[Timo Plutschinski spoke on this topic at the ELO World Conference in Vancouver, Canada on Nov 4, 2015.  This blog post summarizes some of the content from that presentation.].

Europe was once the driving force behind Christendom. Europe is the birthplace of significant Christian figures and movements which have impacted the world.  Europe is today perceived as inexorably sliding into dechristianization and secularization. We frequently hear that in Europe Christianity is out-of-touch with our times – that the Bible is old-fashioned, irrelevant or even oppressive.

 Let me quote Stefan Gustavsson, Secretary General, Swedish Evangelical Alliance: “Christianity began as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When it went to Athens, it became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it became an organization. When it went to Europe, it became a culture. When it came to America, it became a business."

 My deep conviction is that postmodernity will bring Christianity back to a focus on the personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 The Great Heritage

The Bible first of all transforms individual human beings, who in turn transform entire nations. In every area of life we have seen this remarkable record of personal and social transformation. Be it science, or health care, or literature, or learning, or liberty, the biblical worldview touched and transformed entire societies.

 All that basically came from Christians. The medieval monasteries were the seed bed of the European universities. Indeed, many of these monasteries and cathedral schools developed into these great universities. And almost all education back then was in fact church education.

In a similar way, also, the marketplace was deeply influenced by the Protestant work ethic of honoring God with and through daily work. Life and work was linked to a vibrant faith – in personal life, but also in families, companies and communities.

 The Change to Postmodernity

 First in Europe but meanwhile all over the world Christianity has experienced a big change over the last 100 years. In 1910 evangelization meant Christianization which also meant culturalization. We are now confronted with a modern era full of diverse ideologies: nationalism, fascism, communism, socialism, etc.

 In our present century the situation has changed dramatically. Especially in the Western countries Christianity has left the public arena and any kind of ideology and mission is suspect. For an increasing number of people there is almost no difference between an evangelical Christian and a Muslims Taliban: they are both radical, extreme and intolerant.

Postmodern society didn’t like this approach and has shifted all kind of religious life into the private sector.

 The Business Solution

 According to Vishal Mangalwadi, an Indian Christian philosopher, the West ''has amputated its soul.'' This has caused an ideological vacuum in the public arena. In fact, this situation creates an increasing opportunity and need for private initiatives coming from Christian business people.

 While the church is struggling with shrinking influence business people are still having daily accesses to people and through them to their families. There are millions of people no pastor will reach with church activities.

 This together with a chronical unemployment—that Christian businesses can address—means that “business as mission” becomes one of the primary avenues for bringing Christian hope to tomorrow’s Europeans.

 With all the complications of a post-Christendom society, R. Paul Stevens, Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology, Regent College, stated, that “it is wonderfully true that – globally, in the twenty-first century – the marketplace is the most strategic mission field.”

 There are enormous implications for the marketplace, which is now seen as not merely a place to evangelize but as an arena, if not the most strategic one, for the full-orbed mission of God.

The primary locations for spiritual growth may be no longer church services, but, to quote R. Paul Stevens again, “the marketplace is the most significant arena of spiritual formation.”

 We will see new types of Christian communities, new kinds of companies with a church function and new monastic movements to engage with this new reality. Dual processes of secularisation and re-sacralisation will continue and many churches will continue to disappear, but many more new companies will be started by dedicated Christians. Companies which are profitable and sustainable, which creates community value and local jobs and which function as a seed bed for a new generation of followers of Jesus.

 Although it feels like a total cut of the “old oak of Christianity” in Europe there are new shoots—especially in the marketplace. This situation gives hope to a post-Christian society.

 More than ever before the single businessman is the one who makes the difference in his environment. He is “the light” among his employees, competitors, suppliers, colleagues etc.

And at least in Europe the conventional division of labor is no longer valid that the churchy “full-timer” are responsible for all the spiritual formation and the businesspeople for providing the needed money. This relationship has to be reconsidered.