The Church is not supposed to be a hard-nosed and controlling presence in culture. We have been assigned a ministry of influence. The Lord has used that influence to effect change in the various spheres of culture across time to change the world.
In 1972, Billy Graham said during the Expo 72 gathering, “True faith must be applied to the social problems of our world.” The same holds today. Rejecting the transforming power of God’s truth is to neglect the possibility of cultural reformation, leaving a nation alone in its descent into desperation.
The late Loren Cunningham faithfully led YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and founded the University of the Nations in Hawaii. He based the University mission on engaging the different spheres of cultural influence that would equip the students to bring the transforming power of the Gospel into those spheres by the influence of their faith in Christ.
On a flight with a previous President of the Foursquare Church, Dr. John Holland, and his Missions Director, Roy Hicks, Jr., we discussed leadership. It was agreed that the most effective leaders were those who led by influence, not through force or coercion.
The subject of reformation has been maligned by those who do not understand how the Spirit works in the transformation of a culture. Others discredit reformation because they have allowed snippets from social media to dismiss what a reformation should look like without a deeper and less biased interpretation.
In Ephesians 4, Paul wrote about the five equipping gifts of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. The evidence of the Godly influence of those gifts would be revealed when their followers have been equipped to speak the truth in love and allow that truth to have its way under the direction of the Spirit, not human agendas. Allowing the influence of the Spirit to lead us in our sphere of influence makes us an active influencer both in the Church and within the nation where we live. The resulting change may not be rapid, but it will release elements of an enduring change that will eventually steer each sphere of cultural influence toward a Godly conclusion.
Each of us has a place of influence where we live and work. Don’t dismiss the magnitude of your influence. From wherever we have been placed by the Lord in our culture, great potential for change awaits us. Even the smallest of conversations or the simplest acts of love will reverberate through that sphere and awaken people to something more.
Amen.
In the story of the Minas, the Master declared that ruling Cities was his joy, and invited the faithful servant to “enter into the joy of your Lord – – take the leadership of these 10 cities.”
Even in the New Heavens and Earth, there are nations and Kings who bring their glory into the new City. May we prove faithful in using our gifts, mantles and callings to bring about His ends in our day!