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A Story, Metaphor, and a Matrix for the Truly Rural Church That Grows Christ Followers in an Uncertain Future Lon Hider [email protected]

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A Story, Metaphor, and a Matrix for the Truly Rural Church That Grows Christ Followers in an Uncertain Future Lon Hider Lhider16@Georgefox.Edu Masthead Logo Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-1-2019 A Story, Metaphor, and a Matrix for the Truly Rural Church That Grows Christ Followers in an Uncertain Future Lon Hider [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Hider, Lon, "A Story, Metaphor, and a Matrix for the Truly Rural Church That Grows Christ Followers in an Uncertain Future" (2019). Doctor of Ministry. 314. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/314 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY A STORY, METAPHOR, AND A MATRIX FOR THE TRULY RURAL CHURCH THAT GROWS CHRIST FOLLOWERS IN AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY LON HIDER PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2019 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Lon Hider has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on March 1, 2019 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Tim Dolan, DMin Secondary Advisor: Allen Wachter, DMin Lead Mentor: Leonard I. Sweet, PhD Copyright © 2019 by Lon Hider All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this to my EPIC group. You know who you are. Twelve years of people growing together in difficult circumstances inside and outside the church. It is a bit of cliché, but the following applies to us: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way… This sounds like life in the paradoxical Kingdom of God. And it reminds me of the words of Paul: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Thanks for always showing up and staying in conversation when others could not bear to listen or take the trip. A teacher is dead without hungry souls, challenges, and curious minds. You kept me coming back for more, and we learned together. I treasure our bonds of friendships. iv CONTENTS DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER ONE: STANDING INSIDE A TRULY RURAL CHURCH ......................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2 The Focus of My Research ........................................................................................ 6 The Meaning of TRC ................................................................................................. 8 A Brief History .......................................................................................................... 9 Church Dynamics .................................................................................................... 10 The Prognosis .......................................................................................................... 13 Why It Matters......................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO: SITTING IN THE ISSUES OF A TRULY RURAL CHURCH ........ 19 The Nones and the Dones ........................................................................................ 20 Millennials .............................................................................................................. 24 Five Trends.............................................................................................................. 27 Urbanization ............................................................................................... 29 Globalization .............................................................................................. 30 Secularization ............................................................................................. 33 Technology ................................................................................................. 41 Amenityism ................................................................................................ 45 A Fading World of Influence ................................................................................... 46 Evangelical Malaise ................................................................................................. 48 TRCs, an Uncertain Future ...................................................................................... 49 v CHAPTER THREE: OPENING THE TRULY RURAL CHURCH TO THE GAZE OF SCRIPTURE ........................................................................................................... 51 Asking the Right Question ....................................................................................... 52 Missing the Biblical Narrative ................................................................................. 60 Cultural Christianity ................................................................................................ 64 A Circular View of Time ......................................................................................... 66 The Dominance of Tradition .................................................................................... 72 The Demise of Self Reflection ................................................................................. 74 The Possession of Creation ...................................................................................... 80 Theological Misgivings ........................................................................................... 83 CHAPTER FOUR TESTING SOLUTIONS FOR A TRULY RURAL CHURCH ......... 84 TRC Approaches ..................................................................................................... 85 Get Them Involved .................................................................................................. 85 Be More Relevant .................................................................................................... 86 Indoctrination .......................................................................................................... 88 Multisites ................................................................................................................. 89 Just Wait .................................................................................................................. 92 Revivalism .............................................................................................................. 93 TRC Scenarios ......................................................................................................... 94 A Good Death.......................................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER FIVE: DEVELOPING A MODEL FOR THE TRULY RURAL CHURCH 99 A Kingdom Heartbeat ............................................................................................ 100 The Operating System ........................................................................................... 102 The Plausibility Structure ...................................................................................... 109 Leadership ............................................................................................................. 110 vi Brain Science......................................................................................................... 115 Deconstruction....................................................................................................... 118 Cultural Appropriation ........................................................................................... 120 Church Metaphors ................................................................................................. 121 EPIC ...................................................................................................................... 132 Learning Community ............................................................................................. 134 Analog Experience ................................................................................................ 140 Life Together ......................................................................................................... 142
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