I don’t listen to news very much. It feeds my tendency to fear and worry about the wrong things. It seems that even without following the news, I hear enough of what’s happening to stay somewhat current.
In the gloom-and-doom, sky-is-falling landscape of today, what is the future of the church?
Mark VanSteenwyk has compiled a thorough summary of a conversation about this topic, with links to the full conversation.
If the industry of church collapses, what will become of the church? Will the bride be declared dead, or will she perhaps recover her identity and purpose?
There is a major shift already occurring within church systems. I don’t believe the economy is the direct cause of the changes we will see. If anything, I believe the economy will simply be a factor in hastening the shift.
Mark says, “we have inherited Christendom tools for doing a post-Christendom job.” The pastors of today already feel the tension that occurs with changing paradigms.
As these changes continue, I believe that those who respond by circling the wagons in an attempt to protect what is theirs will ultimately seal their demise. If there is any prospering to be had at this time, it will be in giving away and investing outside the circle of our own territory.
Church can exist without all of the bells and whistles. People can grow and be discipled in relationship with non-professionals. It is possible to serve in the kingdom without being legitimized by the stamp of institutional approval.
If McDonalds shut down, people would realize (or remember) that they too can make a sandwich.
kingdom grace 
If McDonalds shuts down, people will not only remember or learn to make their own sandwiches, some will decide to grow their own food, and discover they are pretty good gardeners! And once I’ve tasted a tomato fresh out of my own garden (or yours), will I ever want to go back to McD’s again? I don’t think so.
I get it that some people are unnerved by the changes coming for the church, and some get their livelihoods that way, and are also unnerved. But I’m longing for some real food, real relationships, and real life.
It’s actually very disturbing to hear people talk about the church dying because of the institutional meltdown – – as if the Church belonged to the institution. The Church belongs to God – She cannot “die”. In fact, evidence points to the Church being more alive now than ever – – it’s just not reflected in church membership books in dusty church libraries.
Mao ran the institution out of town – and the church in China exploded. I love the story in Jim Rutz’s book MegaShift about the Chinese guy running his 4 million member church from a cell phone – while working half-time.
I’m all for the real tomatoes – not these phoney hot house things….
I guess when any American hears the word ‘industry’, they think of a large scale business activity. Although the church was very formalized and programmatic while I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, I guess it was still quite ‘community-oriented’. I don’t think it really evolved into ‘industrial’ proportions until the advent the age of marketing through the use of media communication. The Church began to learn from this marketing culture how to market its own product of salvation, and how to leverage the process with the use of its own unique forms of professionals and super-stars. Unfortunately, this kind of marketing is not all that spiritual, and people today who are searching for a spiritual path are not attracted to the church because the church evolved in the wrong direction. Instead of strengthening the concept of Kingdom community, they began making their appeal to individual security through many various marketing techniques. I don’t believe God’s going to bless that in any big kind of way.
God’s original purpose for humanity was forged in community. Jesus’ great Kingdom teachings were about the restoration of proper community. The work of the cross was restoration to harmonious community. It seems quite clear that the peculiar work of the Spirit in the church today is to return to a missional call of community transformation through the infusion of the power of God’s Kingdom – a Kingdom not of this (marketing) world, but a Kingdom bound in the hearts of disciples learning to serve in community.
Maybe the church will get it right this time.
i’m hungry :-)
gonna go make a sammich!
Do you want fries with that?
The Early Church began as a microtrend and shared a powerful message of hope throuhout this world, we’ve lost a lot along the way. Two thousand years of history has blunted our Sword, distanced us from The Well, distorted what once was a Simple Message and a Simple Faith, we’ve locked the Open Gate, and the gatekeeper (Established Church) defines who can come in, who can’t, structure and walls that did not exist have been erected and IT’S TIME FOR THEM TO COME DOWN.
Grace, you’ve verbalized some things going on in my head for some time.
I really don’t see what is going on in the church (or “outside” of it) as a decline, but rather a shift. Ultimately, I think at some point institutional church leaders will face a choice–a choice to radically adapt their structures to reflect what God is doing, or a choice to “circle the wagons.” My feeling is that there will be those whose hearts truly favor the will of God over their own well-being that will find a way to adapt, but that there will be many others who will harden their hearts out of fear.
Just a speculation. Great post.
I read your article in New Wave and breathed a sigh of relief, I am not alone. My husband and I left a church we once loved about four years ago and I have been terrified that I will remain churchless for the rest of my life. We have found community among Quakers and have looked over our shoulders throughout this time waiting for our church-going friends to start throwing stones at us. That has not happened either and it has left me feeling guilty that no one is punishing us for not feeling at home among “our own” even though I know this where God wants us right now. I feel lost without the structure and yet feel more in touch with who I am in Christ without the church expectations I used to battle. I just wait to see what He is doing and is going to do.
Good stuff. This quote says it all:
“we have inherited Christendom tools for doing a post-Christendom job.”
Gulp.
maria, i am in on the tomatoes and will bring some cucumbers to share as well….
mak, right on!
In “Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations” Clay Shirky writes, “….real revolutions don’t involve an orderly transition from point A to point B. Rather, they go from A through a long period of chaos and only then reach B. In that chaotic period, the old systems get broken down long before new ones become stable.”
This is precisely what is happening in the ekklesia today. We are in the chaos period. By necessity, it then applies in some senses to each one of us personally. Our old systems of thinking are being broken down and our new thoughts remain still in formation.
We planted some tomatoes last week… ;o)
Already had some cabbage and broccoli on the go. The rabbits are enjoying the cabbage too much.
I think that the wine skins are being slapped to see if they actually contain anything worth keeping and whether they will take any pressure without cracking.
Tom
heather,
I have found lifestream to be a helpful resource on the churchless journey. You are definitely not alone.
Great comments everyone!
Call me stupid, but… I never really knew what the hell a handbasket was until I saw this picture. Learn somethin new every day.
Dan,
I would never call you stupid. :)
Now you know.
It seems to me that all people including church leaders are moving towards the devil and away from the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost…. it will be the demise of civilization… it has been prophesied that the end is coming… God knew that we could not hold our spiritual dedication for ever… we as humans forget easily where we have been and come from….. God has warned that we will not be on earth for ever…. we are only human and Adam and Eve proved that before God even had a chance to get started good with his dream of a perfect mankind… there is nothing that can stop the inevitable, we can only keep our own relationship with God as true as humanly possible, so that we as individuals may be one of the few that will spend eternity by the side of God….