You Say You Want a Revolution
You Say You Want A Revolution
Millennials, like me, certainly aren’t the first generation to hope for revolution in various aspects of the world and of culture.
We definitely aren’t the first to have hopes for a revolution to take place within the church in North America.
The vehicle for God’s mission we call the church has gone through many changes over the past 2000 years. This is an easy fact to observe so I will spare you the history lesson.
However, I believe that we are stepping into one of the biggest shifts that has been witnessed by anyone who is alive today.
The biggest shift we’ve seen in the lives of the last few members of The Greatest Generation, to The Builders, The Boomers, The Gen-Xers, The Millenials and the newest on the scene, Generation Z.
There is much to be said about this transition that we can read on theology and ecclesiology blogs all over the blogosphere. In many ways, nearly all aspects of church life and culture are shifting – how we worship, where we worship, how we engage those who don’t know Jesus, how we live out what we believe, how we view God… everything is in transition.
No matter how you look at it, it’s hard to ignore that a major shift is taking place.
If this is true – then we all have a choice to make. I think these are our options:
- Try with all our might to keep things from changing
- Bail altogether and become part of the “nones” the “dones” or the “leavers”
- With wisdom and discernment let God lead you through this revolution taking place for the Bridegroom of Jesus, and see what God is up to in the midst of it.
Clearly my bias is for choice number 3. It’s not an easy road to take, but my experience has taught me it is the most rewarding. As I observe those around me making choice number 3, here is what I see:
1. They rally towards what they are for, rather than what they are against.
These revolutionaries have realized that no revolution has had sustained success when it was centered on tearing apart what already exists. It’s unproductive to spend time criticizing what is currently happening in the church if you don’t also take action towards what could be.
Being loud about what we are for and very careful about expressing what we may be against is they key to a sustained movement towards what God is doing.
Being loud about care for the poor, freedom from oppression, reconciliation, love, mercy, justice etc – this is what we are for!
2. They participate.
The church community you are a part of may count Sunday attendance and giving as their main metrics. It’s unwise for leaders not to know these numbers.
However, participation in what God is doing through the church as a vehicle for God’s mission is about so much more than looking at the back of someone’s head for an hour each Sunday.
Ask God to show you what he is already doing in and through this community of Jesus followers and respond when God invites you to participate.
- Start a group that spends time with the homeless.
- Create discussion and action groups that seek justice in your city.
- Reach out intentionally to people who seem on the margins of the community.
- Be a host at your worship service instead of expecting to be hosted by others.
Just thinking about doing something or “caring about it”… doesn’t count in anyone’s metrics.
3. They realize that on their own they have very little influence.
Often people assume that leaving their church or refusing to participate in some way is going to bring about the change that they feel God is trying to bring. There are times when it really is right for someone to leave their current community, especially when their integrity is at stake.
However, once you are gone, you have no influence in that specific community.
You must then step into a community where you can maintain your integrity while participating.
If you don’t you are effectively obsolete.
Individuals don’t lead change, communities do. Specifically communities who are following the lead of a God who is still very active and invites us to be a part of what God is doing in the world.
4. They learn to trust leaders and to earn the trust of those they lead.
When change is happening around us, we tend to cling too tightly to leaders who we think have the answers OR we begin to reject leadership assuming it can’t be trusted.
Find people that you believe you can trust to be leaders of this adaptive change environment.
Then be the kind of leader that others can trust.
The people who I admire most for leading the church through change have mentors and voices they carefully select and then become a leader who can be respected.
Bucking ALL authority is immature and shows a lack of understanding of the ignorance we all have.
5. They realize that God is moving both inside AND outside of church buildings and worship services.
People taking the lead of this revolution have realized that God is bringing change inside some of our time honored traditions, like worship services.
But they also realize that God has left the building.
They realize that God is doing new things in our neighborhoods, workplaces and schools.
Many people spend emotional and mental energy criticizing what the institutional church is doing inside it’s four walls when they could spend time BEING the church in their streets.
You say you want a revolution, and I do too!
I believe that God is going to lead the Church into this new season and continue to bring The Kingdom of God in our midst. It will mean change, loss and the hard work of putting what God is doing ahead of what we want to do.
However, participating with God and stepping into uncharted territory is the best adventure you could be invited to take!
You Say You Want A Revolution
Millennials, like me, certainly aren’t the first generation to hope for revolution in various aspects of the world and of culture.
