Influences on Society and Today's Student

Os Guinness, in his book The Gravediggers File, discusses three influences (or pressures) in society today: secularization, pluralization, and privatization.

Secularization is the process by which most segments of our society have been cut off from the influence of religious ideas and institutions. The world becomes a place without windows. We are left to look within ourselves for meaning and purpose. This process eventually leads to a world without ultimate hope.

Pluralization is the rapid multiplication of choices. With so many choices, we do not know what is true. All truth becomes relative. Since we do not know what is true, we tend to decrease our commitment to anything or anyone. We become a people without faith.

Secularization and pluralization lead to privatization. Privatization is the retreat from looking to other people or institutions to provide security and significance. Instead, we turn to ourselves or the accumulation of personal goods. An emphasis on self and materialism is one result. Christopher Lasch in his recent book, The Minimal Self, describes this as "psychic survival." We become people without any selfless love for others.

People are retreating from commitments to others and turning inward. Christians are not immune to these influences. We just spiritualize them. We turn inward to find spiritual security. Many Christians lose sight of serving others and become concerned only for themselves. Signs of this process include: lack of willingness to be involved in leadership in Christian groups, and overemphasis on the personal or private spiritual gifts and prosperity theology.

These three influences – secularization, pluralization, and privatization – also affect today's college students. Vision for your chapter or campus must take them into account. As leaders, make sure Christians in your chapter are not spiritualizing these three influences. Help them to grow in their concern for others. In your evangelism, make sure you meet people where they are. Many of them are not satisfied with just looking to themselves for security and significance. They desire the hope the Gospel of Jesus Christ can provide.

The vision for your chapter and campus doesn't remain in the private sphere. God calls His people to be light and salt on campus and in society. The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives individuals and society faith, hope, and love.