| Home | eBooks |
| Devotions | Podcasts |
| Articles | Church Suppliers |
| Videos | Our Writers |
| About Us | Find Church Jobs |
Not since the 16th century has there been a communication upheaval in the church like we are experiencing today. At that time (c. 1517) the Protestant Reformation was calling Christians to live godly lives and follow the Bible over tradition as the source of spiritual guidance. And though the Reformers’ ideas had been around for hundreds of years, it was a new communication tool, the printing press, that fueled the Reformation’s influence.
Churches are being pressured once again, often against their will, to embrace new communication tools.
Today the church is undergoing a new formation, which I call the eReformation. I chose this word because similar to how the Reformation was fueled by the printing press, a current reformation is erupting as Christendom is being forced to communicate, sometimes against their will, via electronic tools.
Some feel electronic communication is less desirable, perhaps even less spiritual than face-to-face discussions. But we often fail to remember that in New Testament times most Christians did not have face-to-face access with Jesus or even the Apostles. The communication of the Good News was carried in apostolic letters and histories that were carefully written down and then transcribed. While fellowship continued in smaller groups and occasional visits from an apostle, most early Christians learned of spiritual truths and orthodoxy through someone reading ink on papyri.
The Protestant Reformation and today’s eReformation
Today electronic communication is transforming how the church communicates in a parallel fashion to how the the printing press fueled the Protestant Reformation. The printing press allowed people to own a Bible and to fact-check what their pastors told them. Today the printing press’ legacy is thousands of printed versions of the Bible translated into a myriad of indigenous languages.
In the next 500 years how will historians look back upon today’s electronic shift in communication? Will future historians see a world health crisis that reformed the church’s communication strategies? Extreme long-term forecasts are beyond anyone’s guess, but they may include artificial intelligence, virtual reality and more.
Yet, in the near future I see churches that start doing these 10 actions as being better communicators.
10 Characteristics of the coming eReformation Church
1. Online small groups will become the majority of a church’s smaller groups.
The convenience of small online groups along with a growing ability for people to communicate better online, will mean that healthy churches will have an increasing percentage of their small group opportunities online.
Start preparing today: begin to aggressively train leaders in online ministry and communication skills.
2. Authentic worship online.
The Hebrew word for “worship” means to come close to God, bowing at his feet (Psalm 22:7). It signifies a closeness that the inexperienced may find hard to encounter through newer electronic mediums. Still, most people have experienced worship while listening to a song on their streaming device, the radio or even a vinyl record. And though such electronic mediums have succeeded in fostering worship, our churches have mostly promoted and fine-tuned live worship.
Start preparing today: churches must aggressively begin to improve their electronic worship, not just for the homebound or those who do not live nearby, but also for those who prefer to worship in private. Since worship means drawing close to God in what I call a “face-to-foot” encounter, the church must forsake appearance and spectacle while improving encounter, prayer and reflection during online worship events.
3. People will regularly digest their favorite preachers who won’t be national names, but people to whom they can relate.
Many smaller churches with fantastic pastors and worship experiences will grow significantly because they can electronically connect with a larger audience. They will connect to far-flung audiences who can relate to their message, style and culture.
Start preparing today: tomorrow’s influencers will be pastors who don’t stand before a massive crowd, but instead create a relatable environment of candor, comfortableness and ease. They may sit in a small living room while making the listener feel as if you are present with them. The post-quarantine church and society in general will have a new appreciation for the so-called fireside chat which alleviates some of the fear of the big.
4. Largeness will be replaced by relevance.
Instead of having one large gathering that tries to cater to multiple demographics, mega-churches and even micro-churches will increasingly split up into smaller online and onsite venues where the communication style can be tailored to different cultures. Some will bemoan this as a lack of unity, saying, “Unless we worship together, we won’t be one.”
But the New Testament reminds us that Gentiles worshipped differently than Jewish-Christians (and the Council of Jerusalem recognized this). Yet nowhere did the Council of Jerusalem suggest they worship together, but rather that they worshipped in holiness and respect (Acts 15:24-29).
The Bible does not insist that we grow to enjoy different worship styles. Rather, Jesus tells us that worship is to be genuine and true to one’s spirit, saying, “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration” (John 4:23-24, MSG).
Start preparing today: ask yourself, to which cultures is your current ministry relevant? Then ask, what are the emerging cultures around us? Are they the same? If not, you must start preparing now to hand over leadership to leaders of emerging cultures, so they can be “honestly themselves before him in their worship.”
