Where I think the church will be in twenty + years...

I must say, looking at my church today and looking at where I think it will be in the next twenty years, I don't see it being at all the same.

With the advent of webcast ministries, and the ever popular I-Pod, I think the Church is going to have to figure out how to reach those of this technology savvy world. We are a society of constant motion and multi-tasking. Churches may find they have members who want to listen to the weekly sermon while riding mass transit to and from work. In the working world it is also a known fact that the younger generation has strong ties to family. We’re seeing more and more where families spend their weekends together, not in church. Making church services available anytime will provide the desired spiritual lessons people are seeking on their terms not on the terms of the church. Along with this, churches need to be open to giving up the traditional Sunday morning worship for a more family friendly evening session

The "old" way is dying, and that may be bad or it may be good. There will still be those who will need to attend a church in a "church building" but I see more people getting their spiritual fulfillment over the internet. Churches are going to have to start sharing their buildings, or selling them to move to smaller, more environmentally friendly buildings, so they have less to maintain on their own. They will not always have the monetary funds to keep a church building up and running. Churches will have to choose between having a great, nice, huge, archaic building, and having a meaningful and productive ministry to the world. Christians will have to figure out how to reach the world and those who are lost through alternate means.

The sense of community that a church provides will have to be broken down into smaller groups. I don’t see the huge gatherings of people coming together but a couple of times a year (i.e. Christmas, Easter, and a couple of other special days.) Sermons are going to have to be extremely relevant to a person’s everyday life, or they will get bored and go someplace else for advice. Small “family” group Bible studies focused on relevant issues may be the main source of religion for many people.

Pastors may have to change tactics in the way they work. Bi-vocational pastors may become the norm. If the church as we know it now still exists, the standard sermon will have to be altered to a way that makes people think and want to come back that next week to hear more (Isn’t that the ultimate challenge now?!)

People are less and less willing to give up their money to an entity in which they don’t feel connected closely to. Church giving is down in almost every single church in the United States. However, when a crisis comes along, people will give up their Starbucks for a week to help out. For example, when the tsunami hit on Dec. 26, 2005 in South Asia, churches came together and gave millions upon millions of dollars to the cause. When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, churches gathered together money, manpower, and supplies and contributed to that cause. Mission opportunities will need to be available for people to attend. This will need to be spearheaded by mission-minded people. Churches will have to be willing to reach out to other churches and become communities with other churches to make these options viable.

As for mega-churches... I think the gigantic, make-me-feel-good, not have to think because I am being told what to think, churches are going the way of the smaller Bible studies and smaller, more connected churches. However, each church has to find its niche market (to use business terms) and appeal to the people that will support it. Each age group and ethnic group will have to be satisfied and that means each church will have to be different. Churches will have to understand that they can’t reach everyone, but they can help those people they don’t appeal to find a church that does appeal to them. Therefore, churches need to be connected to one another through the wider church community.

Notes from Pastor John Turnage (taken from FBC Loveland newsletter)

I recieve the First Baptist Church of Loveland, CO, newsletter "The Visitor" every month. I found this ponderings by the pastor, John Turnage, particularly interesting and helpful. I think it might be helpful and insightful for you too.

Many centuries ago, our Christian forefathers spent many hours developing the sense of God's presence, trying to understand how the spirit was leading and what they might do as servants of Jesus Christ. Hours of prayer and discussion were easily set aside for these endeavors. Time was of little concern in a world where the pace of life followed the seasons. Waiting a week, a month or several years did not weigh on them. I have often wondered how to slow down my day or life and spend hours searching for an understanding of God's will and ways. Although we say we want more of God in our lives, I find myself questioning where God will fit into my agenda and day timer. Are we too busy for God?

The world has certainly changed, and we have adapted to the frenetic, hurried, demanding 24/7 schedules. We have adapted, but I'm not sure that was the way we were made. Has God changed to adapt to our world and schedules? Is God in a hurry like we are? The Psalmist says "Be still and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10) Can I be still quickly?

