I made up a term: enviroism. It’s a shortened form of environmentalism. I made it up by accident–it was a typo–but then I liked it. I intend for it to be a little more acceptable to conservative Christians who seem to have forgotten that we are stewards of God’s Earth. I also want it to be acceptable to younger Christians who are greener than their elders (and still quite conservative). I like the term because it’s easier to say, easier to write, and it sounds cool. We’ll see if it’s sticky.
It occurs to me that North American Christianity is about to go through a catharsis. Oil (today) is down to $103/barrel, so gas is about $3.50/gallon. This summer’s price spike is already forgotten, but what happens to all the “get in your car and drive 15 miles to us” churches if this is a temporary dip? What if some lunatic in Iran nukes the Saudi oil fields or Israeli Parliament? What if Russia strikes a deal with Venezuela that locks Americans out of importing Venezuelan oil? What if China continues to industrialize at a 30% annual growth rate? What if terrorists or a Cat 4 storm puts a hurt on 30 or 40 of Shell, Texaco, and Exxon’s Gulf of Mexico drilling platforms? How do you spell $5-a-gallon gas? H-U-R-R-I-C-A-N-E. Think wind turbines or solar panels are the answer? Maybe, but what if North Korea, Vietnam, or France perfects the technology and decides to withhold it from the USA?
If even one of those scenarios plays out, the world as we know it will become chaotic. And we’re just considering the energy side of the puzzle. What about food? What about climate change? What about globalization of markets, income streams, and labor? What if Jamaica invents and protects a new information platform that revolutionizes communication? It’s not out of the question that tomorrow’s big power is barely surviving today (think USA in 1870).
If things change radically, and they almost certainly will, people may choose to stay home on Sunday and watch (insert Big Name Pastor) on TV, online, or on-not-at-all. Suddenly those pleas for tithes will be easier to ignore. Suddenly, the little Bible study meeting down the street will be easier to try.
The church will almost certainly grow smaller over the next decade. More, smaller churches relating in networks looks promising. Home groups will gain traction as the world gets Hot, Flat, and Crowded, which is the name of Thomas Friedman’s latest book (see link at right column). Friedman is the best-selling author of The World is Flat, where he told us how the information explosion is changing everything. Friedman employs excellent research and readability in Hot, Flat, and Crowded, to tell us how the current focus on global climate change and urbanization are about to (you guessed it) change everything again.
A hotter earth means more weird weather. Vacations get unpredictable so people stay home. A hotter planet means higher energy bills, more media attention on staying home, and less nonessential travel of any sort. It becomes cool to attend the neighborhood church–especially if they download thought-provoking and excellent biblical teaching from a fantastic communicator from anywhere on the globe.
A flatter earth means that hierarchical structures continue to wane in influence. People do not want to be told what to do anyway. They like freedom, and they like to buy-in on group decisions.
Denominational structures and old-line church brands are already dying. As the workplace and education flattens, the church will follow (thank you Internet). Interestingly, the church that Jesus designed seems pretty flat already. He is the Boss and we are not supposed to play favorites.
That’s not to say there are not leaders. A flat world does not begrudge leadership–it flocks to it. A flat world merely means that information can no longer be stored in one’s personal silo and dispensed as a valuable and limited commodity. You can get to the information just like anyone else. The sources are open to you. You (if you can read and get online) can be the expert because anyone can learn anything rather easily. Flat earth means smaller, localized church gatherings because we will no longer need a “sage on the stage,” but we will still need relationships, correction, and love. Lots of love. Have you noticed how little love comes from large bureaucracies, large churches, large crowds, large stores, large anything? Love happens in small groups.
Crowds are not loving, and this place is getting more crowded. By 2020, the cities will be bursting. That’s great for landlords, psychological counselors, and people selling funeral arrangements. Not so great for the rest of us because we tend not to feel the love in crowded places. Some of the loneliest people live in the largest cities. I guess one so rarely sees the same people that it’s hard to make a friend. People in very large cities learn to make friends by scaling it down.
My uncle lived over 40 years in Manhattan, 35 in the same building, and 28 in the same apartment. When he died, the people in his building threw a party in his memory. He had about two dozen very close friends–two-thirds of whom lived in his building. People like local. As the planet gets more crowded, the church will become smaller.
What do you think? Are the days of the mega-churches numbered? Will multi-sites in smaller venue create even larger mega-church brands? Do you think that a vibrant small group ministry will be the key? How will enviroism effect the ministries at your church, or will it?
