American Christianity in 2040: Risk, Reimagination, and a Return to the Mission - w/ Rick McKinley and Bonnie Lewis

Voxology

Philosophy, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2019

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How the American church can face a rapidly changing culture by reclaiming its missionary identity, simplifying institutional models, and empowering the next generation of leaders. In this special edition kicking off a three-part mini-series for the 200th episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford revisit some of their favorite past guests to explore one timely question: What is the future of Christianity and the church in America?

This episode features thought-provoking conversations with pastor and author Rick McKinley and biblical scholar Bonnie Lewis, offering contrasting perspectives from Portland to the greater deconstructed margins.

Key Takeaways: • The Church as a Missionary Movement – Why American churches must stop existing for self-preservation and start embodying the mission of Jesus in a post-Christian culture. • Permission & Imagination – Gen X leaders must give way to innovative younger voices and support new forms of church that don't rely on traditional models of buildings, salaries, or Sunday-centric programs. • Reclaiming Deep Ecclesiology – The church isn't a preaching event or a building—it's a Spirit-filled alternative community of justice, simplicity, and love in a hostile world. • Preparing for Harvest and Hostility – Why the future belongs to churches that can thrive under cultural resistance and economic challenges, including the potential loss of tax-exempt status. • Thriving on the Margins – What Bonnie Lewis sees as the emerging future: diverse, justice-oriented, healing communities that move beyond white evangelicalism and toward a multi-voiced church.

Guest Highlights: • Rick McKinley – Pastor of Imago Dei Church in Portland and author of "Faith for This Moment." Rick brings decades of pastoral insight and urges a drastic shift toward empowering bivocational leadership and simplifying church to spark real kingdom impact. • Bonnie Lewis – Bible translator and author who champions honest, inclusive conversations on faith and spirituality. Bonnie celebrates hopeful dialogue in a polarizing era and envisions the future church as more representative, just, and relationally safe.

Resources Mentioned: • Faith for This Moment by Rick McKinley • Imago Dei Church – https://www.imagodeicommunity.com • The Vulgar Bible by Bonnie Lewis – https://www.bonnielewis.com/thevulgarbible • Episode 200 Series – Stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring Kristen Howerton, Andy Lara, and Skye Jethani

Have thoughts on the future of Christianity in America? We'd love to hear from you. Email your reflections to hello@voxpodcast.com or connect with us on social media.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everybody, Mike Erie here.
0:11.2	Welcome to the Vox podcast.
0:12.8	I'm here with our friend, our editor,
0:17.1	the embodiment of Seattle.
0:19.0	If Seattle were a person,
0:20.3	I'm here with Tim Stafford, Tim, say hello.
0:23.4	Hello. Now I'm picturing us all as like those inside out characters and I'm the frumpy little
0:28.0	blue one. No, no, because Seattle is more than just the blue one. Seattle is all of them. They're just a
0:35.5	proportion. Seattle is probably my favorite city too. Is it?
0:38.3	It is?
0:39.3	Yeah. The air is all clean. I feel like everything feels cleaner in Seattle than it does. I mean, definitely down here in LA.
0:45.3	Yeah. Yeah. No question about that. And I can speak from having seen you a bunch that you are more of a flannel, beanie, kind of bearded guy,
0:57.0	exactly.
0:58.0	And you would-
0:59.0	I definitely have a beard of flannel and a beanie today.
1:02.0	And you would, so you wouldn't fit in on Maui, let's just say, like, you know...
1:06.0	I'd like to try.
1:08.0	Now, we are so excited because this is, by our official estimation, episode 198, we are approaching
1:20.5	200 episodes of the Vox podcast.
1:22.7	And I remember when Andy and I first started this, we would joke around at like episode
1:27.2	10.
1:28.6	And they said it would never last.
	...

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