spiritual things among unbelieving post-moderns than among unbelieving moderns.  To the post-modern, an individual's personal feelings carry as much weight in his or her thinking as a scientific experiment.  Facts are irrelevant if someone feels strongly about an issue.  If post-moderns want to know something, they want to know it by personal experience as well as objective study.

Don't post-moderns deemphasize Biblical doctrine?
A lot of the modern's Bibles studies were focused on finding doctrines that would fit within a systematic framework.  To some extent it is semantics, but we need to use the word "doctrine" less, and start substituting the word "teaching."  Doctrine refers to a body of beliefs created by other humans in a previous time.  Teaching is an activity that goes on whenever we read and reflect on the Bible.  Doctrine is static, teaching like the Bible itself is alive.  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)  Instead of dissecting it to look for its meaning, we need to see what sort of experience it yields.  Post-modern faith can be a faith that leads to an experience of the living Christ.

What long-range planning recommendations do you have for the "modern mega-church?"
This is a tough one!  As we mentioned on "The Future" page, a "post-modern mega-church" seems to be an oxymoron.  The generation before us was more interested in a smaller church where everyone knew each other.  The emerging generation is also more interested in a sense of "community."  It could very well be that the "mega-church" was a "boomer" phenomenon.  If this is true, what does it mean for long-range planning?  For starters it means that eventually a large church facility will not be needed.  Wow!  What about all the churches with sanctuaries that seat thousands?  No one can say for sure, but it appears that the post-moderns may not interested.  Maybe in the future some group will turn them into community centers or theaters.  It is more likely that the post-moderns will have many more churches, each of a smaller size.  In his book, The End of the World ...As We Know It, Chuck Smith Jr. says: "I am doubtful that an effective community can grow much larger than three hundred members."  So what's a "mega-church" to do?  Unless specifically directed by the Lord to do so, I would reconsider building that new monster sanctuary.  I would pursue a different course.  If the "mega-church" model is going to go away, we need to be asking the question:  "What can we do that will meet both current and future ministry needs, and will at the same time make the transition to post-modern ministry easier?"  Rather than the monster sanctuary, go with multiple services, but not identical services.  Why not target different groups with different services?  Add post-modern staff members and give them the freedom to "do their own thing."  I need to "step on some toes" here...  The biggest problem may be the "modern pastor" and "church board" who want to be in control.  We must honestly ask ourselves if we are more concerned with "having our own way" or helping the church make a smooth transition into effective ministry in the post-modern culture. What are some other things we can do?  If small churches can make the transition easier than the huge ones, we need to make it a priority to start "daughter churches" rather than just getting bigger and bigger.  Some of these new churches can be post-modern churches.  In fact those alterative services we mentioned may be part of the birth process of these new churches!  Utilize the resources God has given you, both in terms of finances and gifted individuals to multiply your ministry in new churches.  I was part of a large church (6,000) for a number of years.  There were probably 100 guys that had either pastored before, or were fully qualified to pastor a church.  Instead, they were ushering or helping in the parking lot.  Is that being good stewards of the gifts that God has given, either from an individual or church perspective?  Give it some thought and prayer... please!