“Sustainability”.

Landmark Syracuse Church Closes after 140 Years

Sustainability is defined as “the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely”.  This has become the buzzword concerning environmental impact, as well as a descriptor for social causes. But what if we were to apply this to our concept of “church”? To put it another way, is the current “American” expression of church sustainable given the increasing level of persecution from the media and government?

There are ever increasing legislative decisions being proposed and passed that are blatantly hostile to the Christian faith; if this persecution follows its logical course we very well may experience in our lifetimes the type of anti-Christian treatment that our brothers and sister in the 10 / 40 window countries are enduring. In America we can no longer afford to naively believe that “it could never happen here”; the fact is (at least in the beginning stages) it IS happening here.

This brings me back to the question; can our centralized mega church model of Christian expression last given increasing persecution levels? I personally don’t think it can. I say this because historically it hasn’t proved so in other areas of the world. What has proven successful is fragmentation; not to be confused with denominational-ism, but fragmentation in the sense of smaller groups that are disconnected by geography yet still unified. I believe that therein lies the solution to the coming problem.

As a preemptive move toward “church sustainability” would it not be advisable to adopt a pattern of smaller geographically separated groups of believers who are yet networked to a traditional central hub? This has many benefits in an atmosphere of rising persecution. Primarily being that should the central church ever become inaccessible, the “body” would remain intact, (albeit fragmented) allowing the “church” to continue its mission and mandate. Secondly this vehicle would allow for the participation of believers and the use of their gifts – and the fulfillment of their callings, which might not otherwise happen given the lack of local opportunities within a singular church structure (ex. more people than positions). Thirdly this gives every believer the opportunity to expand the kingdom while staying unified to, fed by, and supported with the corporate gathering.

In a season of rising persecution, and should the church as we know it cease to be viable; the collective message of the cross of Christ, and his soon return can still resonate across our land emanating from small pockets of committed believers. After all when we consider that this was the historical model of the early church it lends credence to its adoption as the NEW model for the Christian church in our age.

This is not fear mongering, yet we know things are destined to grow much darker before “The light” comes again; this may be one possible solution to a coming problem, or not. I do know this; that American Christianity no longer works. We have ceased for some time now to be able to impact our culture and its citizens, our “numbers” are dwindling and more and more churches are closing their doors. If we fail to change to adapt to the situation at large we run the risk of forfeiting our place in the “Divine plan of the ages”.

Luther.