In his book, Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr wrote about how the church influences the world. He was right, that Jesus asks us—even demands—that we transform the world. However, he set up a false dichotomy between passivism and activism. As if those who do not act in the political manner in which he was used to, then they were not acting at all. Jesus, on the other hand, presented a kind of transformationalism that is not necessarily politically active, but is powerfully active, nevertheless.
He established the following principles:
a. Creating alternative communities
b. Being welcoming to all who desire transformation
c. Gently, patiently influencing without force
d. Attacking the forces behind the evil
1. The church as salt
You are salt—essential for the world. But if you lose the basic qualities that make you important, you cannot regain them. You will be useless, cast out of God’s kingdom and trampled.
You are light—God’s glory and truth in the world. You are the kingdom of God to come, and you cannot be hidden. Nor should you be hidden—God’s glory should be displayed, not hidden. So display the true righteousness of God before everyone, so that people will see your acts of God and so glorify the Father. Matthew 5:13-15
The church is not a building, an organization or a political force. Rather, the church is, according to Jesus, an alternative society, a unique people, a separate nation which lives by God’s law of love. The church, in the form Jesus established it, is a group of people who are living according to Jesus’ principles of love. The church is made up of the outcast of society, engaged in community not to just improve ourselves, but to love all of those in need. And we strive to live out the principles of love found in Jesus’ law—we do not insult, we do good to those who persecute us, we do not look with lust, we keep our promises, we do our religious deeds before God, not for people’s being impressed, we do not judge others, but we are constantly repenting of our sin and forgiving those who repent. And we will strive not to be put in a situation—like the military or addiction to drugs—that will cause us to act in opposition to this way of life.
We will look and act different for all this. The world will see us as strange, as ignorant, as naïve or even as hateful because we will stand with Jesus, no matter what anyone else says or does to try to promote us or to try to oppose us. At times, we will act different from that which the world calls “the church” or “Christianity.” “And this is because a majority of the church is caught up in the ways of the world, and has become a part of the world—focusing on education, on politics, on judging, on intellectualism, on power and the manipulation of it. And so they, the façade church, looks at the church of Jesus, and thinks that they’ve missed the point.
The church of Jesus is a community, not a political party. It doesn’t seek to compromise its ideals so it can fit better into the world. It doesn’t seek to give a message less than the love of Jesus, ever. If it changes it’s ideal of love and mercy and hope in God’s future, then it is no longer the community of Jesus, but a part of the very empire it seeks so hopelessly to transform. The compromised church is in a place to be transformed, not to create transformation.
2. The church as welcoming
Jesus told the disciples another story: "God's utopia is like a mustard seed, a tiny seed compared to most other seeds. But a man took that insignificant thing and planted it in his land and he let it grow. And when it grew up fully, it became a sturdy tree so strong that the birds rested in the branches. Even so, you, my disciples, are insignificant and the least. But when the Father and the Spirit are done with you, you shall be strong enough that the nations of heaven will rest comfortably within you." Matthew 13:31-32
This alternative society of Jesus is not to be a separatist society, but an evangelistic one. In other words, the church doesn’t protect its purity, but opens up its purity to all the world. All are to be welcome to be a part of the church, no matter how corrupt, no matter what they have done in the past, no matter how far from the ideal they are. The great task of the church is welcoming all who desire to be transformed into God’s people, and then to help them to become part of that.
We accept people as they are, but we are not content with who they are. All of us, should we be a part of Jesus, must be transformed into the image of Jesus. This is not something that happens overnight, nor does it happen before conversion. Rather, this is the process we go through that conversion begins. We assist each other, allowing the Spirit to create diamonds out of coal.
Thus, the church does not remain completely separate from the church. Jesus places parts of the church within the world, commanding them to welcome the world into the church. Within the world, the church holds onto its unique purity, a purity based on love of God and neighbor, and opens itself up to be understood by the world. More and more people become a part of this community, embracing Jesus’ ideals.
In this way, the world becomes the church. Individual by individual, family by family, soon tribes and even nations become a part of the community of Jesus’ love. People flock to be a part of the alternative community because it works better than other communities, and it is led by Jesus, our example of patience, faithfulness and endurance.
3. The church will slowly transform society
God's utopia is like a small pinch of yeast which a woman carefully places into four gallons of dough. Then she mixes it all together so that the yeast cannot be seen anymore, yet it has permeated the whole of the flour, so that it has all been transformed. Matthew 13: 33
The church is within the broader society, yet being distinct from it. In that way, the church changes society as a whole. Just in being steadfast to Jesus’ way, to Jesus’ life, we will, step by step, person by person, change the world. We will never—until Jesus’ return—control the world politically. It may look as if the church ran the world in the Middle Ages, but that was not the true church, the church of humility, the church of love, the church of mercy, the church without judgment. That was the façade church. The real church will transform society, not by force, but by lifestyle.
The church speaks to the world in two ways—by gently communicating the truth of Jesus and by living out the life of Jesus. This is the prophetic model of transformation. We are the light, we are to show them the love of Jesus, not just send out tracts. The true church never forces the world to accept the ethics of Jesus. They never manipulate them politically to accept the morality of the Bible. Rather, the church gently tries to change people’s hearts, and sees the world transformed that way.
This is how the Amish influenced society to forgive those who murdered their children. This is how William Wilberforce convinced the British Parliament to abolish slavery. Not by political force or by armies—rather by persistent influence. Yes, this is the long path, but this is the only way we can remain gentle and humble but still influential.
In this way, we can influence despite persecution. If those with clear eyes see that we are not manipulators, not the political strongman, not the philosophy behind the armies, then when we are attacked, we will be seen as those of a pure, loving heart, welcome to all, even our enemies. In this manner did the Anabaptists change the world for freedom of religion—by allowing themselves to be attacked and killed without attacking back.
4. The church is a spiritual army
When a powerful warrior, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder
Luke 11:21-22
And as you go, preach, saying, 'God’s utopia is close at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
Transformation does not have to be instant. Or even within our lifetime. The change of human hearts happens through centuries, not years or even decades. This is why, ultimately, prayer is the greatest tool the church has. Prayer hands over the world to God and His will and to His timing. Prayer is trust in God. And while humanity has control over the world, Satan, more often than not, holds the strings of humanity. And God can restrict and limit Satan’s power.
The more we give over to God’s control, the less power Satan has. The more prayer we offer to those who are enthralled by Satan’s ways of judgment and prejudice, the less control Satan has. Our real enemies are not governments or human at all. Our real enemy is in the spiritual realm and our real tools are prayer and the rejection of Satan’s work.
The question is: can we limit ourselves to these methods? Can we surrender completely to God’s ways and not our own, or the world’s? This requires more faith than the church has had for 1700 years. Can our church do what the church historically could not?
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