Guessing the Future

I am neither an astrologer nor do I believe in astrology.  Thus, any efforts I make at predicting the future are totally a hunch. In this blog I want to take a shot in the dark at trying to predict the future of USA church work.

Since history can be a great predictor of the future, let me begin there. Of the 51 churches Second Baptist helped start in seven years, several traits became almost unanimous among them. Whenever we reach near unanimity in anything about church work, we usually have a strong indicator of what's ahead. Here are the traits we see.

First, contemporary music. There is a growing appreciation for the old hymns—it seems more churches are using them intermittently—but the handwriting is on the wall. Contemporary music is the future in USA church work. I will make a disclaimer though. A generation ago, when change began to wash over our churches like a tsunami, I decided change itself would become the new norm—that change would continue forever. I was wrong. We changed to a totally new format in worship, but then the rate of change slowed dramatically. Now we have a new normal. I don't want to use the word "rut"—it's too demeaning—but even the most modern churches have fallen into highly predictable practices. Since we retired, Ruth and I have visited several churches. Each has been wonderful, and they have all been very similar in their format. A new ritual has replaced the old. Change is now crawling.

In my next blog, I will continue this discussion. I covet your remarks. What do you think the future holds for church music? List your thoughts on my Facebook post about this blog.

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