Wake-Up Call on the Horizon

"Pastor, I just think our church should be better -- do more."

Bob wasn't angry as he expressed his feelings -- just frustrated. His comment caused a reaction from Mary, sitting at the other end of the table: "I agree, our church should have greater impact on our community. In fact, the churches of this community, generally, seem like they are sleeping."

Joe was quick to add, "I think our church needs a wake-up call."

Bob, Mary, and Joe are not the typical complainers. They are mature Christians, good financial givers, involved leaders, and hard-working volunteers. Until this conversation, they hadn't realized they shared similar frustrations. These aren't church hoppers who move from church to church, driven by a consumer appetite for the "best youth program for the kids" or "the shortest sermon." These are committed loyalists. They are, whether they know it or not, spiritual entrepreneurs -- cutting-edge, Christian leaders.

These leaders, like most, have not recognized the origin of their feelings. They have a "holy restlessness." It is a "spiritual discontent." They are not alone. For my research, I've held informal focus groups with pastors. They told me that this restlessness among loyalists is common and a relatively new phenomenon. As a student of churches, I can tell you this: (1) this level of discontent did not exist, on the surface, two years ago; and (2) according to my studies of churches in Europe and Canada -- they are right on schedule! I am quite certain of this: this is the work of the Holy Spirit -- and it's a positive sign.

Christian Version of the Tea Party

Whatever you think of the phenomenon of the Tea Party in the U.S., you can be certain it represents a mass movement of people who have "had enough." They are reactive to the direction of the leadership, economy, or culture. A significant number of voters in the U.S. midterm election experienced the same restlessness. Talk radio, newscasts, news magazines, and discussions at the local barber shop resonate a deep concern for the future.

The hopelessness of many has reached, in their own words, the highest level of their lives. It is like the meltdown of the economy is sounding a death knell to civilization as we know it. Many Christians have long been concerned about what they perceive to be the disintegration of the culture. A frequent phrase among an increasingly uncomfortable population is "if we continue the way we're going, this isn't going to be a pretty place for our grandchildren."

Even those who live outside the Christian faith are beginning to wonder if society really works anymore. You hear: "We seem to have lost our focus, our grip, our compass." Even eternal optimists are being pulled, gradually, to the camp of gloom and doom: "Is this the fall of the Roman Empire all over again?" columnists openly and unapologetically write. There is no question: much of society is rattled. Consider this: that may be a good thing, a sign of hope.

Hitting Bottom Might Be Good

In a class on abnormal psychology, I learned about the disease of alcoholism. The standard line was that an alcoholic often has to reach bottom -- and lose some precious elements of life (spouse, job, health), before the alcoholic can feel challenged at a level to be willing to change.

Lately, I have been reflecting about the numerous moves of God I have seen and analyzed over the years around the globe. I have also been reading 1 & 2 Kings as well as 1 & 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament. (It's the Bible -- what can I say? I can't wait to get done -- it's depressing! Probably not what you should focus on for several months simultaneous to a "great recession.") I'll spare you the read: Kings - as well as Chronicles - represent an ongoing saga of Israel falling away from God, one bad king after another, with an occasional good king who followed God -- and the messes and blessings (respectively) that followed. Here is my hypothesis: Modern societies, much like Old Testament Israel, have to reach bottom before God gets their attention...at least at a level of critical mass of receptivity for a Holy Spirit tipping point - often called a "revival."

In the U.S., I think we are there. What would be my experience base to say that? I've been watching the Protestant Church in Europe. Many of these countries were at this point of hitting spiritual bottom about ten years ago. A couple of years ago, I read Phyllis Tickle's fascinating book The Great Emergence where she said, "If you want to look at what the church in the U.S. will look like in ten years, look at the church in England." England is a mixed bag of churches, like every nation. Yet, there are significant signs of a revival movement involving young adults. There is clearly a spiritual phenomenon occurring there. This is, likewise, true in many areas on the continent. This is fueled by many different British movements: New Wine, New Frontiers, Fresh Expressions, St. Thomas' Sheffield, and others. Ultimately, of course, this is an act of God.

Canada hit bottom a few years after Europe, declaring secularization as the major "religious" position. The U.S. is probably at that bottom point today, four-to-six years behind Canada. One of the signs that parallels the beginning of restlessness for many is the legalization of same-sex marriage by the state and some religious movements. Why legalized abortion and other sensitive issues do not parallel, but precede the perceived bottom by several years, I do not know.

What the U.S. is experiencing today, this restlessness and uncertainty of the future -- is a view from the bottom. This was experienced in Canada four-to-six years ago and was observed in several countries in Europe, before that, about four-to-six years earlier. There is no exact day or date. This is an observable trend.

What Next?

This is the tricky part. What is next depends on the restless people in your church. In my observation, if these spiritual entrepreneurs are not heard, gathered, and encouraged, they reluctantly and painfully leave their churches to go to others. Again, this is not a consumer move ("so I can get fed"), but a stewardship move ("so I can give -- be a part of what God is doing to impact society"). Unfortunately, their departure leaves their previous church devastated. The church loses the most active, forward-thinking, supportive people. It cripples the church at the worst possible moment. Consider your church facing a time when civilization reaches bottom, and there is an exit of the most prominent leaders!

However, if this group of restless, spiritual entrepreneurs is encouraged, guided, and given the right tools, they will remain. They become, then, a catalyst for the so-called "middle and late adopters" who catch on later. They are a strategic element for a movement in the church, which is not top-down, or forced. This leads to a church-wide wake-up call. Make no mistake, this is not a manufactured program. It is a move of the Holy Spirit. It can be called a spiritual "awakening." This is now taking place in many churches in Canada. It is coming to the U.S., in four-to-six years or less. It is a wake-up call on the horizon.

Hope for the Future

Many have put their hope in the arms of certain politicians or a particular political party. It is my perception that this is a simplistic response. It is the type of people -- whatever party - that will make a difference. The same can be said for schools, businesses, the legal system, and, most of all, the church - which is called by God to impact all aspects of society.

The church is the hope of the world -- when it is a healthy, thriving church. To say it another way, that would be a church that experiences a Holy Spirit Awakening. It is God's initiative, not ours. However, what we can do is prepare our churches - our people - starting with these restless leaders - for a move of God. We can identify those spiritual entrepreneurs and lift them up, rather than marginalize them. We can give them tools, guidance, coaching, and resources to gently guide the rest of the church. In Canada, this issue is urgent. In the U.S., it is a perfect time, now, to begin the preparation. Young adults will play an important part in the movement in North America. In Canada, Bible colleges that came close to closing ten years ago, now have more students applying than they can accommodate. In the U.S., a spiritual revival is breaking out on many of the larger universities, according to Jaeson Ma in his book The Blueprint. In any society, churches that raise the spiritual temperature of Christians and become ready to experience an awakening will have a direct impact on the extent to which God will use them in the revival that follows. Your church is at a crossroads: nurture the spiritual entrepreneurs or you will lose them. Your local church is the most important element for the future of your culture. Whether you believe that, and act on it, makes all the difference.

One man can awaken another

And the second can awaken his next-door brother

And the three awake, can awaken the town,

by turning the whole place upside down.

And many, awake, can make such a fuss,

That they finally awaken the rest of us.

One man with dawn in his eyes...multiplies.

John C. Maxwell, The Privileges of Leadership