We continue to witness the emergence of a post-Christian church that has forsaken the gospel and replaced it with the pursuit of political power. I keep asking myself, “How are we to then live?” I have been reflecting on Karl Barth’s exhortation to “preach as though nothing has happened.” It has been helpful.
Barth’s theology emphasizes that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture, must remain the sole focus of preaching. To “preach as though nothing has happened” is not to ignore the realities of the world but to resist allowing transient, worldly concerns to overshadow the eternal Word of God. For Barth, divine revelation in Christ transcends human history and requires no supplementation. He challenges preachers to trust in the sufficiency of the gospel to address every situation without diluting its message by conforming to contemporary trends.
Grounded in the conviction that salvation is entirely God’s work, Barth asserted that preaching should point to God’s sovereign action in Christ, not human interpretations of events. While acknowledging the importance of engaging with worldly realities, Barth warned against letting them dominate the pulpit. Instead, he called for preaching that contextualizes human need through the transformative lens of the gospel.
Barth’s stance is exemplified in his 1933 treatise “Theological Existence Today,” written in response to the German Protestant churches’ alignment with Nazi ideology. Barth’s declaration to carry on theology “as if nothing had happened” was an act of resistance, urging the church to focus on the Word of God and the lordship of Christ, even amidst political pressures.
Barth’s call to “preach as though nothing has happened” challenges the church to proclaim the gospel with clarity, courage, and fidelity. It reminds us that the transformative power of God’s Word rests not on cultural relevance but on the eternal truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, which speaks to every generation and crisis.
I believe this is a clarion call to recover the church’s true identity and mission. The church’s alignment with earthly power, when it compromises its allegiance to Christ, represents a grave departure from its calling to be a countercultural community that bears witness to God’s kingdom. The question, “How shall we then live?” demands a renewed commitment to the gospel as the church’s sole foundation and guiding light.
To live faithfully in such a context, the church must begin by re-centering itself on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, the gospel. The gospel proclaims that salvation, hope, and renewal come not through the mechanisms of political power or cultural dominance but through the reconciling work of God in Christ. A church distracted by temporal power must reclaim its identity as the body of Christ, distinct from the empires of this world, called to embody the humility, justice, and love of the kingdom of God.
The evidence shows that the decline of Christianity in America and the West is not because the world is so evil but because the church has corrupted itself by forsaking the fountain of living water for the cesspool of political power and partisan agendas.
The way forward for the church is to turn back to the fountain of living water. This requires repentance—a turning away from the idolatry of power and a return to the cross. The church must recognize and confess where it has conflated its mission with political agendas, seeking influence rather than faithfulness. This act of repentance allows the church to rediscover its prophetic voice, speaking truth to power with courage and conviction, not as a participant in its structures but as a witness to the reign of Christ.
“How shall we then live?” The answer lies in embracing a posture of humility and dependence on God, rejecting the illusion that the church’s effectiveness depends on its political clout. Instead, the church must recommit to its spiritual practices: worship that exalts Christ alone, prayer that seeks God’s will, and discipleship that forms believers in the likeness of Jesus. It is through these practices that the church is equipped to be salt and light in the world, offering an alternative vision of life shaped by grace, love, and truth.
The church must also reimagine its engagement with the world. Rather than seeking to wield power, it should focus on serving others, especially the marginalized and oppressed. This witness of self-giving love demonstrates the power of the gospel in action, challenging the world’s assumptions about strength and success. By living as a community of reconciliation, justice, and compassion, the church can embody the values of the kingdom it proclaims.
In a post-Christian church enamored with power, Barth’s challenge reminds us that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not a tool for advancing human agendas. To live faithfully is to resist the allure of worldly influence and instead embody the radical, transformative message of Christ. By doing so, the church can reclaim its role as a faithful witness to the unshakable kingdom of God, even in the midst of a fallen and power-hungry world.
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
