This creates an obvious barrier to the gospel. Secular people can safely ignore God because He has no practical impact on their lives. As far as they are concerned He is totally irrelevant both in the immediate and in the long term. However, to some extent, this is changing. Having tried to find satisfaction in things some are now beginning to realise there must be more to life than just accumulating toys.
People sense an emptiness in their lives, a spiritual longing, a restlessness.
As a result we are seeing a growing spiritual awareness. Instead of turning to the Lord they are side-tracked into the New Age movement, Eastern Mysticism, and Islam. All this growing interest in religious experience confirms the observation of the Roman Catholic theologian, G K Chesterton, that a culture that no longer believes in God will believe everything. Negatively we must continue to remind people that satisfaction and happiness are not to be found in gathering possessions and that there is more to life than what we can buy and sell, or touch, taste and see. Positively we must encourage the growing spiritual awareness that is taking place today.