ChurchNext: Quantum Changes in How We Do Ministry By: Eddie Gibbs
Gibbs presents a concept that the direction of the church is no longer predictable by the typical traditional strategies of growth. Instead he gives insight into the culture of change that has represented the generation rising into influence. Radical perspective changes and constructive critical thinking must be used to examine the old way(s) of doing ministry to become relevant in an age of reaction and “discontinuous change.” Gibbs describes the post-modern culture as one that is constantly morphing and taking new shapes, he argues that very little is naturally continual and structurally stable in this society. This provides an unpredictable environment for which strategic planning is a risk, but with regard to the future of the church, risk is more than just necessary it is dire.
Each chapter in Gibbs’ book ChurchNext presents an old framework either practiced or realized by traditional or modern church “doers” and contrasts them with a fresh way of “doing” ministry. The focus is often on the shortcomings of a “market driven”, “seeker-sensitive”, and “welcome evangelism” strategies and challenges the church to examine the motivation behind the way things have been done in the past and how missional thinking, authentic relationship building, and mentoring leadership are better understandings of the way church was done in the Acts church and more effective ways of doing ministry today.
Throughout the book Gibbs refers to characteristics that seem to label and define the modern and post-modern generations thinking. It is clear that the modern ways of doing things has been market driven and compares quite similarly to business institutions in its leadership style, success drive and membership mentality. The reaction by young people to institutional authority and organizations not profitable to them perhaps correctly label them as the “me-generation.” Post-moderns tend to focus on the authenticity and character of an institution before supporting it, and are very hesitant to buy into something that is being sold to them. The key to this discovery in my opinion is not that we have identified the generation’s biggest weakness, although it is true that selfish ambition leads nowhere but away from God, but that Truth is clearer to this generation than the ones that came before it. This generation in its response to church seeks to engage in the authentic aspect of worship and experience rather than its stage performance and show.
The changes and challenges that this strategic thinking resource brings to the table are worth implementing into the way we consult churches that are truly seeking a way to stay relevant to young people and impact the culture around them. Society’s response to the church is increasingly becoming negative and distant. Gibbs argues that simply acting defensively to this paradigm shift is not enough. Churches need to take the offensive approach and quit being so isolated from the crowd. Gibbs gives a stern warning about what evangelism will look like if we continue on the road we’re heading in the changing age. “Relying on seeker-sensitive services as the main strategy for evangelism as we go into the new millennium means substituting the Good shepherd approach for a Little Bo Peep approach. In the children’s nursery rhyme:
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn’t know where to find them,
But leave them alone and they will come home
Wagging their tails behind them.”
This is obviously not a worthy strategy for evangelism. Attempting to push churches to come out of their adapted molds is the largest step to effective strategic thinking about the direction of the church. I believe that the diversity, experience, ability to take objective perspectives and lead effectively and with humility has made the California Southern Baptist Convention’s “Healthy Church Group” a valuable tool to equipping churches to serve God and start breaking down the cultural barriers and start loving their communities.
