When it comes to the start of a new year, there tend to be two kinds of predictions. The first are “shots in the dark”—wild, almost baseless predictions that seem more designed to gain attention than to be grounded in any kind of fact. The second are more reasoned. They tend to be based on things already happening that seem to be headed toward even greater prominence. It’s the second of those types of predictions that can be of use, and I offer a dozen here that I hope will serve churches and their leaders for the coming year.
I am anticipating economic hard times due to the incoming Trump administration's agenda, e.g., tariffs, cuts to social safety net funding; deportation of migrant agricultural, construction, and meat processing workers. The affluent will not feel the squeeze but the middle class, blue collar workers, and the poor will. So will churches with a decline in giving and an increase in the number of families andField Notes for Episcopalians on the 80 Percentindividuals struggling to make ends meet.
Despite many worthy efforts at explication, evangelical remains an uncertain label. Always an admixture of theology, history, and sociology, a turning mobile of persons, networks and institutions with only the most tenuous ties to one another — often yielding inexplicable kinship, on the one hand, but also ties that will not bind, on the other....
Christian Diversity
My beautiful ‘practicing’ Christians: As churchgoers’ numbers shrink, their social views grow more similar.
Italian bishop refutes claim of policy change allowing ordination of gay men: 'Not a correct reading'
An Italian bishop has insisted that the rules for admission to the priesthood in his home country haven't changed amid reports that new guidelines allow homosexuals to become priests as long as they remain celibate.
Ahistoricism Leads to Doctrinal Drift
The church is always situated in a cultural context. Ever since the early church, Christians have grappled with how to speak the gospel into culture and become all things to all people while remaining true to biblical teachings. And yet contemporary Western societies have largely lost their meaningful engagement with, and connection to, history. This has left them disconnected from the full scope of the cultural context of the church. I have coined the term “Ahistoric Age” to identify the way in which this plays out.
What Will Be the Sacred Cows in Church Worship When the Millennials Are the Oldest Generation?
In about 30 years, Millennials will become the dominant older generation in most churches. What will they refuse to give up? Josh and Sam talk about their generation and what might become the sacred cows as they become elderly.
Using Loops in Worship
How can we successfully bring loops into our worship set? Many small churches want to start using loops – laptops running some sort of rhythmic or musical software in the background of different songs. How do we use loops in worship tastefully in a way that works for our congregation and feels authentic to our worship dynamic? Here are 5 non-negotiables when it comes to using loops in worship.
"But I Keep Sinning!"
Many Christians understand that justification produces sanctification, but it’s easy to forget that, while justification happens in an instant, sanctification is a lifelong process—one that is often nonlinear as you run into roadblocks and experience setbacks. If you expect to see some evidence of the end result (sinless perfection) while skipping over the process, you will be disappointed—and, worse, you will question how effective your sanctification is. Those questions will then lead you to wonder whether you were ever justified.
Also See: The Radiance of Real Holiness
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