We definitely aren’t the first to have hopes for a revolution to take place within the church in North America.
The vehicle for God’s mission we call the church has gone through many changes over the past 2000 years. This is an easy fact to observe so I will spare you the history lesson.
However, I believe that we are stepping into one of the biggest shifts that has been witnessed by anyone who is alive today.
The biggest shift we’ve seen in the lives of the last few members of The Greatest Generation, to The Builders, The Boomers, The Gen-Xers, The Millenials and the newest on the scene, Generation Z.
There is much to be said about this transition that we can read on theology and ecclesiology blogs all over the blogosphere. In many ways, nearly all aspects of church life and culture are shifting – how we worship, where we worship, how we engage those who don’t know Jesus, how we live out what we believe, how we view God… everything is in transition.
No matter how you look at it, it’s hard to ignore that a major shift is taking place.
If this is true – then we all have a choice to make. I think these are our options:
- Try with all our might to keep things from changing
- Bail altogether and become part of the “nones” the “dones” or the “leavers”
- With wisdom and discernment let God lead you through this revolution taking place for the Bridegroom of Jesus, and see what God is up to in the midst of it.
Clearly my bias is for choice number 3. It’s not an easy road to take, but my experience has taught me it is the most rewarding. As I observe those around me making choice number 3, here is what I see:
1. They rally towards what they are for, rather than what they are against.
These revolutionaries have realized that no revolution has had sustained success when it was centered on tearing apart what already exists. It’s unproductive to spend time criticizing what is currently happening in the church if you don’t also take action towards what could be.
Being loud about what we are for and very careful about expressing what we may be against is they key to a sustained movement towards what God is doing.
Being loud about care for the poor, freedom from oppression, reconciliation, love, mercy, justice etc – this is what we are for!
2. They participate.
The church community you are a part of may count Sunday attendance and giving as their main metrics. It’s unwise for leaders not to know these numbers.
However, participation in what God is doing through the church as a vehicle for God’s mission is about so much more than looking at the back of someone’s head for an hour each Sunday.
Ask God to show you what he is already doing in and through this community of Jesus followers and respond when God invites you to participate.
- Start a group that spends time with the homeless.
- Create discussion and action groups that seek justice in your city.
- Reach out intentionally to people who seem on the margins of the community.
- Be a host at your worship service instead of expecting to be hosted by others.
Just thinking about doing something or “caring about it”… doesn’t count in anyone’s metrics.
3. They realize that on their own they have very little influence.
Often people assume that leaving their church or refusing to participate in some way is going to bring about the change that they feel God is trying to bring. There are times when it really is right for someone to leave their current community, especially when their integrity is at stake.
However, once you are gone, you have no influence in that specific community.
You must then step into a community where you can maintain your integrity while participating.
If you don’t you are effectively obsolete.
Individuals don’t lead change, communities do. Specifically communities who are following the lead of a God who is still very active and invites us to be a part of what God is doing in the world.
4. They learn to trust leaders and to earn the trust of those they lead.
When change is happening around us, we tend to cling too tightly to leaders who we think have the answers OR we begin to reject leadership assuming it can’t be trusted.
Find people that you believe you can trust to be leaders of this adaptive change environment.
Then be the kind of leader that others can trust.
The people who I admire most for leading the church through change have mentors and voices they carefully select and then become a leader who can be respected.
Bucking ALL authority is immature and shows a lack of understanding of the ignorance we all have.
5. They realize that God is moving both inside AND outside of church buildings and worship services.
People taking the lead of this revolution have realized that God is bringing change inside some of our time honored traditions, like worship services.
But they also realize that God has left the building.
They realize that God is doing new things in our neighborhoods, workplaces and schools.
Many people spend emotional and mental energy criticizing what the institutional church is doing inside it’s four walls when they could spend time BEING the church in their streets.
You say you want a revolution, and I do too!
I believe that God is going to lead the Church into this new season and continue to bring The Kingdom of God in our midst. It will mean change, loss and the hard work of putting what God is doing ahead of what we want to do.
However, participating with God and stepping into uncharted territory is the best adventure you could be invited to take!
Good insights Stephanie!
Thanks Mark!
Thank you. You articulated what I have been aspiring to for the last 10 years. It is lovely to see these 5 characteristics in you! May our aspirations be blessed and bear fruit for the revolution and may we truly be mindful and adaptive in the years to come.
I have learned so much from you Christine! Thank YOU!