A recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine ran a plethora of articles by cultural thinkers and icons and their thoughts about the future. One that reached out and grabbed me the most was a short treatise by hugely successful rap artist, Kayne West.

He characterized himself the following way, “I’m optimistic about everything. I go anywhere from optimistic to borderline delusional.” Pretty surprising from someone from the music genre that is usually characterized as music of the victim.

I’d like to meet this guy.

He has had millions of copies of his songs ripped off on the internet and says there has to be a lot of good to be found in that too. He hopes the volume of music penetration that is happening even in theft will help him fill stadiums.

The most enticing of his thoughts are that he seeks to be a “designer” of culture not just a music developer. He seeks to be two to four steps ahead in his design work. He (which warmed my heart) puts forth Bob Dylan as the premium model of someone who jumps ahead and designs culture rather than reflecting it.

I think this applies to church work too. We can either perform church. Or, we can design church a few steps ahead. I think it is possible for a church to continue designing ahead of real time rather than reflect a moment in time that has passed on. But it means being willing to look ahead and see the new painting methods needed to paint the picture of the Gospel.