BLOG 11.12.12: THE EMERGING GENERATION—A NEW CULTURE
The day after the recent election President Obama made a visit to his campaign headquarters in Chicago to thank those couple-hundred young volunteers, who had worked so brilliantly and tirelessly for him for many months and had produced an election that the traditional old professional “pols” couldn’t imagine.
It was an emotional Barack Obama, one we don’t often see. He was warm and spontaneous as he reminisced with them, and told them how proud he was of them, and how hopeful for the future because of them. He told them that when he first began to do community organizing in South Chicago years ago, he didn’t really know what he was doing, but the wanted to make a difference. He told them that they were so much smarter than he was, and more innovative. We saw tears run down his face as he looked at them and at the future of our national community. Then he went around and shook hands with, and hugged each of them.
What those young adults had done was to tune-in to a whole new demographic and socio-culturally different generation. Old guard campaign strategists had not computed such a different generational and ethnic culture. Those young adults with their computers in that room had been so skillful that they had predicted the outcome of the election with near perfect accuracy weeks before the election. No wonder the president was proud of them, and no wonder he took hope for a generation younger than his own who would be able to create something fresh and new in resolving major challenges before the nation.
As I watched that video I could only wish/hope that those who are responsible, and who look at the church missiologically, could have that kind vision for the capacity and potential of our own ecclesiastical emerging generation.
The patterns of the past, those of Christendom, and of its vast ecclesiastical institutions, what with formidable sanctuaries and church facilities, along with its often-unreal clergy-seminary subculture, will fade with the older generations. I firmly believe in, and foresee my emerging younger adult friends conceiving wineskins for the church that are totally fresh and contagious, church communities conceived to incarnate the true missional character of the church, i.e., equipping every participant for 24/7 mission in an increasingly post-Christian and frequently hostile daily environment so that times together are encouraging and formative and engaged with real life. I think those wineskins are not going to be encumbered with focus on place, and traditional “church programs” but will be transient, versatile, mobile, flexible, joyous, contagious and welcoming. Church planting will become a strong motivation, and every believer’s home, or condo, or apartment will potentially be the beginning place of a new church colony.
With the president, I see incredible honesty, realism, genius and creativity in my young friends. I’m excited with them and for them.
And what will become of all of the vast and expensive church real estate that dots our landscape? Did you ever watch a travelogue of Ireland, and see all of the ruins of ancient sanctuaries and monasteries? Centuries ago they were launching places for mission. Times changed. Now they are but stopping places to take photos on tours. Go figure.
The church emerging will be irrepressible, self-reproducing, missional and liturgical communities. I have hope.
