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Few people have made as many dramatic shifts in life as George Barna. He's moved from Boston to southern California, from a daily-Mass Catholic to a spokesman for evangelicals, from political pollster to leader of a media empire. Revolution signals another shift. Barna's early books (he's written more than 35) promoted Marketing the Church and The Power of Vision, so many perceived him as an ally of the megachurch. But in Revolution, his support for fluid movements and his direct challenge of a statement often used by Bill Hybels ("The local church is the hope of the world") make him now seem a foe of the congregation.

George Barna and I want the same things: devoted followers of Jesus Christ and an advancing kingdom of God. But we differ on how to get there. Barna feels excited about the Revolution and predicts the decline of the local church. I feel neutral about the Revolution, until we begin to see its fruit, and I don't worry about the local church.

In the 1960s and 1970s, when radical movements attracted young people, many predicted the local church was a goner. But today, long after people's hearts have stopped beating fast for the Moonies and Guru Maharishi, down on the corner, Old First Church is still running a soup kitchen. Out by the freeway, New Community Church is still saving a few souls. And over by the university, Journey Emerging Church is lighting a few candles and giving money to alleviate the suffering of aids.

Do you want to become a Revolutionary? First, trade your copy of Revolution for Life Together, the manifesto written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer during the dark days of Nazi Germany. Then, if you want to do heroic and revolutionary exploits, go back to your local church. That's something so spiritually challenging that several million people no longer want to do it.

Kevin Miller, a deacon at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois, is editor-at-large of Leadership.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

George Barna's book Revolution: Finding Vibrant Faith Beyond the Walls of the Sanctuary is available from Christianbook.com and other book retailers.

Christianity Today's 2002 cover package on Barna includes:

The Third Coming of George Barna | He believes his ten-year campaign to reform the church has failed. What is evangelicals' most-quoted statistician going to do next? (July 26, 2002)

Barna's Beefs | His nine challenges for American Christianity—prophetic words, or sweeping generalizations? (July 26, 2002)

Kevin Miller is author of the Emergent critique Nomo Pomo for our sister publication Leadership, where he is a frequent columnist.

More about Barna is available from The Barna Group.

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January 2006, Vol. 50, No. 1