The Church of 20 Years from Now
Today, 70% of the population relies on local churches as their dominant means of experiencing and expressing faith, according to researcher George Barna, whose new book, "Revolution," draws on several Barna Group national surveys conducted over the past 12 months to describe a sweeping change across the religious landscape. By 2025, that will fall to 30% to 35%, with an equal percentage using alternative forms, Barna said in an interview.Hey, that's interesting. There was an article in the Milwaukee Journal this week that tried to "profile" the emerging church. It centered mainly on one "church" (they are one, in the ekklesia/gathering sense, whether they like it or not) called Connect which meets in a Cafe on Fond du Lac, and detailed how it is a place that is reaching out to 20somethings by emphasizing group discussion, prayer, and service. I guess the thing I found most interesting was that the article insinuated that half of all churchgoers would be involved in "emerging churches" in 20 years.
I don't know quite where to fall on this, whether to take Barna's word (or the article's word, I can't tell exactly where it is coming from.) On one hand, I'd like to remain skeptical of this and say that good liturgy is all you need. On the other hand, most Lutheran churches are not equipped for this, and we could end up continuing to lose ground on this, and on our foothold in humanity.
I was part of the Pacific Southwest District's new pastor orientation this past week, and while it was mostly church growth stuff with Alan Klaas and a few Bible studies scattered throughout it, one of the things I took from that which continues to break my heart is how we continue to lose ground in sharing the gospel and making disciples. I'm sitting in the middle of some of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, and still the church here is not reaching out to the unchurched. I heard one pastor say he was very proud of the transfer growth he was experiencing with all the people who moved in, but I wondered, with all those people who are experiencing this time of transition, shouldn't they be able to reach others who haven't been churchgoers?
There I go again, letting lose with my passion for the lost. I guess the point of this rant is how we keep losing ground, how the percentage of people who know the truth as it is experienced in Lutheran churches through word and sacrament is slowly dwindling. It sucks. So this is the point of my little blog here, to get the word out a little more, to be a touchstone for the future of the church, to improve the way we communicate the gospel to this emerging generation.
So here are some ideas...
I would like to interview pastors and leaders of "emerging" and "alternative" and Gen X and Y focused worship, so I need two things from you who read this. First of all, are you or someone you know involved in this focus of ministry? Second, what would you like to know from these people? What questions would you ask them? I've got a few people in mind that I want to contact, so watch this site in the future for updates and interviews, and of course more articles.
May God bless you, as you have been a blessing to me.
posted by Jed at 8:42 PM
6 Comments:
Just found your blog, and read your post about wanting to interview some leaders in the 'emerging' churches... Thought I'd point you to two churches that I know of--Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa, CA and The Journey in St. Louis, MO. Both can be found by Googling the names and places. Don't know if that helps, but anyways...
Thanks anonymous. I've actually been to The Journey when I was going to sem...it was one of the awesomest experiences I've ever had in church, singing hymns I loved from growing up in a modern style in a sanctuary packed with young people who actually thought church was important enough to get up on a Sunday morning and go to. Thanks for the hint on the Costa Mesa church, too, I'll have to check that one out.
How does reaching to this generation and their style of speaking and living compare with the idea that Jesus reached "down" to us to save us. Phil 2...he humbled himself and made himself nothing...
As I am thinking about this, Tom, I at first was really apprehensive about comparing myself and this emerging church thing with Jesus. But on second thought, it has everything to do with following Jesus' example. Jesus came down from heaven to speak Greek and Aramaic and to show his love in ways people could see and hear and feel and experience. It's hard for me to think of communication as humbling myself, but it's a good point...sometimes we need to get away from our lofty expectations of what people need to do to be Christians, and stick with what the Bible says. I'll keep thinking about this!
I found your blog and have been reading through it. I have to say I am thankful there are people who are talking about these issues in the Lutheran church. You raised a question at one point about whether or not to believe Barna (or the article) and I would raise caution to that. A number of years ago Barna came out with a survey that worship spaces should be bare so as not to detract from worship. They should be similar in style and design to theaters so that 'seekers' would not feel intimidated. Within the last 5 years they have come back out to say, 'wait, we were all wrong' basically. It turns out that people, especially those who have not been involved in church, are looking for something that looks like a church. A recent poll of college students claimed that what they wanted more than anything from there church was adminstration of the sacraments and a sense of transcendence. That's what Lutherans (and Catholics and Anglicans, etc) have been doing for centuries. Be careful to let culture dictate how to run the church, because then people no longer want the church. The church can never beat the entertainment industry, but they can offer something that no one else in soceity can - real and true peace, the peace that only God can give.
It's about time some people got tired of being told how the LCMS must change its worship to attract new people, and focused on who we really are. Genuine gospel preaching and the sacraments they bring! Another blogger suggests the decline in the LCMS is due to contraception. I agree. Don't most of us think two and a half children are enough? And when we have them, how much time do we spend teaching them that our church life is everything? I doubt if most kids have a chance to committ the Catechism to heart anymore. It's simply not expected. Learn the great hymns of the church? Not expected. I'm glad to see there's a generation that appreciates these things.
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