5. An increasing number of committee/board/training meetings will be conducted online.
Church boards, committees and trainings are usually not well attended. This may be because of the rise of the two-wage-earner family where the weekly opportunities for such meetings become increasingly scarce. People may avoid these meetings, not because they don't enjoy the fellowship or task at hand, but because they can't find the time to squeeze them in. Utilizing video meetings with screen-sharing software can eliminate time-wasters, such as drive-time to and back from meetings.
Start preparing today: experiment with video and online training software to improve your online meetings. Don't view online meetings as a stopgap measure during a quarantine. Rather see them as a time-management method for leadership decision-making that will also foster greater participation.
6. Counseling and theological discussions will increasingly take place online.
Just as the medical community has ramped up their online “see a doctor” services, so too churches will be expected to offer counseling and even theological discussion via an online interface. In the past going to the church for counseling or to discuss something with the pastor could be intimidating for a person going through a crisis. Now congregants can consult these professionals privately from home.
Start preparing today: offer online counseling and theological discussion via a personal video chat. And, learn how to communicate your knowledge in a video setting. If you are not a skilled or trained counselor, refer those in need to counselors who are professionally trained. This means learning about online counselors with whom you can agree theologically and pragmatically.
7. Large events, concerts and conferences will still occur, but fewer of them will be sponsored by the church.
Because an increasing percentage of fellowship will take place online, face-to-face events will be premium events that the secular world will be able to stage more attractively than a church. Church carnivals, concerts and conferences will be less attractive when compared to social gathering events staged by secular organizations.
Start preparing now: Christians must increasingly communicate the Good News through their speech and lifestyle, rather than staging an event to which they hope to bring their friends.
Evaluate if church events such as bazaars, concerts and conferences are the best way for your friends to hear the Good News. Rather look to your lifestyle, actions and priorities to be the light that shines into your neighbors’ world.
Jesus reminded us, “God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16, MSG)
8. Churches will address society’s growing fear of the big: agoraphobia.
The rapid spread of viruses, and a resultant stringent curtailment of certain liberties, will mean that people will be more cautious in the foreseeable future of largeness. This will mean they will seek churches that are smaller communities or at least exhibit a smaller feel through multiple venues, small groups, etc.
Start preparing now: congregations can begin to offer smaller venues as alternatives. Some social scientists (Oxford professor Robin Dunbar for example) have found that people feel most comfortable in groups of under 150 (called the Dunbar Number).
Smaller churches can rejoice in knowing that their smaller social groupings will be attractive to more people. But they must prepare now to overcome their natural propensity to exclude outsiders. And larger churches can begin to multiply smaller venues as alternatives. For them it is important not to let the size of their sanctuaries, which are usually too large and overbuilt, to dictate the target size of a worship gathering. If Dunbar is right, larger churches need more venues of 150 or less.
9. Sharing your faith will become more combative.
I wish this prediction were not so. But regrettably there is something about online communication that lends itself to harshness and loss of empathy. I have even seen discussions about faith become more combative in the past decade. This may be because in online discussions it’s easier for groupthink to kick in and people to take more radical positions which erupt into heated emotions.
Start preparing now: learn how to share your faith not based upon your opinions, but upon the other person’s need. Are they going through a health issue? Are they going through a family crisis? Are they struggling economically or in their career? Listen to their needs and then explain the Bible’s guidance.
As Peter reminds us, “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick” (1 Peter 3:15-16 MSG).
10. The meaning of life, death and the afterlife will increasingly be on people’s minds and must be addressed in church teachings.
Eschatology, the study of one’s final destiny, will be of increasing interest as the world grows smaller and illnesses travel the globe at increasing speeds. In recent years the church shifted away from eschatology to topics of how to live a better life here and now. And while that may be important, it is eternal questions that will begin to dominate people’s interest as catastrophes circle the globe.
Start preparing now: churches need to be prepared with orthodoxy and in clarity to address the issues of life, death and the afterlife.
Final Thoughts
Jesus told us, “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly” (Mark 13:28-29, MSG).
Christ knew today’s catastrophes would happen. He is not surprised (John 16:30, Rev. 2:23).
As knowledge of a fig tree tells an orchardist about the coming season, so too must Christian leaders discern the season we are in. It is time for church leaders to carefully adopt electronic tools, the way they once did the printing press, to better communicate the Good News.
 |
Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More » |
Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.
 | Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for … |
 | Todd Hopkins is founder and CEO of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services. He earned the … |
Ryan Sanders serves as the Director of Content for BiblicalLeadership.com. |
 | Copyright © 2025 Networld Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. |
Already a member? Sign in below.
