Editor’s note: The following post arises from small group reflections from The Rise of Global Christianity, 1910–2010, taught by Dr. Todd Johnson at Boston University in the Fall of 2010. Led by doctoral students, the small groups discussed lectures given by Christian scholars in various disciplines, including significant changes that have occurred in global Christianity over the past 100 years.
On December 8th, we gathered for our final class. Appropriately, we switched from discussing the past 100 years of Christian history to imagining the future. Dr. Jay Gary introduced us to the art of strategic foresight, and encouraged us to create our own futures.
As we gathered as a small group, one student began the conversation expressing his unease. In Dr. Gary’s presentation, he had talked about possible scenarios for Christianity in the United States over the next 20 years. He ended that section by asking, “Is your church ready for these changes? Will it be able to respond to the various possibilities that may occur?” These questions, the student explained, made it sound like it was the responsibility of the church to perpetuate itself in the face of change. Somehow it is our responsibility to help the church survive. “But,” he added, “that seems to fly in the face of Jesus’ own words: ‘I will build my Church…’” If imagining the future is about engineering the present, then it seems out of sync with the gospel that is not worried about tomorrow.
Other students disagreed, or at least felt strategic foresight did not have to be reduced to such crass manipulation. Their positions were different. One student simply stated that forecasting the future was ridiculous, because chaos – not constancy – seems to reign. Another student countered that even the forces of chaos were under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and so the destiny of the world was secure, even if the path travelled is unpredictable. A third student added that she felt speaking about the future was important, because the stories we tell ourselves now, will be self-fulfilling. If we imagine a world of war, then we will prepare for war, and ultimately engage in battle. If, on the other hand, we imagine a world of peace, we will make entirely different choices. Stories of the future are important for influencing our lives right now.
As a group, we selected one issue from the news this week that may significantly impact the future: North Korea. As a country it is, what Jay Gary described, a “wild card.” It is difficult to predict what North Korea will do. One student saw in North Korea evidence of the rise of neo-nationalism and jingoism, a force that will mark the face of the future. He also commented that the politics around North Korea are unpredictable. Although the state actors want more stability in the region, China, Japan, and the United States are not particularly eager about reunification. This, he contended, complicates the very volatile situation.
With our time gone, it was a reminder that the future is uncertain, but its unpredictability endlessly fascinates our imagination, and draws our attention.
Daryl Ireland, discussion moderator
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