We have determined to “publish” this writing project one chapter at a time for three reasons. First, to get the message out sooner. Second, to get it out while it is still relatively fresh in my mind. Third, to elicit feedback for a better product. So, we ask with all sincerity and humility, please bless us with your thoughts, questions, concerns, and/or suggestions, at rob@inlightconsulting.com, or through comments in the platform on which you discovered the article.

God has allowed the storms, chaos, and crises of this decade to force a decision on all those who claim to be followers of His Son. His tolerance for those loitering around at the fork of Romans 12:2 – or if you prefer, the gate of Luke 13:23-25 – is coming to an end.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

The world is the second most dangerous enemy to Christians, and to the church of Jesus Christ. Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). The time has come for us to stop ignoring this warning, repent, and choose the road of transformation by the renewing of our minds.

Those who refuse the warning will not know the will of God for this season of chaos and storms. They will not know His will for the new forms of the church His Son is building. They will not know His will for the prodigal and lost souls assigned to their concern and care. We have come to this fork in the road and we must choose one path or the other; loitering is no longer an option.

One does not have to know the day and the hour to discern the season of the Lord’s return. It seems the falling away has already begun, restraints on the lawless one are being removed, and you do not have to agree with this outlook to realize all our days are numbered.

Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord!
How long?
And have compassion on Your servants. Psalm 90:11-13

Therefore, the purposes of this writing project and video channel are to:

1. Expose the world as every Christian’s 2^nd most dangerous enemy, particularly in our conformity to it.
2. Present the Christian faith as God’s solution to the Metacrisis, both in and through the church.
3. Provide and reference exercises, practices, and disciplines that will facilitate our transformation by the renewing of our minds.

The historical journey and context

When we began inLight Consulting nearly 20 years ago, our heart’s desire was to “help Christian leaders find joyful, Spirit-filled ministry in the workplace” through the process of transformation.

Our first book, The Map Maker, provided the framework for that process, along with 21 “maps” of biblical truth for navigation through it. The key contextual point is God’s focus on transformation and His use of chaos and crisis as transformational catalysts and tools.

In 2015, a book entitled The Harbinger (by Jonathan Kahn) captivated a group of brothers in my church, leading us to begin discussing how we might prep for the potential economic storm. We quickly learned that spiritual preparation was more necessary that the physical kind. From that, a small eBook, The Storm is Coming, was produced. Looking back, it is easy to see our discussions as preparation for what was to come.

In 2020, the Lord directed my attention to the affects our carnal mind was having on the faith community. We wrote An Enemy Lies Within to expose the carnal mind as our #1 enemy and show how the process of faith helped Christians lead with their hearts, rather than their heads. It is our carnal mind which invites the world’s influence and supports our conformity.

On the heels of An Enemy Lies Within, I discovered a book by geopolitical analyst George Friedman (2020) entitled The Storm Before the Calm. In it, Mr. Friedman explained the convergence of Institutional and Socio-economic cycles in the 2020s, which would make them the most storm-ridden and chaotic decade anyone alive would experience in their lifetimes. It seemed the storm anticipated in 2015 was arriving later than expected as a series of storms and what has been coined the Metacrisis.

In response, we expanded The Storm is Coming to The Storms Have Only Just Begun, warning and encouraging Christians to inspect their spiritual foundations, restore the substandard parts, and become houses of refuge, encouragement, and wisdom for those whose houses will fall. Now five years into the decade of storms, we humbly note the prophetic message and application of the book.

Nearly two years ago, the Lord turned my attention back to the enemies of His church; this time highlighting the world as enemy #2. As I began research for the book, the writing project sort of blew up on me, also becoming a set of ministry focuses toward practical ways to navigate the storms and prepare – up to the community level – for the new form of church that will come out of this transition period between cycles, and the generations that must lead its design and function. Much of that is in process, along with the “publication” of our research.

Our research has produced at least four critical discoveries:

1. The delusion of Western Society brought on by the Enlightenment, Modernity, and the Information Technology Age.
2. The existence and enormity of the Metacrisis, and the opportunity it presented for the church to once again become the source of meaning and solution for society’s pain and disorders.
3. Shifts in the cognitive sciences toward the importance of religion and relationship for human health and flourishing.
4. The growing evidence of old institutional forms collapsing – including that of the Western church, and the hope of transformation and renewal.

As we delve deeper into the meaning and impact of these discoveries, I believe the Lord will use this project to transform us by renewing our minds (i.e., change the way we think), in order to maximize potential kingdom impact in this chaotic period of transition – to ensure transition becomes transformation, first for the church and then, through the church, for society.

