Seven Steps to Societal Transformation

Seven Steps to Societal Transformation
By Joseph Mattera www.josephmattera.org

For the church to obey the Cultural Commission of influencing every realm of culture as salt and light (Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 5:13-16) it is essential that believers learn how to think biblically and articulate biblical principles in the language of contemporary hearers.

All the biblical covenants point to believers taking the lead in secular society and redeeming cultures for the kingdom and glory of God.

From Genesis 1:28, 3:15, 12:1-3, 17:1-5, 22:17; Deuteronomy 28:10-13; Psalm 2 and 110, and consummating in Revelation 21:1-3 and Isaiah 65:17-25 we see the word of God pointing us to actual engagement, penetration, and transformation of society for Christ.

Jesus called Himself the King of Kings (Rev. 19:16), and called His followers the “ecclesia” which is the equivalent of assembling together to rule in Greco/Roman culture (Matthew 16:18-19). Jesus also told us to disciple whole nations (Matthew 28:19).

The following are steps we must take to accomplish this for the purpose of societal transformation:

I. We need to have a biblical worldview for every realm of contemporary life

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) we need to learn how to think God’s thoughts after him. In other words, our thoughts should be derivative of Father God’s word and not merely our own subjective autonomous opinions.

When we fully explore what the Bible says and agree with its general principles regarding history, law, psychology, education, religion, politics, economics, family, and science then we can have a biblical worldview that serves as our lens to interpret all the data we inhale.

Unfortunately, most Christians don’t have a biblical worldview but only a cursory knowledge of pet Bible verses they recite for physical and emotional health. This limited, fragmented knowledge of Scripture has resulted in believers acquiescing to secular humanistic views in all practical matters dealing with the stewardship of the earth. This leaves the church relegated to dealing only with matters of religion and spirituality. Consequently, although we have an abundance of Christians serving in secular society and record numbers of people attending Sunday church services our culture continues to reflect a humanistic worldview which brings us to the next step.

II. We need Christian thinking not just more Christians in societal leadership

Everywhere I go in society I meet an abundance of Christians serving in public schools, universities, hospitals, politics, businesses, and so on. With so many Christians already placed in influential positions in this nation, we need to recognize that the major challenge we face in regards to experiencing a biblical reformation is not a lack of Christians but a lack of Christian thinking in all these prominent realms.

We have to realize that the Bible is not just a book of promises, pithy sayings and moral commandments but a blueprint for how to manage and disciple whole nations (Matthew 28:19)! God has something to say regarding economics, how to aid the poor, health care, immigration, politics, science, history, etc.

Even when our nation experienced revival in certain places there was never long lasting effects regarding law and politics because Christians without a biblical worldview are only ready to go to heaven but do not know how to fulfill the Lord’s prayer of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2).

III. The church needs to speak the language of Babylon

After gaining a biblical worldview, believers need to speak the language of the culture they are in. Every discipline in life has its own subculture with its own nomenclature (vocabulary describing nuances in each discipline).

For example, in the same way football utilizes words associated with their game like “touchdown” the disciplines of political science, economics, sociology, education, and non-profit charities all have terminologies we must master if we want to speak prophetically and connect with each disciplines’ mind molders. A methodology that involves quoting Bible passages and preaching at high-end influencers doesn’t usually work unless someone is in a personal crisis and is open to the gospel.

Consequently, believers already successfully immersed in a particular discipline then need to think through the biblical concepts that apply to their field of work and articulate them in secular terms that unchurched people can connect with. Since the Bible has the best ideas because it reflects God’s thinking mature believers who do this skillfully can expect to be elevated to the highest places of prominence in their respective fields.

Furthermore, pastors and leaders who want to reach the unchurched in their communities not only need to continually study their changing community demographic and provide social services people need to be healthy, but they also need to adequately represent themselves when making announcements from the pulpit. Pastors need to lose some of the unnecessary religious jargon that the average attendee cannot understand or connect with.

(When speaking in public or preaching sometimes every other word out of the mouth of some pastors is “amen” or “praise the Lord” or “Hallelujah”. This turns off the unchurched because they think that part of the salvation package is adopting a weird religious nomenclature that doesn’t mesh with their present lifestyle. This is an unnecessary stumbling block which can be removed if church leaders can learn how to streamline religious lingo and talk as normal as they do when in the workplace environment.)

IV. Christian parents need to prepare their children for leadership not followership

This step in the process needs to be done concurrently throughout all of these steps. Thus I don’t really know where to place it in this article. Having a multi-generational plan of training our children to be Christian thinkers and practitioners is the most important calling a parent and church has! Unfortunately, most Christian parents rarely take time to pray and teach their children the Bible. Even when they do, it is not enough to nurture them to be world-class leaders. To nurture world-changers, as a general rule, young children between 3-10 years old should be immersed in scripture memorization. Once children are in middle school and preparing for high school parents and churches need to begin to teach their children how to understand and apply their scripture knowledge in regards to evolution, history, education, government, and business. They should also encourage them to excel in school and to attend the best universities and colleges available. In this way, we are not just teaching our children how not to backslide but how to take the lead in culture and society.

