The Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelization's (CCCOWE) "Mission Disciples" podcast discusses the insights of futurology for the church. Futurology views the future as a collection of multiple possibilities, allowing for the planning of comprehensive strategies with a clearer perspective. Faced with an unknown future, the Bible challenges believers to consider more significant things beyond immediate needs, including the eternal future.
In the podcast, Rev. Edmund Chan, General Secretary of CCCOWE, interviews Dr. Samuel Wu of the Kingdom Vision Fellowship. Dr. Wu introduces different categories within futurology, such as extended futures, hopeful futures, and possible futures. By simulating four different scenarios, we can better understand what our desired future looks like and how to respond if we are not fully prepared. This clarity helps us strategize more effectively.
The Application of Futurology and the Challenges for the Church
Futurology emphasizes thoroughly understanding the future before planning. This approach does not focus on a single scenario but uses four different perspectives to provide a clearer view of the current situation. After gaining this understanding, planning can begin, rather than creating four separate plans.
When applying futurology within the church, different opinions and challenges may arise. Some may prefer traditional methods, while others embrace new thinking. However, overall, futurology is closely related to Christian faith. The Bible encourages believers to have foresight; for example, Colossians 3:2 urges believers to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Many Bible verses challenge believers to think beyond immediate needs and consider more significant things, including the eternal future.
Augustine's View of the Future
In Matthew 24-25, Jesus talks about the future, particularly in 24:32, where he mentions learning a lesson from the fig tree. Jesus wants us to observe and learn, because without observation, no one knows what is happening. This attitude of observation and preparation is a key aspect of integrating futurology with Christian faith.
Dr. Wu further explains that from a futurology perspective, prediction often assumes only one fixed future, while preparation considers various possibilities. Prediction seeks an answer on a point or line, while preparation explores a variety of possibilities. Futurology's greatest academic contribution lies in addressing the fundamental question of thinking about the future: the future is not a three-stage division of past, present, and future, but a dispersion of possibilities.
The fourth-century theologian Augustine proposed a profound view in his "Confessions." Augustine believed that the future cannot exist because it has not yet happened, and the past cannot exist because it is already gone. Therefore, he suggested that the future is hope, and the past is memory. This perspective transforms the future from an external objective existence to an internal subjective experience, laying the foundation for today's futurology.
The Perspective of Futurology
Futurology no longer sees the future as a linear development of past, present, and future, but as a collection of various possibilities. Futurologists use charts and models to analyze, understand, and simulate these possibilities, predicting potential future scenarios. The English term "Futures" itself is in the plural form, emphasizing the diversity of the future.
Rolling Adjustments and Pandemic Response
Rev. Chan responded by noting that during the pandemic, places like Taiwan adopted a rolling adjustment approach, continuously adjusting policies as the pandemic evolved. This method aligns with the principles of futurology, as it avoids the limitations of a single prediction. When the pandemic broke out, people might have had two extreme views: one believing the pandemic was not severe and merely an overreaction, and the other seeing it as a catastrophe requiring immediate extreme measures. However, as time passed, the pandemic's development revealed the inadequacy of a single prediction. Rolling adjustments allowed policymakers to adapt strategies based on new information and changing circumstances, enabling more flexible responses to the pandemic.
Conclusion
Futurology offers a new perspective, helping us better understand and prepare for the future. By considering various possibilities, we can respond more flexibly to future challenges and changes. This approach aligns with Jesus' teachings in Matthew 25, emphasizing inner preparation and vigilance. Futurology not only contributes academically but also demonstrates its value in practical applications, especially during crises like the pandemic, providing us with a more comprehensive and flexible strategy.
