The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church (J-B Leadership Network Series)

Rex Miller, The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004) Theologian, futurist and communications expert Rex Miller argues that communication eras are the most helpful way of understanding history and today's context. His Millennium Matrix proposes that the way we store and distribute information changes our worldview. He explores the implications of the oral culture of Jesus' time (the birthplace of the liturgical church), the print culture ushered in by Gutenberg's Bible (the birthplace of the Reformation church), the broadcast era of television (home of the celebration church) and the emerging digital culture that is rushing to meet us. Here Miller suggests we will meet the `convergence church', which brings together aspects of previous eras but is also ready to engage with the changes that are inherent in the digital age. In this transition time between broadcast and digital communications, our sense of time, truth, space, identity, spirituality and even art and music is changing. These changes in how we believe, know, live and work have implications that the emerging church is beginning to grapple with. Miller predicts hopefully: `As the digital era dawns, the church will begin to master the new medium. We will develop new skills that enable us to think in multiple media, work collaboratively, organize as distributed networks, affiliate with diverse individuals of common interest, think with both sides of the brain, and define our communities more loosely but also more deliberately as intentional communities' (p.123). Originally reviewed in Darren Cronshaw `The Emerging Church: Spirituality and Worship Reading Guide.' Zadok Papers S159 (Autumn 2008).

The Millennium Matrix is a great work of forward thinking. I had a conference with the author concerning how churches need to look to the future. It was more than helpful, it was extremely inspiring, but we need to be ready to adjust to the technology of the future. Churches who do not will not survive long. Great book with an important message.

Without over-generalizing Rex Miller explains many trends we see around us and helps us consider where they will lead. He helps us understand how we got where we are today in a way that makes me thankful to be alive at this turning point in human history. While it was written with church leaders in mind, thinkers and leaders of all organizations will benefit from this timely work.

Rex Miller's excellent work reminds us that we are living in an age of extra-ordinary change. His work points to the challenges we face: what will we salvage from the past (in order to stay grounded in those things which are timeless) and what changes will we embrace (so that the church does not become irrelevant). Every pastor who is willing to re-assess the effectiveness of his or her church should spend a few days with this book, and then spend a few years working out its implications. Miller asks us to forego programs and methods and think for ourselves--how refreshing!

This is just an amazing book. It challenged me to think about the church in ways I never had before. Miller does a great job of showing the forces that have brought us to where we are today, and he has a vision for what the church must become in the future. It is a must read.