The Next Big Things via www.christianitytoday.com
Boy, I hope he is really off in his predictions 😉
The Next BIG Things
by Url Scaramanga
I’ve
been giving a lot of thought to the state of the church as we enter a
new year. In these uncertain, times we naturally look to reliable and
wise voices to guide us through the fog. And who is more reliable and
wise than yours truly? To help you plan ahead, I’ve compiled my list of
the top five predictions to watch for in 2009.
The next BIG word: Post-Missional
There was a time when everything was “postmodern.” Then we all
“emerged.” Now it’s nearly impossible to find a ministry that isn’t
passionately “missional.” But in 2009, I predict the truly innovative
ministries will be “post-missional.” No one will actually know what
post-missional means, but the word will become ubiquitous, finding its
way into the subtitles of at least 34 percent of all ministry books
published in 2009.
The next BIG outreach trend: The 30-Day Alcohol Challenge
A number of churches have gotten enormous attention for variations of
the 30-Day Sex Challenge. These ministries have tried to attract the
sexually-charged unchurched by proclaiming that Christians have better
sex and more of it. In this “more is more” philosophy of Christian
liberty, I predict the next hot outreach trend will focus on alcohol as
a way of deconstructing the church’s tee-totaling reputation. Pastors
will challenge church members over 21 to drink every day for a month—an
expensive proposition for Lutherans who only drink imports.
The next BIG book: REVEAL 3: You Go, I’m Staying Right Here.
The Willow Creek Association published REVEAL: Where Are You? in 2007. Last year brought REVEAL 2: Follow Me. In 2009 I predict we’ll see the publication of a third book in the series, REVEAL 3: You Go, I’m Staying Right Here.
The new book will outline why changes to Willow’s ministry strategy
really aren’t, and how it’s more seeker-sensitive than ever.
The next BIG celebrity pastor: Rod Blagojevich
I predict that after the embattled, corrupt governor of Illinois is
forcibly removed from office, he will have a “come to Jesus” moment at
the federal penitentiary. He will emerge with a new mission and one of
the most marketable conversion stories since Stephen Baldwin’s. Because
of his bountiful mane, Brother Blago (as he’ll be known) will likely
end up a televangelist.
The next BIG catch phrase: “Jesus is my bailout plan”
With the government issuing bailouts to banks, mortgage brokers, and
the Big 3, I predict that the “bailout” language will quickly be
adapted to Christian T-shirts and bumper stickers. Other possible
phrases to be seen in ’09: “My 401k is in Heaven,” “Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit: These Big 3 Don’t Need a Bailout,” and “SEC: Secured
Eternally in Christ.”
Url Scaramanga is the moderator of Out of Ur.
