Barna - Revolution

SOON AFTER GRADUATING from Boston College, I took a job as a policy analyst in the Massachusetts legislature. The experience and contacts gained from that position evolved into campaign management for a variety of candidates running for federal and state offices. One of the most captivating aspects of those positions was the art of estimating the future and figuring out how to prepare people for what was coming. After more education and additional years in the trenches of political and marketing activity, my wife and I opened Barna Research Group. That platform allowed me to work withand learn important lessons froman array of clients that spanned the gamut from media powerhouses such as Disney and ABC to organizations as diverse as Visa and the military, as well as numerous Christian ministries. The research became a springboard from which to consider the future and the most strategic responses to emerging possibilities.

After completing a substantial amount of research exploring society from various angles, I wrote a book in 1990 titled The Frog in the Kettle. The premise was that we could predict what would happen in the United States during the coming decade with reasonable accuracy, enabling individuals and organizationsincluding Christian ministriesto anticipate changes, help shape them, and capitalize upon the transitioning nature of our culture. It is rewarding to look back on the content of the book and realize that more than 90 percent of the predicted outcomes became reality. The most gratifying results, though, were the statements of many leaders who indicated that such forward thinking had helped their ministries thrive amidst chaos and difficulty.

The book you are holding provides an even more significant description of the intersection of cultural change and spiritual transformation. Unlike The Frog in the Kettle, this is not a book about a myriad of trends. It is a book about a single trend that is already redefining faith and the Church in our country. It is about an explosion of spiritual energy and activity we are calling the Revolutionan unprecedented reengineering of Americas faith dimension that is likely to be the most significant transition in the religious landscape that you will ever experience. As you read the chapters that follow, you will understand why I make such a bold claim.

Let me explain why I wrote this book. There are three outcomes that I hope to accomplish. First, I want to inform people of the radical changes that are reshaping the Church in America. Using our nationwide research, along with narratives offered by many Revolutionaries about their spiritual journey, as the foundation, this book is intended to paint a picture of the existing state of the Revolution and where it is headed.

Second, beyond simply introducing the Revolution and its participants, I desire to help Revolutionaries gain a better understanding of themselves. Many of them feel like the odd person out, and most of them struggle with conflicting feelings about their status as spiritual champions who have no spiritual homeland. What a joy it would be if this slim volume helped to crystallize their self-awareness, legitimize their commendable quest to be Christlike, and provide some clarifying language and practical resources to assist them on their journey.

Finally, I want to encourage people who are struggling with their place in the Kingdom of God to consider this spiritual awakening as a viable alternative to what they have pursued and experienced thus far. Sometimes people know what they want and need to do, but feel constrained by circumstances or expectations. May this book provide those people with the permission they need to reach their next level of spiritual maturity.

Whether you want to or not, you will have to take a stand in regard to the Revolution. It is on track to become the most significant recalibration of the American Christian body in more than a century. Your response ought not be based on whether you are comfortable with it, but rather on its consistency with biblical principles and its capacity to advance the Kingdom of God. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you must understand this Revolution of faith because it is already impacting your life, and it will continue to do so in the years to come. It is my prayer that this book will provide the insights you need to comprehend this spiritual dynamic and discover how your own faith voyage isor should belinked to the Revolution.

And, if you discover that you areor want to becomea Revolutionary, welcome to the fold.

As a practical matter, be forewarned that throughout this book I use the words church (small c) and Church (capital C) in very different ways. The distinction is critical. The small c church refers to the congregation-based faith experience, which involves a formal structure, a hierarchy of leadership, and a specific group of believers. The term Church, on the other hand, refers to all believers in Jesus Christ, comprising the population of heaven-bound individuals who are connected by their faith in Christ, regardless of their local church connections or involvement. Some hail this as the Church universal, as opposed to the church local. As you will see, the Revolution is designed to advance the Church and to redefine the church.

You might feel relieved and excited by the content of this bookor you might respond with intense anger or disapproval. Whatever you feel, I ask that you read the entire book before you pass judgment on it. The book is neither long nor theologically dense; it is a fast read. But it is meant to be a cohesive and complete argument that benefits from a full and open-minded hearing.