Church 2040
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Okay, so maybe it won’t look like this 2040…
“So few grains of happiness measured against all the dark and still the scales balance,” Jane Hirshfield
I came across the above quote in one of my favorite blogs, https://www.brainpickings.org/, and I wanted to share it because I think it’s a well needed word of hope in the midst of a dark and trying time for the church. Mega church scandals, denominational splits, and falling attendance…it seems inevitable that the church in the United States will quickly resemble the church in Europe: a collection of empty buildings. If you’re leading a congregation in one way or another, I wouldn’t blame you for having feelings of hopelessness as you try what you can in the face of all of these challenges.
But if you’re leading a church, or just someone who loves and believes in the potential of Christ’s body in the world, I think the above quote is more than just wishful thinking. I think it’s prophetic. Here’s why:
The time is ripe for new, fresh expressions of what Christian community can look like
In some ways, the success of the institutional church in the Western world has been a weight around the neck of Christian communities. The success of the past has hindered the flourishing of the church in the present. What is sacred about the form of the typical 20th Century worship service? Just because something worked for the age of the great revivals, or for the mega churches of the 90s and 00s, that doesn’t mean it’s what we’re being called to today.
To me, this brings me great hope. It means that the statistics we see that paint a picture of a rapidly shrinking church are really a sign that it’s time to move forward. It’s time to move on from the old structures and formulas. It’s time to get back to the fundamental elements of Christian community and discipleship and building something new. And my hope comes from the fact that we have no idea what incredible possibilities await behind that door.
The kids are alright
As much hand-wringing as we’ve been doing over the ultra-connected, over-entertained generations that are coming after us, the truth is they’re no better or worse than any other generation. Let’s not forget that it wasn’t too long ago that a drum set and/or electric guitar in church was considered by older generations to be blasphemous. The times are changing, and the generation that will be of age to pastor and lead the Christian communities existing in 2040 have all the potential in the universe to create something far greater than what we have today. It may look as strange to us as our churches and communities look to those who built the cathedrals of yesterday, but it will likely be far more effective and glorifying to God than anything we could build.
God’s timeline is different
World wars. Pandemics. The Renaissance, The Enlightenment, The Dark Ages. Followers of Christ have seen a lot. And through much of it the church has not fared well. And yet through it all the church has also evolved, becoming more faithful and true to Christ in many ways. World history may feel chaotic, but God hasn’t gone anywhere. The challenges of today are real, but they are not bigger than God.
So I have hope. But what do leaders of the church do with that hope? For one thing, we need to do all that we can to pave the way for the next generation. Concretely, I’d say that means the following:
Don’t weigh them down with our baggage:
What I mean by that is we shouldn’t be trying to train up leaders who are good at doing what we do. We should be equipping leaders to be creative, agile, and flexible, ready to meet a changing and challenging landscape. Instead of telling them how to do things, why don’t we ask them how they would do it? And then why don’t we empower them to take risks and try those ideas out?
Don’t weight them down with debt
We all know how seminaries and bible schools work - students take out loans and get degrees and hopefully those degrees tell the churches that need trained pastors that they’re equipped and ready to lead. Yet this system is falling apart at the seams. There aren’t enough positions to take on all of these well certified leaders, and the certifications that many of these leaders/pastors are getting aren’t all that useful to the church contexts they’re entering. How about instead of encouraging someone to go to seminary, we find ways to let them explore ministry for free or at least bi-vocationally? How about we fund fellowships and internships that empower recent grads to try out different ways of doing Christian community? I love seminary and believe it is extremely useful…but it’s not for every future Christian leader.
Do pray for them
It’s easy to get caught up with how the church of today is doing. We pray for the program or project that’s right in front of us, and rightfully so. But we should be praying for the church of 5, 10, 20 years from now as well. And a great place to start is with praying for that church’s leaders. They’re probably 10-20 years old right now.