Evangelicals Look Ahead
Christianity Today is running a great series of articles called "What's Next," outlining key issues that the church must face over the next fifty years.
Thus far, the magazine has explored a variety of topics - remaining "relevant," producing and engaging art and culture, defending the authority of scripture in a post-everything society, responding to feminism while also increasing male participation...and many more. Read them here: [1] [2] [3].
At the root of this project, however, lies an earnest desire seek answers to deep questions. Rather than focusing our energy on what it means to be a Christian at this particular moment, many evangelicals are looking forward to the Kingdom of God and asking, "Where is the narrow road, and what must we do along the way?"
Walking the Path
The success of campaigns such as the Evangelical Climate Initiative shows that many Christians do in fact care for the environment. We should celebrate the slow deconstruction of this anti-eco stereotype and perhaps tear out a few bricks of our own.
But image must not be our central concern. In CT's third article, Andy Crouch asks, "Can we cultivate and create cultural goods worthy of being engaged by a wider, non-Christian audience?" Pursuing the Kingdom isn’t about raising ourselves to pop culture's minimum standards and emulating whatever we find. We're to speak prophetically and lovingly, (de)paving the way toward a society that honors King Jesus.
Piquing Peak Oil
But as Christianity Today looked ahead, one glaring issue remained in their blind spot: Peak Oil and its consequences.
Scientists tell us that peak oil is a pressing reality that demands a radical paradigm shift for our daily lives. But what does this mean to us as Christians? Is it a mere "political issue" to be entrusted to our government, or might we have something to offer? We can enjoy cheap oil while we can and brace for the trouble ahead, or we can begin to pursue real alternatives and offer them up to the world.
As Brandon noted, the transition into a post-peak world will be horribly rough - like nothing our nation has seen. We pursue continual economic growth and creature comforts. But this cannot continue indefinitely. Unsustainable levels of demand (and unsustainable demands!) are setting us up for quite a tumble. It's hard to say what will happen. But a drastic reduction in "quality of life" (as most measure it, at least), food shortages, and war are all very likely.
On Wednesday, I'll explore what a Christian response to Peak Oil might look like. Be sure to check back then. For now, leave a comment and share this article with a friend! - csa
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[1] Stafford, Tim. "What's Next: Local Church." Christianity Today, 2 Oct 2006.
[2] Carnes, Tony. "What's Next: Politics." Christianity Today, 5 Oct 2006.
[3] Moll, Rob. "What's Next: Culture." Christianity Today, 10 Oct 2006.
Comments (6)
Very interesting article. This part really resonated.
"John Huffman from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California, notes that consumerism affects not only the people we try to reach, but also the very nature of what we consider a "successful" church—which he's not sure is really so successful. He worries about how to build intergenerational community in a society that splits people into demographic segments."
Posted by Janelle | October 21, 2006 8:33 PM
Posted on October 21, 2006 20:33
I got excited by the quote that I had yet to read about the rest of the blog, especially about the environmental issues ahead of us.
Perhaps one way for us to approach this impending period of post-oil, is to live simpler lifestyles. We get drowned within the comforts and things we MUST have around us, when really, we don't need them for survival.
Christ told the rich young ruler that being good wasn't good enough. He must GIVE UP EVERYTHING and follow him. Why can't we, as American christian society, can't embrace this message today?
We live in a society filled with rich young rulers.
Posted by Janelle | October 21, 2006 8:47 PM
Posted on October 21, 2006 20:47
Hey Janelle, great to hear from you!
The point on consumerism is very interesting. I've explored it a little, but I'd like to go deeper. Wouldn't it be great if CT created a section on their site for these leaders to elaborate on their thoughts?
We do live among rich young rulers..."yuppies," I believe is the preferred term :-). What's up with endless work and no play but fancy toys to look at? We should be sticking Blackberries in our mouths, not our ears!
There's hope. Let's prove it.
Posted by Scott Andreas | October 21, 2006 9:15 PM
Posted on October 21, 2006 21:15
The question of "whatsoever we do to the least of our brothers" takes on a new urgency when there is no longer as much oil as we are used to. Will we even be aware that keeping our vehicles fueled at prices we are willing to pay means that someone else has to go without?
Posted by Jeff Cook-Coyle | October 23, 2006 1:05 PM
Posted on October 23, 2006 13:05
Jeff,
I was just listening to a sermon from Mars Hill (Grand Rapids, MI) by Rob Bell. It seems that his community is already dealing with this very issue.
Kent County, MI is an economically-polarized area. Bell speculated that there could be two adjoining chairs in the church - one with a man who could not afford to feed his family, and the next with a multi-millionaire.
At the end of the message (an incredible treatment of the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12), he said that some members of the congregation had their lives together - medical bills paid, family fed, kids clothed, etc., but simply could not afford the gas they needed to drive to work.
His solution (for right now) was to ask people to give Mobil / BP / etc. gift cards. I'm touched by the community's earnest desire to pool resources and meet needs. It's an amazing picture of apostolic missional life.
But in this case, that need is oil. And in the years to come, transportation costs will skyrocket. Gift cards are great for now, but this cannot last.
What do you think of Mars Hill's response to the first waves of this conundrum-to-come? And what might we do in the future?
Posted by Scott Andreas | October 23, 2006 1:28 PM
Posted on October 23, 2006 13:28
This seems like a simple question but after a day of thinking about it, I'm not sure. I agree that this church seems to have some real foundational pieces in order, in terms of its embrace of everyone, and the way that it is looking out for all people. As the going gets tougher, this will be what makes life both possible and worth living.
My family is presently attending a church that recently made a move to become our community's first mega-church. It literally moved into a cornfield several miles outside of town. I didn't speak up that we were figuratively driving off a cliff with the move (because of peak oil, climate change, loss of farmland, and the general removing of ourselves from the grit and grime of society), so I guess I'm really not in much of a place to comment on the well-intentioned efforts of another church to confront the issue of high gas prices as it is commonly understood today.
Two things that I can say, however. First, to the extent that the church is relying on the Holy Spirit, and repentance plays a key role in the lives of the church's members, they will be in good hands no matter what happens. Second, they could embark on a campaign of giving all church members air pumps so that everyone can save about 10% on their gas expenses.
Posted by Jeff Cook-Coyle | October 24, 2006 12:08 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 12:08