Our busy, busy world is not geared to the spiritual life and the disciplines of reflection, prayer, meditation, and repentance. And yet somehow in this busy world we have to find time for rest, restoration, healing, and presence, which are the fruits of a spiritual life.

You can still be busy and have a spiritual life that is growing and connects you the spirit. We simply need to think about spirituality in some different ways. Here are some ideas for a spiritual life in a 24/7 world.

Turn off noise makers, like radios, the television, and Ipods. We are bombarded with noise. This last winter I stepped outside when it was snowing and could hear the silence. We receive so much input that we do not have time to process it. Simply cutting out the background noise and input helps us step away from the busyness. When you are in your car, leave the music and radio off. You will be amazed at what you discover and how much less stress is present. If you are really brave, turn off your cell phone for a couple of hours every day. Who knows, maybe you will hear the "still small whisper."

Be kind. An insurance commercial shows people doing simple and easy acts of kindness, which lead to more acts of kindness. The care and concern grows without one ever speaking a word. Kindness is spiritual and it is very easy. A smile, a little helping hand, a little time helps others in ways that cannot be measured. It does wonders for our spirituality. It acknowledges the other without really knowing them. And it is right in line with what Jesus did to so many who just happened along his path. Kindness changes your whole being.

Join a community or group. Spirituality has moments of reflection and quiet. However, most spirituality emerges in fellowship and community. One of the byproducts of our electronic world is a growing sense of disconnect. People talk about being alone and isolated. This isolation is a great issue. Almost everyone I talk to knows of someone who is alone. We are made and programmed for community. For a deep spiritual experience, one needs a group or friends. Love is the element that binds us together. If we cannot join with others, how do we nurture that love?

Be generous. You may not have time to go on a mission, pack boxes that are headed to the mission field, or join a group building a house, but you can participate with a gift. All mission efforts require funding. ideally one can both go and give to a mission. However, setting aside a week or ten days can be difficult. Your gift connects you to the mission field and empowers the mission. In some ways, you are paying someone else to do what you cannot. This is a bit like the early church collecting an offering to send Paul and Barnabas out to do what they were not free to do.

Spirituality is not as time consuming as we think. Small things and attitudes can create a rich spiritual experience. Spirituality is more available and easy than we believe. God waits for you!

"Go Forward"

I found this in one of the old newsletters at work. I think this is also relevant for today!
Published in The Colorado Baptist April 1943, by Aaron Schlessman, President of Colorado Baptist Association.

The Hebrew people were being "pressed on every side " caught in a pincer movement with Pharaoh’s forces behind and the Red Sea before. Gripped with fear they cried again to Moses and Moses knew what to do. He had learned to "walk humbly with God." And the Lord answered "Go Forward."

It seemed impossible but forward they went passing "through the Valley of the Shadow of death" to victory. The Lord’s people are being pressed on every hand a fearful pincer movement has us in its grip. Do we as Moses of old know where to look for strength?

"Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great things and difficult which thou knowest not" (Jer. 33:3). God asks us to accept His challenge. What He really says is "I challenge you to find a problem so difficult that I cannot solve it for you if you will bring it to me in prayer." Are we willing to accept His challenge? Hudson Taylor once said "There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says. He will do all that He promised."

For our need in soul-winning He has said "Ye are my witnesses." Witness then! He will honor it to His glory. For our giving-needs He promises— "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus." Giving to increasing emergencies is surely a need. Colorado Baptists let us arise and meet it. For our Christian growth He assures "grace—and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

To my mind we who are on the home base must grow stronger spiritually to prevent tremendous reactions and losses when our boys and scattered forces come home. In our men’s brotherhood meeting recently I was asked to tell the men what they could do as a group on the home front. Among other things I emphasized the deepening of our spiritual lives. That unless our boys find a deeper spirituality and a richer enthusiasm for God and righteousness there will be keen disappointment when they return for they will need it.

May we really glow with divine energy. "Go forward!" says our Heavenly Father "Go forward!"