If Christians were like hockey great Wayne Gretzky, they’d skate to where the puck will be, to where cultures will be in 15 years. There’s a way to do it.
The US is skating toward a post-Christian age. In 15 years, religious “nones” will likely be 46 percent of the population. Exiles—22%. Evangelical Protestants—less than 20%. Mainline Protestants—single digits. By 2030, a majority of the US population will be a “burned-over district.” The gospel will be been there, done that.
Many evangelical ministries are aware of these trends. To their credit, they seek to reach nones. But are they skating to where our cultures will be? There’s one way to find out. Spend a few days in the future—in a place that already looks like the world in 2030.
This week in New York City over 500 creatives will gather for the Future of StoryTelling summit. FoST is reinventing the way stories are told. Leaders from all sorts of institutions will consider how to tell better stories. The summit is almost entirely religious nones with a few exiles. It’s the future now.
This year FoST features Disney animator Glen Keane. Tatjana Dzambazova will demonstrate how creators can now use virtual tools, like photogrammetry, to experience and re-create our tactile, three-dimensional physical world. Janet Murray, professor at Georgia Tech and author of Hamlet on the Holodeck, will show how new storytelling models and technologies allow people to more actively engage with fictional worlds. STORY Founder Rachel Shechtman will demonstrate how retail can be reinvented as a full-fledged immersive, participatory storytelling experience.
I attended last year’s summit. It was the experience economy on steroids. On the ferry to Snug Harbor we strapped on wristbands (no explanation why). At Snug we participated in three multi-sensory experiences. The third involved moving our hands until we generated a thunderous clap. At that instant, our wristbands lit up. Powerful. Two MIT students then described how the wristbands measure neurochemical levels that are predictive of genuine enthusiasm.
Dr. Paul Zak’s roundtable discussed neurochemical indicators for stories that are predictive of behavior change. There’s a narrative curve, an arc, for effective storytelling. When storytellers follow it, the brain releases two chemicals. The first produces bonding. The second disrupts. Together, people are more apt to change.
Nones and exiles rely on neurochemical indicators because they recognize self-reporting is notoriously unreliable. Confirmation bias clouds our ability to measure impact. And because they seek spirituality, nones and exiles are looking for a narrative arc that makes for better stories and a better world.
The irony is Paul Zak’s arc can be found in the first few verses in Genesis. And Jeremiah warns against self-reporting (Jer.17:7-9). FoST doesn’t seem to know this because Christians seem to be few and far between at FoST. This is the world in 2030.
This is a grand opportunity for Christians. They can see whether their ministry is skating to where the puck will be. It’s simple. Attend FoST. Experience 2030. It’ll be like the Judeans waking up in Babylonian exile. The first thing they heard was a foreign language—Babylonian. FoST is speaking a language foreign to most Christians. Most Christians have a language foreign to FoST. And since nones and exiles are so over the gospel (been there, done that), our standard Christian vocabulary won’t work.
You’ll also see we’re not there. This is why many ministries theorize from afar about what it would take to engage culture. The real question is what would it take for FoST to find the Christian faith engaging? It might take 15 years. Start in 2030 and draw a line from there to your ministry. You’ll see whether you’re skating to where the puck will be.
Two weeks ago, world leaders put forth a new set of global goals to build a world where everyone flourishes. United Nations member states signed off on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As described by participants Bono and Mark Zuckerberg, the 2030 plan lists 17 goals and 169 targets. Working back from 2030, the first target is to provide Internet connectivity for all by 2020. By starting in the right place—2030—they’d figured out the best course of action. How many ministries are planning this way?
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Hi Mike,
This is great stuff. Love the intentionality of skating to where the puck will be… and the practicality of finding a place to figure this out (FoST). Would love to talk with you more about how a church might best move to where the puck will be… Can you email me?
I thought it fascinating that at the 2014 FoST conference, the finale dinner, closing act was spiritual. As reported on the FoST site “Lisa Fischer brought the hall to a standstill with her beautiful rendition of “Breath of Heaven” [an old Amy Grant song!](http://futureofstorytelling.org/fost-closing-party-2014/). Seems to imply the audience is still open to spiritual input?
MM
Mike – what are or how does one determine the right goals and targets for the culture in 2030 and the roll of Christ’s body in it? Please excuse me for such a broad question that reveals my lack of experience with such an important question.
Hi there Mike — Just started reading your blog a few months ago. I remember you from GCC days in the early 2000s.
Loved this post and the idea of seeing the future. I agree with your assessment that not many ministries are looking at 2030 – most are in fact still stuck in 1999. It’s one of the interesting challenges in my work with young people – getting them to imagine a future more than just a few years out.
A side note – my daughter and I saw Taylor Swift a few weeks ago. It was a phenomenal experience architected by Taylor, including the wristbands that lit up during the show – sometimes all together, sometimes in specific colors depending on the song or location in the audience. You are right about that being powerful.
Thanks.
Mark: VERY open. I will call you.
Mike,
Thoroughly enjoyed the article. I’m new to your blog – can you post a link to Part 1?
My thoughts on this are:
1. Speaking the gospel message without jargon. How to develop believers who are able to do this well?
2. Worship would not look the same. Can worship for ‘Nones’ and believers exist in the same service/time or is there a continuum.
3. Creating a community that welcomes non-believers while developing deep faith in believers.
Thanks and look forward to reading your other articles.