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Ok, I'm going to register a growing frustration with all the hand wringing about #onlinechurch during #COVID-19 (as if it is going to set the church back 25 years).
Basically, the past rise of attractional church is not a guide (whether for or against the attractional church).
Basically, the past rise of attractional church is not a guide (whether for or against the attractional church).
* Context is this article by Carey Nieuwhof ( https://careynieuwhof.com/half-of-all-churches-are-instant…/).
* And Michael Frost's response ( https://mikefrost.net/coronavirus-could-set-the-church-bac…/) to it (via David E Fitch's FB feed).
* And Michael Frost's response ( https://mikefrost.net/coronavirus-could-set-the-church-bac…/) to it (via David E Fitch's FB feed).
In one corner, Carey Nieuwhof clearly celebrates this moment of church growth, and is now preaching about how "the future church" needs to adapt more fully as an online church.
In the other corner, Michael Frost & David Fitch's critique that this "future church" is a repetition of the attractional church.
But I'm not sure THIS (COVID-19 moment) is THAT at all (rise of the megachurch).
Frankly, this feels like a Boomer boxing match of ideologies.
But I'm not sure THIS (COVID-19 moment) is THAT at all (rise of the megachurch).
Frankly, this feels like a Boomer boxing match of ideologies.
My thoughts:
FIRST, these numbers of the church growing 300% (based on views/impressions or whatever) are probably mostly bogus anyway.
SECOND, I think the cultural moment NOW is totally different than it was THEN for the rise of the mega-church.
FIRST, these numbers of the church growing 300% (based on views/impressions or whatever) are probably mostly bogus anyway.
SECOND, I think the cultural moment NOW is totally different than it was THEN for the rise of the mega-church.
The Differences:
• Then, Boomers were looking for something that fit their experience of 70s freedom, people were moving all around the country, uprooting from their religious traditions, and wanting to update their religious experience, coupled with extraordinary.
• Then, Boomers were looking for something that fit their experience of 70s freedom, people were moving all around the country, uprooting from their religious traditions, and wanting to update their religious experience, coupled with extraordinary.
• Now, GenX and Millenials are now living through the second (or third) economic crisis (depending if you count the Dotcom bust for Millenials or not). Millenials and GenZ are digital natives who fully understand the limits of online life to foster (or withdraw) from community.
I see this moment as an accelerant for revealing the vaguousness of most of our relationships as a culture (online or in person), and a catalyst for people seeking a meaning and community (even transcendence) beyond what they currently have.
So, anyone else feel like the lament over this moment for the church and suspicion of growth right now are overblown?