Secondly, I believe He will use these new discoveries to reawaken our wonder for the reality and workings of His kingdom. And our research is ongoing. One reason we are “publishing” in this manner is to get currently available information, warnings, and potential solutions into the public square as soon as reasonably possible, with the hope that collective intelligence and wisdom will continue to inform, warn, and guide those called to lead us through the Metacrisis.

The way we are planning to accomplish this endeavor:

1. By laying a foundation of related biblical truth.
2. By describing the problem in biblical and scientifically supporting ways.
3. By presenting the Christian faith as God’s solution to the Metacrisis.
4. By providing and referencing exercises, practices, and disciplines which will catalyze and sustain individual transformation and the transformation of our spheres of influence.

In the spirit of God doing a new thing, we are “publishing” our research in an unorthodox way. Rather than writing until the book is done, we will be making it available as it is written, accompanying each chapter with a video summary. We ask with all sincerity and humility, please bless us with your thoughts, questions, concerns, and/or suggestions, at rob@inlightconsulting.com, or through comments in the platform on which you discovered our research.

Now, about that title – A Christian Response to the Metacrisis.

First, we are not so naïve to imagine this would be “The Christian Response to the Metacrisis. By the end of this crisis-filled decade there will be enough Christian responses to fill a large bookcase. In fact, much of our research is based on existing resources – both written and podcasted.

On the other hand, “A Christian’s Response (possessive)” was considered and rejected as too narrow. This project extends beyond one man’s understanding, discernment, and wisdom. As the reader will discover, our research has been broader and deeper than any other we have attempted. In fact, I am having a hard time managing it all.

Metacrisis is a complex concept, perhaps new to many. The word has been coined to give attention to the bounded relationships that exist between the many crises humanity faces during this period of transition between cycles, where failure or success in one has a negative or positive effect on one or more of the others. Recognizing that one crisis may be of greater concern than another (and that depending on the person or persons affected), here is a list of regularly identified crises:

• Meaning
• Hope
• Attention
• Population (or birthrate)
• Loneliness
• Productivity
• Border (or immigration)
• Addition
• Morality
• Conformity
• Leadership
• Institutional
• Ecological
• Financial

From a Christian perspective, the Metacrisis represents the cumulative effect of mankind’s rebellion during the Enlightenment, Modernity, and the Information Technology Age. Regrettably, the church’s conformity with the world has left it equally vulnerable to the Metacrisis. To be God’s instrument of salt and light to the world, we must first get over our own deluded state.

An encouragement for Christian leaders in the workplace

Business as Mission (M. Baer, 2006), a standard in the workplace ministry field, includes a chapter entitled, “Is Love Possible in Business?” That we must answer the question speaks volumes. Most people spend most of their waking hours in the business community – they have more community in the workplace than anywhere else.

Indeed, God has not given the business community over to His enemies. He has positioned and authorized leaders in the workplace to be transformation agents for His Son’s church, and for the world. They are not there to simply make money to give some of it to church ministry programs.

Business leaders and their workplaces are the program; they are the church. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Business leaders are one of the two most influential forces in our communities (government leaders being the other).

While it represents an incredible challenge, Christian business leaders must learn (i.e., be discipled) to think differently than the world. They must be encouraged to push back against secular humanistic thinking in the workplace. Romans 12:2 presents a fork in the road in this regard.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Encouragement to begin

With God, there is hope. As deception has grown, so too has the love of the truth (2Thessalonians 2:10). Indeed, more and more Christians are thinking christianly.

Let us also, right now, commit ourselves to God’s side in the ideological battle of our day. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!!

Please, please, please, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, prayerfully consider your personal repentance, and your role in the repentance of family, fellowship, and community. For those of you in leadership, be encouraged in the privilege of your calling: God has created, saved, and positioned you to impact the church and the world.

May we all remember: God used Gideon (from the smallest clan in the smallest tribe), a bunch of fishermen, a tax collector, and millions of no-name, no-fame – but faithful – people to set things right and to turn the world upside-down.

Begin with yourself, and pursue the desire God has put in your heart. He will use you in a good and glorifying work.

God bless you with courage and wisdom for His restorative work in the storms, chaos, and crises which are heading our way.

Have a strong day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen

Baer, M. (2006). Business as Mission. YWAM Publishing; Seattle, WA.

Friedman, G. (2020). The Storm Before the Calm. Doubleday; New York.