Sharing the gospel with bohemians

May 6, 2019

What is a bohemian? Bohemians aren’t just a quickly-growing population demographic. They represent a fast-spreading cultural mindset. A simple definition of a bohemian would be “a person with an attraction to an unconventional lifestyle.”

An unconventional approach to religion and spirituality stands in stark contrast to the Norman Rockwell-esque image of Christianity that many of us have grown up with. This unconventional lifestyle creates a lot of distance between bohemians and the local church, contributing to a large and growing population of lostness within the bohemian community.

Bohemians aren’t anti-religious. As a matter of fact, they are extremely religious, typically paying close attention to their spiritual lives, being focused stewards of their own health and the earth. They see spirituality as a “holistic” model of health: mind, body and soul. In some ways, they’re a lot like the philosophers Paul met on Mars Hill in Acts 17. Bohemians may have many gods that they claim for themselves while leaving room for the possibility of something else — an “unknown god.”

Over 2000 years ago, Paul showed us how to reach these people — even in 2019. If we look back at Paul’s approach to the ancient followers of unconventional thought, we find a road map that will guide us to redeeming a vastly lost culture.

If we look back at Paul’s approach to the ancient followers of unconventional thought, we find a road map that will guide us to redeeming a vastly lost culture.

Take time to observe and listen
It takes a delicate understanding of this culture to identify their values, tastes and distastes. Spend time walking in their world to see what they are giving themselves to and what interests them. Many bohemians love meditation. Connect them to discovering this biblical practice. Perhaps they love essential oils. Show them the aloes, myrrh, frankincense, olive oil and incense burning in Scripture.

Sit down and talk with them
Hear their ideas and listen to what they have to say. You may disagree with their beliefs. That’s alright. Don’t simply wait for them to stop speaking so you can interject your opinion. Instead, keep asking questions.

Connect their understanding to truth
Paul took the Athenian idol worshippers back to Genesis. In the same way, don’t be ashamed of Genesis 1-3, which tells us about God creating the world by spoken word, a talking serpent and the curse of sin. Connect their love of creation to a Creator.

Let them make their own decisions as you convey the truth of the Gospel
Some will not believe you. Others will want to hear more before making a decision. Others will accept, repent and believe. Your patience and lack of rebuttal will speak volumes to them.

Bohemians are a colorful bunch. Their approach to life is intentionally unconventional. Many would rather live homeless and free than live by the bonds of conventional society. Show them the unconventional surprise that true freedom is found in Christ.

by Trent Holbert / Lead Pastor / The Ridge Church

5 things churches should do differently in 2021

As I am writing this article, I was notified that my grandson, Joshua, had broken his ankle. My granddaughter, Collins, broke her arm this year. My son, Sam, broke his leg a month ago. And my wife, Nellie Jo, broke her wrist earlier this year. That’s four different Rainer...

So you’re a follower of Jesus: ‘Now What?’

I vividly remember the season when I decided to give up running and join a gym. Up until then I had been an avid runner and enjoyed it. It was a great stress reliever for me, but I didn’t have much physical strength — I was weak and I wanted to change that. I remember going to...

Finding God’s ‘shells of grace’ in our western culture

The 2016 Disney Pixar film “Finding Dory” details the life of a blue tang fish named Dory who deals with short-term memory loss. The animated movie explores complex issues such as mental health, the power of community, and the interplay between humans and wildlife. One theme...

Considering a strategic vision for digital engagement

There is a difference between using something and leveraging something. You can use money to buy things you may or may not need. But that does not equate to leveraging it. Leveraging money as an investment could double or triple the initial investment. Using takes something at...

The beauty of adoption

Mom and dad never called me their adopted son. I was just their son. I was born into an unfortunate situation, but I was adopted into a blessed family. In 1966, adoption was not as highlighted in the American church as it is today. In the spring of 1998, I was a seminary student...

5 areas where pastors can grow in the new year

In the optometry profession, 20/20 means clarity or sharpness of vision. For most people, the year 2020 was anything but clear. In fact, 2020 was as unclear as a year could be because of the repercussions of COVID-19, especially if you are leading in ministry as a pastor. ...

NC mountain man returns home to plant new church

People say if you live in the North Carolina mountains, they’ll always call you back. For Michael Childers, that’s pretty much what happened. Except it was God who called him back, not the hills, he says. Drive to Brevard over in western North Carolina, and then head out of...

Resolve to pray for and encourage your pastor in the new year

Resolve to pray for and encourage your pastor in the new year Happy New Year! I know that those are welcome words for many of us, myself included. Given the events of the past year, we are all ready to return to some semblance of normal, although normal will undoubtedly look...