I am reminded of my father-in-law’s little quip: that “when I assume, I make an A-S-S out of U-M-E. “ There are some very sketch assumptions floating around ministry leader circles these days. One or two of them could prove to have some lasting truth – but I would encourage us to take great care with any of these:
(1) Evangelism is inherently colonialist. Granted, the practices of the western church were colonialist over many centuries, but Christian faith existed before it got in bed with European monarchy – and it is re-globalizing in this century. Just watch Gen Z – and the way they share good news – it will more than likely be with a newfound sense of respectfulness, born of the fact that they are (like the early Christians) in a minority status culturally. Having said this, I will add: White folks should still be on watch for our own cultural colonialism at all times, seeping into our theology and our missional endeavors.
(2) Church X ‘died of Covid-19.’ Churches are not dying of Covid-19. People are, but not churches. Churches that were dying are speeding up in their final life stage, as they run out of money a bit faster or lack the volunteer power to push on through this season. But thriving churches are still thriving, and dying churches are still dying – nothing has changed really. Normal was not working. “Back to normal” is a road to death, more certainly than Covid-19.
(3) In the new ministry metrics, it is less important how many people show up for gatherings. This assumption is beyond ridiculous. It is often thrown out as self-justification by ministry leaders whose excellent experiments are yielding little movement momentum. But there are no world-changing movements without people showing up, somewhere, for something. The butts can be in seats, or they can march down the street. But vital Christianity still collects people, in good times, under persecution, even in quarantine. Granted, we expect that gathering sizes will tend to be smaller and scattered across the calendar in the future, rather than limited to Sunday mornings in the sanctuary.
(4) Growing churches are cheating. This assumption has been around for a couple generations, as the majority of mainline churches have steadily shrunk in size. If the neighbors, often evangelical in theology – but not always, have a growing church, there must be something illicit in what they are doing. This was a crock forty years ago and it still is. Yes, it is possible in certain places to gather a crowd with a Barnum and Bailey style approach that lacks depth. But I work with too many church leaders who have grown ministry in the last decade with no compromising of the integrity of the gospel.
(5) Churches should avoid taking sides on controversial issues. This one is really tempting in a polarized age. But it is just a road to nowhere. Most thriving ministries take sides on practical questions. And they sometimes take different sides than the church down the street. I cannot imagine first-century Christianity surviving past the year 100 if their guiding principle was ‘don’t rock the boat.’ Our faith grew up in a cauldron of unending controversies - both in social values and in theology. We see reflections of this in the Gospels, the Epistles and the early church Councils. Having said this, no church needs to pick a fight on every front every week. Discernment is helpful. But most growing churches today stand clearly for certain things that many others would disagree with.
(6) Denominations are done. This one is almost true, in that so many of the resources that denominations used to produce for their churches are now coming from a global market. So denominations have to pivot in their prioritizing of functions. Nonetheless, very few vital churches exist all alone. They exist in networks. If they have no network, they may plant one. In many cases, these new networks are overtaking the old denominational networks as primary means for missional partnership. Wherever denominational offices partner with excellent local church practitioners to help their churches, good things will happen. But the days where most churches loyally mail their check to the bishop’s office – that is basically over. Denominations that can show value in connection have a bright future!
(7) There is radical discontinuity between the church of 2019 and the church of the future. Major shifts are in order! Churches will be forced to lay aside many old paradigms and buildings. Churches will be forced, as in ages past, to confront their blind spots and adapt. But finally, on Christmas Eve 2029, we will belt out Christmas carols side by side in packed houses of worship, candles in hand. We will still nurture young people in faith. We will still teach people how to pray. We will still partner with neighbors of good will to serve the world in love. Some of us will invite folks to explicitly follow the Way of Jesus. And others will continue to be squeamish about such invitation.
I have a couple churches that I call home churches, meaning that between the years of 1970 and 1983 they helped form me as a human being of faith. I occasionally go back to these places and I recognize nobody. Sanctuaries have been renovated, new people, and new emphases have taken center stage. Theological temperaments have shifted, in one case to the right, and in the other to the left. And yet, when I worship in these places, I can still feel the connection with what was, the DNA that has held firm even across inordinate change. The changes coming in the 2020s will be significant – and thriving churches will in large be the ones who surf the waves of change rather than standing on the shore to be crushed by those waves. But for all the change, our missional and theological task isn’t really shifting that much.
You may have another bad assumption that you would like to share with me. You can share it by leaving a comment, or email us at epicentergroup.dc@gmail.com. If I collect enough of these, I will publish a follow-up column to this!
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