It’s a learning process. Seen in a highly simplified way, one could see that: The institutionalized churches are on the verge of extinction. The “people’s church” model has faded away. In some places, free churches are nothing more than flow-through heaters, where many people come, but from which many also leave again. Society is changing. Our time makes special demands on all people. Nothing can be taken for granted anymore, and proven structures must be evaluated against this backdrop. Churches cannot stay behind in this situation without perishing. Christian community must reinvent itself. This takes place in many small steps. We live in this time of upheaval.

Changes have consequences

Our world is on the move. God always remains the same, but time does something to us, does something to the world, to our societies and therefore quite logically also to the institutionalized church. If the church remains standing, the world will still evolve. Those who stand still soon fall out of the frame. Those who want to preserve the past, looking backwards, are not capable of shaping today or the future.

There are tried and tested structures within the institutionalized churches. They were set up that way in other times for a reason. However, this in no way means that they are appropriate for today. This is precisely what does not seem to be the case, which is why many people are drifting away from these churches. Here it is necessary to differentiate: If a generation has lived and believed in a certain way, this does not mean that the next generation is simply committed to the past.

It is not about the content of the Bible, but about the understanding of the Bible in a changing world, which may express itself in a renewing culture. The human questions remain the same, also the liberating message of the Bible remains the same, but perhaps this can only be discovered and lived with new words and in new forms of community. On a sober note, indulging in a particular subculture forever is not enough. No one asked for that.

The church of the future takes place outside today’s structures, namely where the people are. New wine needs new wineskins (Mt 9:17).

Obstetrician

While the old form of the institution has probably already passed its expiration date, this does not concern the people who think in it. The other day I read the national synod report of the Catholic Church in Switzerland 2022. The report is detailed, unsparing and self-reflective. Even weaknesses of the report are named. The opinion is not only versatile, but also fearless for change. This is an achievement.

Whoever creates such a basis opens himself to innovation. Such a church can become a midwife for something new. Because this is where the church of the future lies: in the development and birth of a new wing for community.

The pressure of necessity

Today’s institutions have less and less revenue. The idea that churches “have money” will soon evaporate for many.

• Real estate will be sold off
• Fewer and fewer personnel will be responsible for ever larger areas
• Church hierarchy is questioned
• Pastors will need to seek additional sources of revenue.

The church of the future will inevitably have to function differently from traditional churches or free churches today, from which few people live and for which many people pay. Of course, every worker is worth his wages, but at the time of Paul, every rabbi had a regular job, which he could also do if needed (Acts 18:3). In many minority communities, on the mission field and elsewhere, this is already the case. Here a rethinking must take place, not least also in the theological training courses, which are still far removed from this new reality.

Church as the epicenter of faith?

For many, church is synonymous with attending a service on Sunday. This is the center for many communities. It is the central fixed point in the week. Faith is tied to this church walk. Faith is therefore located in church buildings. Faith is imparted by specially trained persons.

The church as the epicenter of faith has dismissed. Church, that is the people. Better said: Church, these are the called out ones. This does not mean splitting off or narrowing down, but “calling” is what the church is by essence (Gr. ekklesia = called out). The calling is from God, who calls us in Christ (1 Cor. 1:23-26; 1 Cor. 1:30). This has nothing to do with denominations or church affiliation. The church of the future will have to think not from society but from God’s calling. These are the people who – independent of churches – know themselves called and touched by Christ and let themselves be renewed by Christ.

You might think of it as no longer asking, “What church do you belong to, what denomination?” but “I recognize Christ in you, let’s celebrate that.” Authentic encounter will be more important than supposed orthodoxy. Leading one another to Christ will be more important than insisting on one’s own understanding. This is not watering down the message, but getting to the heart of the message – what is it really about?

Such a development also requires that one deals with the message itself. It requires an in-depth discussion that does not get stuck in traditional assumptions, but has the courage to voice questions and look for better answers. This is the task of every generation and certainly ours.

Liveliness

Living faith or living community do not arise from structures. They arise from relationship. Therefore, aliveness will arise from relationship and will be formed in it. A Christian community of the future will emerge from relationships and receive strength from them. Proclamation plays a role in it, but that proclamation does not have to come from the pulpit.

Quite a few Christians are turning away from the churches because they no longer experience any real debate in them. Neither is the Bible studied, nor is faith consistently addressed. This is also true of free churches, which are often experienced as narrow-minded and superficial. A bloodless and spiritless church serves no one. An authentic learning culture may be more important than ever in the church of the future. The central question for a faith community of the future should therefore be: How can a positive learning culture be achieved?

Aliveness arises from relationship and requires a culture that is relationship-oriented and focuses on exchange and development. It promotes the maturation of both the individual and the community.

Five gifts to the community

Paul describes in Ephesians how God Himself calls people to build up the church. Do we see the people God has given? The following passage describes how the apostle sees the structure of the church:

“But to each one of us the gift of grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. […] The same gives some as apostles, others as prophets, still others as evangelists or as pastors and teachers – for the adaptation of the saints to the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to the mature man, to the measure of the fullness of the completion of Christ, that we may no longer be babes, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine as by surging billows, and carried about by the unpredictability of men, by the cunning that is calculated to spread error by design.
But if we are true, we should make everything grow in love, into Him who is the Head, Christ, from whom the whole body (joined together and united by each incorporation of the offered according to the efficacy of each part) accomplishes the growth of the body, for its own edification in love.”
Eph 4:7-16

First, the apostle speaks about the fact that everyone has been given something by Christ and therefore everyone is effective. At the same time, there will be some people who have been given specifically to the church as a gift. The first concerns gifts to people, the second concerns people as gifts to the church.

Named are five tasks that are gifts to the community. The first two gifts (apostles and prophets) laid the foundation (Eph 2:20). We received an image of this in the books of the New Testament. Paul could therefore say that he completed the Word (Col 1:25) and was among the last of the apostles (1 Cor 4:9). These two tasks should be over today.

The other three tasks characterize today. They are: Evangelists, shepherds and teachers. This has nothing to do with profession or with perceived vocation, but with the fact that God has equipped these people in this way. They show themselves in the community. Their gifts cannot be hidden and directly serve to build up the church. They will wear even if no position is conferred on it, no training is available and no official appointment has been made by institutions. This is the God-given structure of the one true church that has existed across all times and denominations for 2000 years.

Learning process

The Christian community of tomorrow has not yet arrived. But we can start by rethinking it. Whether the thoughts are good must be proven in practice. Today’s churches and congregations can be something like a midwife for a new generation of Christian communities. This requires visionaries who can not only rethink structures, but also point to the essentials in terms of content. This can be understood as a learning process, in which one finds new forms by searching and groping.

It is not only about being a Christian, but also about becoming a Christian.

However, this can be done with trust in God, who not only holds everything in his hands, but also gives people as gifts to the church so that this church of Christ builds itself up. This is not about membership numbers, but about growing up in faith, both individually and as a community. It is not only about being a Christian, but also about becoming a Christian.

What do you think the church of the future will look like?