“Changing our Culture”

Written by: Marjory Morrow

It is said that around 98% of people follow the prevailing culture and only 2% actually shape it. That is a sobering statement. However, if you could be one of that 2% then the statement becomes full of hope and possibility.

As the people of God we are divinely empowered to be the culture shapers of our day, but too often we have just become discouraged as our culture continues to drift further away from what we long for.

There are many ways a culture is shaped, but it is evident that the overriding characteristics all culture shapers have are influence, passion, determination and focus. Think of William Wilberforce, who stood up against the prevailing culture of his day. He was a man whose passion, determination and focus were without question. He refused to give up, to water down his message or to be swayed by criticism. Eventually, after many long years, his voice was heard and his influence became far reaching, not just in his day but in the future generations.

You may not have the position that William Wilberforce had but you do have influence somewhere. Whether it is in your home, your workplace, your local school or your neighbourhood, your voice can be heard and can make a difference, maybe even change the culture! Too often we as Christians have thought that we just needed to become ‘culturally relevant’ to reach people, instead of realizing that we really need to become something that the culture around us stands up and takes notice of. Our call is to ‘arise and shine’, to be the ‘city set on a hill’ and the ‘light of the world’.

In Acts chapter 8 we read of Phillip in the city of Samaria proclaiming Christ, and we are told that ‘when the crowds heard Phillip and saw the miraculous signs he did they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in the city‘.

Phillip influenced a whole city, but it wasn’t until he first demonstrated the power and love of God
through his life. People are unlikely to listen to us if they don’t see something loving and powerful about our lives. But if they do then they will ‘pay close attention’ to what we say and the likely result will be healing, deliverance and much joy. We can also see that Phillip certainly had all the characteristics of a culture shaper. Just prior to going to Samaria we are told that the church had endured a great persecution which caused them to scatter, they had suffered the loss of one of their key leaders, Stephen, and were under the constant threat of that ‘destroyer of the church’, the dreaded Saul. Valid reasons to make you lose your focus, passion and determination! Yet Phillip refused to be discouraged and used the difficult circumstances to propel him into the purposes of God for a whole city.

Wouldn’t you like to influence your neighbourhood or your city, maybe even your nation? Both
individually and as the united body of Christ we can. The Kingdom is within us, it is at hand and the culture around us is ready for an injection of something new, something that tastes so good that all other appetites will be destroyed. The culture we bring is the culture of the Kingdom of God, which is ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ – and it just doesn’t get any better than that!