Creative destruction is an act of dying so something new might emerge (Joshua Hayden, Creative Destruction: Towards a Theology of Institutions, 6). But how do we know what needs to die?
Understanding Creative Destruction in the Life of the Church
Central to our faith is the life-death-resurrection motif. The big story of Scripture is meant to spark our imaginations, root our lives, and guide our relationships with one another and the world. For far too long, established churches have individualized that narrative and tried to set their aims on constantly growing, adding programs, and chasing success without asking how they are also dying well.
Creative destruction is not an obliteration of the past or an escape to the future. Creative destruction is a hopeful process in which a church leaps into a new era. Churches can observe how this process has occurred in other contexts, such as the formation of the United States. Many elements of the colonists’ governance, family life, military, and communication came from British tradition, yet they chose to definitively become a new country. Colonies died and a country was born. The printing press was a new way of communication born from oral storytelling that led to individual experiences with a static text that flattened hierarchical institutions of interpretation.
Like Neil Armstrong said when he stepped on the moon, sometimes what feels like
“one small step for a man, [is] one giant leap for mankind” (NASA, “July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap for Mankind”).
That is, there are times when organizations must take a great leap forward after a series of smaller steps. From believing at one point in history that the sun revolved around the earth to watching a man walking on the moon, humans have done both: taken small evolutionary steps in understanding how the universe was ordered and leapt forward in scientific theory to explore new horizons of possibility. Neil Armstrong’s comments on the moon reveal the hope at the heart of creative destruction, which resonates with Paul’s exclamation in 2 Corinthians:
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17 NRSV).
For your church and for followers of Jesus, creative destruction is not mere destruction. It is not the demolition of the old ways of being church with no hope of new life on the other side. It is an intentional process of dying so new ways of being church can emerge. It is a way of intentionally embracing the cross so the new creation can break in. It is a way of living out what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Personal and Organizational Examples of Creative Destruction
It may be helpful to reflect on your life and ways you have personally changed over time, as well as changes you have observed in your own church or organization:
- What habit or practice in your own life has had to die for you to grow or be healthy?
- What program in your church has gone away, allowing something new to emerge?
- What program in your church requires too many resources without helping you create reproducible disciples?
Embracing Creative Destruction for a New Era of Ministry
What are some ways your church can bury existing programming, outdated methods of communication, no-longer-functioning discipleship pathways, or other assets so you might see new life emerge—not only in your church but in your community?
Adapted from Remissioning Church by Josh Hayden. ©2025 Josh Hayden. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press. www.ivpress.com.
InterVarsity Press grants non-exclusive gratis permission for Pastor Resources to post excerpts of up to 800 words each from the titles listed below at the website https://pastorresources.com/ with the following stipulations:
1. This permission is for a term of one year, after which the content may remain posted with the understanding that the content shall be removed from the web site upon the request of InterVarsity Press or the current copyright holder.
2. Grant of use is for a single use only on one specific web page, though a use of less than 200 words as an introduction with a link to the content page is permissible.
3. Non-exclusive permission is granted and is valid for use in the English language only.
4. Any editorial changes in the material granted requires approval by InterVarsity Press.
5. The credit line must appear on the same page as the content (see “Credit Line” column in table below):
6. This permission does not apply to any part or selection of copyrighted matter from other sources that are found in the Work. It is your responsibility to determine the source of material and to get copyright permission for material from other sources.
7. For each title, a link will be provided to the sales page on the IVP website, and these links shall be maintained by Pastor Resources
