A: First, I would like to focus on the positive. The new generation possesses vitality, positive thinking, and a genuine interest in spiritual matters. Young people today are not satisfied with stock answers. They want to see for themselves. They want to see a relationship between the message and their lives. And they want it to be relevant to their lives today. Secondly, society and lifestyles will continue to change. This will affect especially the family where divorce, increasing stress, and economic struggles challenge a woman's capacity to work in church activities. When the older members were rearing their children, the wife stayed home and the husband provided the living. Now few mothers reflect that traditional role. Where economic circumstances force this change, older people need to be more understanding and compassionate.

Q: Do you see some congregations more likely to cease in the 90's than others?

A: Many of the churches that now have older memberships will be gone in 10 years. They will not survive.

Q: How can the older church adapt itself to holding young families?

A: First of all, a change is necessary in the way these older churches go about their work. The longer a church exists in a given place and the older its members become, the harder it is for that church to reach out to young people and integrate them into the congregation. Somehow older members must adapt to the presence and needs of young families. They must also learn better how to relate to the poor and to the sinners in the neighborhood.

Q: Many of our outstanding leaders in the church have died, men such as Batsell Barrett Baxter, B.C. Goodpasture, Gus Nichols, Ira North, Reuel Lemmons, and other~ It does not appear that there are men arising to take their place. Will the church suffer from what we might call a lack of national leadership in the 90's?

A: Since World War II, several men have emerged as strong influence figures. Sometimes their influence was felt through a paper. A man like Gus Nichols influenced many through his travels, meetings, etc. Despite some disagreements, these models were out there. This leadership guided and provided stability for the church. Now that has changed. With their absence and the movement of people across the country, the brotherhood has become sectionalized. More differences exist now than ever before. A new generation is coming along who did not know these former leaders and who feels a need to re-examine the scriptures for marks of identification. We now have many different schools and many different papers which espouse a variety of views and which have their own following. I think we have a more diverse, more sectionalized, more fluid situation without the national leadership that we once had. I think the demographic changes and social changes are going to force us to ask some searching questions in the 90's. Questions about hermeneutics and interpretation are constantly being raised. I think this will bring forward a number of diverse attitudes toward the scripture that we haven't seen in a long time.

Q: The church seems to have more inward concern than outward. Is this a problem?

A: The more we think concerning doing for self and building up self, the less room there is for reaching out. If we reach the conclusion that everybody is spiritually healthy, then there is no reason to evangelize. That is an on-going threat to aggressive world mission ventures. Compromise of truth can neutralize evangelistic effort and result in the use of church resources for personal interests.

Q: What has brought about complacency in the church?

A: Probably a combination of things. I believe that during the Vietnam era there came to be an anti-establishment movement which affected all of us. A new generation came along, and it changed its approach to life. Many of those who were students during the Vietnam era wanted to be of service. They did not care about money, possessions, the "establishment," or tradition. They said, "We want to serve." They majored in sociology and social work and in helping professions. After Vietnam, a reversal of thought occurred among college students. Their attitude was, "If you cannot lick them, join them." Consequently interest in business courses accelerated. Now people are working harder; they have more jobs, but they have less time. The church, on the other hand, has fewer teachers and persons available for local "church "work. That whole era has had an affect on the church. The problem is not necessarily one of complacency, but of time and challenge.

Q: One preacher recently commented that many congregations are in economic bondage. They construct buildings, then have a hard time paying for them. The primary concern then becomes making mortgage payments. This preacher also believes that the same things happen to the family. Their primary concern becomes economic matters. He also believes that the economic condition in the family, sometimes brought on by divorce, will limit the church in having the funds it needs. How do you see this?

A: The potential is there, depending upon the economy. The bigger question is, Will Christians continue to desire building programs as a correct expression of spirituality?

Q: Are we relying more upon our own strength than the power of God to do His work?

A: With the coming of our new age, we learn to rely on technology. For example, man can do things that prolong life, because of new treatment for disease. Many people have come to the point where they feel they can live without God. Listen to the prayers that are prayed in churches: "Lord, we pray for the doctors and nurses that attend to this individual, that the means being used will lead to his recovery ." No question, the Lord works through medicine and technology. And He works through human skills. However, the Christian must be careful lest he becomes like the weatherman who says that "Mother Nature" is going to bring us a little sunshine. In the Old Testament, God was given credit for everything. But in the 20th century, it is nature, skill and technology that gets the credit. That has to affect us in our theology. We, too, may come to trust in our own power rather than in the power of God.

Editor's Note:

Mac Lynn is a leading researcher in the brotherhood concerning church growth. He is also head of the Bible Department at David Lipscomb University. In preparation for this issue I visited brother Lynn and interviewed him concerning his views for the church in the 90's. The following is that interview.