Revolution, Where is the American Church Going “Go to Church?

By Tim on 10/22/2005

A recent article, “Redefining ‘Church…’” inspired by Barna’s book, “Revolution” is causing me to wonder along these lines.
Here are a few of the things this study brings out:

There is a simultaneous growth in people living for Christ and “leaving” church as we know it
There are dangers to “leaving” traditional church, but as the writer points out: going to church can be dangerous to spiritual health
Accountability and team is necessary for real New Testament community – is it happening in the Church? Can it happen outside the Church?
The “Revolution” according to the author, is the next great “awakening” of the American Church

Interesting thoughts! Do you imagine the Church of the West will actually grow stronger as the attendance of mainline churches drops 50% by 2025 and people are discovering and creating alternatives in order to be the Church? What will it look like?

Personally I am excited to get my hands on the book – and honestly I have questions about what it will look like, and if genuine people who “leave” the church will find and discover how to engage in a walk that builds the community of people who know and love Jesus. I see the potential, feel the strain and have compassion for the role of pastors in the mainline, wonder how my family will fulfill the missional calling wether at home or abroad.

I know that my time in school here at a missions training center has caused me to focus in a lot on “what is the Church?” “How is it expressed?” And somehow the answer is always simple, and seemingly complex to this human mind.

More later…
Tim