The Bible teaches that we need to have an intergenerational approach in which we catechize our biological and spiritual children with the slogan to think biblically and speak secularly so they will always be trained to apply the Bible to everyday life. By doing this we will nurture the greatest leaders the world has ever seen, just as the church of old did with the greatest artists, scientists, writers, politicians, and educators that transformed Europe and North America! Up until the mid 1800’s the church not only cared for the down and out but also nurtured the “up and in” cultural elites that became the mind molders that influenced culture. Nowadays, instead of starting world class universities like Harvard or Yale the church shuns higher education and encourages emerging leaders merely to attend their little Bible institutes! As long as we are afraid of higher education we will never ascend to the head of culture. It is time for believers to become the cultural elites of society so that we can lead our communities with wisdom and justice!

V. When we welcome unbelievers into our church communities even before they accept Christ as Lord and Savior

Churches that think biblically but speak secularly are in the habit of embracing their community even before they accept Jesus Christ as Lord! Instead of getting the community to come into the church we need to send church members out to our communities as servant leaders. The church can become a hotbed of community activity in which those outside the church believe that the church building is now their community center for a wealth of information, resources, and even community board meetings. In this way, the people on the outside of the church will feel comfortable with the people in the church and will be more inclined to step inside the sanctuary for a Sunday service.

VI. When we produce problem solvers for the greatest global challenges

I believe the time has arrived when the world will come to pastors and believers for advice and answers on how to deal with the pressing problems they are facing in their communities. The church should not only produce the greatest prayer warriors and worshippers the world has ever seen but it should also produce the greatest thinkers, entrepreneurs, and strategists the world has ever seen. Presently the world is waiting for a person to articulate answers regarding our failing economy, global tensions between Iran and the rest of the free world, a cure for cancer, a cure for AIDS, environmental issues, and disaster relief strategies. Why can’t it be people representing the Kingdom of God who come up with these solutions?

VII. When we increase the quality of life by bringing community transformation

Talk is cheap. The world doesn’t need another book about the dire problems we have in our cities. We need people to produce lasting change that will greatly benefit the quality of life who will then write books and teach us. I am sick of hearing people prophesying and preaching about reformation. God is looking for churches and people to at least create a community model others can look to for replication in their own cities.

Our Relevant Biblical Model and Application

Following are twelve immersion principles to transform a secular society. (These principles are based on the life of Daniel. Note that we have no record of Daniel ever preaching against a king or preaching against witchcraft.)

1. God allowed the Jews with the highest leadership potential to be chosen and set apart (Daniel 1:4).

Notice their qualifications: Good appearance, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom (biblical worldview, not just fragmentary knowledge), endowed with wisdom and understanding, and the ability to serve in the king’s court as his advisors, the highest political positions.

2. Daniel and his friends were trained in higher education to be placed as the heads of societal positions (Daniel 1:5).

3. Daniel and his friends were trained in all the literature and language of the Chaldeans (Daniel 1:4).

Effective biblical worldview thinking means knowing and understanding popular and contemporary literature so the Bible can be applied skillfully to it. Daniel and his friends were trained to speak the language of Babylon.

4. Daniel allowed himself to be renamed (Daniel 1:7).

Effective Christians don’t walk around looking like Christians; they fully identify and acclimate themselves to their surrounding culture.

Paul said that his method of soul winning included becoming all things to all people that he may win some (1 Corinthians 9).

We are called to be sheep in wolves clothing in certain aspects of our calling. We don’t have look or talk religiously to act godly in regards to fulfilling the Cultural Mandate and Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.

5. Daniel didn’t compromise his faith or his internal identity (Daniel 1:8).

When Jesus became a human He limited Himself to our humanly attributes without ever compromising His divinity and holiness.

6. Daniel and his friends trusted God to grant favor and lift them up every step of the way in their journey into prominent positions of influence (Daniel 1:9, 20; 2:48).

7. Daniel seized every opportunity presented him to personally minister to those in influence (Daniel 2:16, 47; 4:4-8).

8. Daniel and his friends lived as exiles in a foreign world (Daniel 1:1).

Daniel and his friends lived in the place God called them to influence. God loved the Babylonians so much he allowed His people to be taken captive and live in their land so that His word could transform the empire.

9. Daniel knew that the Kingdom of God and Lordship of Christ was his ultimate goal (Daniel 7:13-14).

Some believers and churches only do community development projects but never connect the folks they help to the gospel. While I believe in cultural presence I also believe we need to intentionally share the gospel at some point as God gives the opportunity.

