Renowned sociologist and researcher George Barna started of the r(e)formation discussions today by stating 9 observations of what God is doing in North America. Barna painted a picture of Christian reality not just prevalent within the United States (his self-confessed context, obviously), but also resonating throughout the world where the church as institution has planted itself.
George lifted out 9 key observations challenging the church of our time. They are:
- Leadership is shifting from the old to the new.
- Church leadership is moving from the US to other nations.
- The stranglehold of old institutions is dying.
- God is amassing resources within the US church for it to partner with the world.
- God is expanding the ways in which faith can be experienced and expressed.
- Faith is becoming a controversial part of every life dimension.
- God is stirring interest in the powerless.
- God is shrinking the world through technology.
- God is allowing a heightened friction between faiths.
One profound observation that Barna made is the radical change within leadership in the church. Research shows a dramatic decline in the “known” leaders, or the “gurus” of the spiritual world. Where around 7 out of every 10 Americans know exactly who Billy Graham is (and other spiritual influencers of the more modern age), there is a dramatic decline in peoples awareness and knowledge of spiritual leaders. Even “well known” leaders like Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and Joel Osteen are recognized by only around 3 out of 10 Americans… and even fewer know anything more about them than their names. It truly seems that the age of “charismatic leadership” is a thing of the past. This obviously has big implications for the church of our day. People connect with others – in relations – rather than with the “guru”.
Barna also pointed out 6 failures of the church that should be addressed with intentionality:
- Absence of godly leadership,
- Demise of the family,
- Ignoring children’s spiritual development,
- Absence of Biblical worldview,
- Influence of and addiction to the media, and
- Rejection on models beyond the conventional church.
Barna made a strong case for the church of our day to focus on key issues. How exactly this should be approached and achieved, is open for creative debate.