Sharing Adventism in a Post-Christian World

“Sometimes,” Pastor Jeremy Wong says, “we’re answering questions no one’s asking.”

Making Faith Make Sense, It’s a simple line, but it lands heavy—because for many Adventist young adults trying to share their faith, that’s exactly what it feels like. You believe the message. You want to represent Jesus. But when you start talking about the Sabbath or the Second Coming, your friend responds with a blank stare—or worse, suspicion.

Jeremy gets it. A pastor in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, he’s been on a personal journey to learn how to share the Adventist message in a way that actually connects with the people around him. “I believe in our message,” he says. “I believe that Adventism was raised at this time in Earth’s history for a special reason. But I wasn’t seeing that message resonate in a secular context.”

So he started asking new questions: How do we present our beliefs in a way that’s relevant to today’s world? How do we answer the existential questions people are actually asking?

A Different Kind of Mission Field

To reach a post-Christian culture, Jeremy says, we first need to understand it.

“The secular mind doesn’t come from the same foundation of faith that we do,” he explains. “And that’s where we often go wrong. We assume people are asking the same questions we’re prepared to answer.”

But the truth is, they’re not.

“Even though we live in a ‘Christian nation,’ the culture is very post-Christian,” he says. “People don’t think like we do. They don’t view Scripture as authoritative. They’re not lying awake at night wondering, ‘Which day is the true Sabbath?’”

Instead, Jeremy explains, many are living in what he calls absurdity—a tension between the sense that life is meaningless, and the deep longing to find meaning anyway. “It’s a world that feels meaningless, but still yearns for purpose.”

And here’s the twist: most people are comfortable in that space.

“They’re not necessarily looking for answers,” he says. “They manage the tension through amusement, through personal duty, or through some form of spirituality. So unless one of those structures breaks down, they’re not always open to what we have to say.”

Truth Isn’t Always Welcome

One of the most important shifts, Jeremy says, is learning how the secular mind views truth.

“People of faith tend to see truth as absolute,” he explains. “We believe truth is self-evident. We hear the word ‘truth,’ and we think: freedom.”

But to many outside the church, truth is seen as oppressive.

“For them, truth feels like a straightjacket,” he says. “Historically, when institutions—especially religious ones—claimed absolute truth, they also caused harm. The Crusades, the Inquisition, slavery… all were backed by people who claimed to have ‘truth.’ So now, that word feels unsafe.”

It’s a sobering realization. “We may come in with good intentions,” Jeremy says, “but if our posture is ‘We have the truth, and you need to accept it,’ it can shut people down before we even begin.”

So what’s the alternative?

Truth as a Journey, Not a Weapon

Jeremy points to the writings of Ellen White for a better posture. “She says, ‘Truth is progressive. It is always unfolding,’” he quotes. “She literally says that ‘much has been lost’ because people believed we already had all the truth we needed.”

Instead of treating truth like a weapon—or even a finished product—Jeremy encourages believers to treat it like a river.

“There’s a source,” he explains, “but it flows. It grows. It expands.”

He calls it the difference between “truth as stagnant” and “truth as flowing.” One says, “We’ve arrived.” The other says, “Let’s walk together.”

And that posture makes all the difference.

“This is what it sounds like,” he offers: ‘Hey, this is what I believe is true. I don’t have all the answers, and I’m still learning. But I’d love to explore this with you.’ That’s a much safer space to enter.”

Speak the Language of the Soul

Another key insight Jeremy shares is that we speak two kinds of languages: conceptual and soul language.

“Conceptual language is ideas, doctrines, facts,” he says. “But soul language? That’s mood, emotion, posture. It’s what you feel but can’t always put into words.”

The mistake we often make, he says, is trying to use conceptual language to answer soul questions.

“You ask someone why they love their spouse. They might say, ‘They’re kind. They support me.’ But that’s not the full picture. They can’t fully explain it—because love is soul language.”

In the same way, people’s spiritual questions often live in that soul space.

“If we only offer facts and Bible verses, we miss the heart of what they’re asking,” Jeremy says. “We need to listen well enough to understand the language they’re speaking.”

From Stranger to Safe Space

So how do you actually build a relationship with someone in a post-Christian world?

Jeremy offers a rhythm he’s found helpful: Basic → Existential → Spiritual.

“Start with the basics,” he says. “Sports, school, life stuff. Don’t rush.”

As trust grows, the conversations naturally deepen. “Eventually, people will share existential things—loss, purpose, identity.”

That’s where we often feel the urge to preach. But Jeremy says: wait.

“Sometimes the Spirit will nudge you to speak. But other times, you just need to listen. Be consistent. Be safe.”

He also encourages people to find a scattered social space—a non-religious setting where they can form authentic relationships. “For some, it’s the gym. Others, it’s the local coffee shop or community center. But be there consistently. That’s what earns trust.”

Live a Questionable Life

Finally, Jeremy suggests a simple framework called BELLS, a tool by Robert Frost from his book Surprise the World, to help believers live lives that awaken curiosity:

• B – Bless someone with a gift, encouragement, or act of kindness.
• E – Eat with them regularly. Share meals. Build trust.
• L – Listen actively and non-defensively.
• L – Learn their story, their worldview, their culture.
• S – Spirit. Stay in tune with the Holy Spirit’s timing and promptings.

“When you do these things consistently,” he says, “you live a life that invites questions. Not because you’re trying to manipulate, but because your life genuinely looks different.”

Sharing the Message That Still Matters

Jeremy finished by explaining what keeps him passionate about sharing the Adventist message, even in a culture that often isn’t listening.

“I still believe in the beauty of our message,” he said. “But we need to speak it in a way that people can hear. That means starting with the right posture. It means listening more than talking. And it means trusting that the Spirit is already at work.”

Then he paused and smiled.

“We’re not here to sell something,” he said. “We’re here to walk with people. And when they’re ready to ask real questions—let’s make sure we’re the kind of people who are safe enough to answer.”

Adventist Young Professionals