10. Daniel never compromised his integrity by serving for earthly rewards (Daniel 5:17).

11. Daniel fasted and prayed for the Kingdom of God to be restored to his nation (9:2-3; 10:2-3).

12. In everything Daniel did he had a spirit of excellence (Daniel 5:10-12; 6:3).

THE CHURCH OF TOMORROW

THE CHURCH of TOMORROW
-by Andrew Strom.

A lot of people probably read some of our writings and wonder,
"Where is all this headed? What is the goal?" A glib answer might
be- "We want to get back to real 'New Testament' Christianity."
But what exactly does that look like?

This is an important topic - and something I have pondered a great
deal over the years. What exactly would the 'New Testament Church'
look like if it was translated into a modern western city?

To get started, I want you to forget about today's church just for a
moment - with all her obvious problems and contradictions, and
picture something quite different. I want you to imagine that you
are still living in the same city, in the same year, but you are right
in the middle of a 'Book of Acts'-type scenario. Somehow everything
has changed.

For some reason, all of the Spirit-filled Christians in your city have
left their Denominations and divisions behind. They have truly begun
to fulfill the prayer of Jesus - "That they all may be ONE". They now
hold huge gatherings all over the city - right out in the open. And as
well as these united gatherings, on most streets there is now a
house-meeting, where all the Spirit-filled believers from that street
gather together, eating and sharing and having communion, etc.
(ie. A "NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH"). The power of God flowing in
these house-meetings is amazing. Many healings and miracles
are occurring. The 'gifts' flow freely every day.

It seems also that many of the church buildings and cathedrals have
simply been abandoned. No longer do Christians want to hide them-
selves away behind "four walls". They want to gather out where the
people are - presenting Jesus to the whole world. They want to be
truly "one body". There is no way that any of their old buildings
could contain the crowds, anyhow.

And the men whom God has raised up to lead this vast movement
do not seem much like the 'Reverends' or even the 'televangelists'
of old. In fact, quite a few of them have never even been to Bible
College, and they seem to be very plain, ordinary people from
humble backgrounds. But what an anointing! It is very clear to
everyone that these 'apostles and prophets' (as they are known)
have spent many years in prayer and brokenness before God -
drawing closer and closer to Him. When they speak, the very fear
of the Lord seems to come down, and many people repent deeply
of their sins. Demons are cast out and the blind and crippled are
made whole. -These kinds of things are happening all the time.
The whole city is just in awe of what is going on, and thousands
upon thousands are being saved. Even the newspapers and
television are full of it.

As soon as someone repents they are immediately baptized in
water and hands are laid on them for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
-This is expected from day one! And it is also expected that every
Christian has a gift and calling from God - and that they should be
encouraged to move forward and fulfill their calling. No longer is
there a distinction made between those who are "ministers" and
those who are merely 'laity'. Now it is expected that EVERYONE
is a minister of the Lord! (However, there are 'elders' - ie. older
Christians to guide things).

Some of the bishops and pastors from several denominations have
actually denounced this great move of God very strongly. They say
it is "deception" and warn their people to stay away. (-Every Revival
in history has been accused of this - usually by religious leaders).
But to be honest, it is so obvious to most people that God is the
one behind it all, that very few take these men seriously. The Spirit
of God is sweeping all before Him. The glory of the Lord has come.

One of the reasons that these leaders are so upset is that a lot of
the Christians' GIVING now does not go to church buildings, but
rather to the POOR. In fact, God has spoken to many people to
start supporting widows and orphans overseas, etc. They also give
generously to anyone in their midst who is in need. Many even sell
their own possessions in order to do this.

The huge over-riding theme of this great movement is LOVE.
"Behold how they love one another" is the catch-cry of many who
watch this 'new church' in action. And everyone is given to MUCH PRAYER.

And so, gathering "as one" in the outdoors and breaking bread from
house to house, they eat together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
adds to their number daily those who are being saved.

CAN This REALLY HAPPEN?

The above description is taken straight out of the Book of Acts - as
applied to today. Everything in the above paragraphs is put there to
give you an idea of what it would be like to live in the Jerusalem
church at the start of Acts. -And it was like that for YEARS. Imagine
the impact of such a church on the world around it! God is wanting
to do this again. And He wants to use ordinary people like you and
me to help bring it to pass.

I am convinced that we are NOT supposed to treat the early church
as a "special case". It was given to us as an 'example'. It is what
the "normal" church should be like all the time! And yet we have
fallen so far below this standard. Only in times of Revival do we
approach it again for a time. But I believe it is supposed to be
"normal" for the church to be like this - day in and day out. This
is the way that Jesus always wanted us to be.

However, one thing is clear. It will take a great "SHAKING" for us
to get anywhere close to the above description today. You have to
be aware that in order to get there from here, a whole lot of
'hierarchies' and church boards and careers and titles and positions
would be on the line. And a lot of men simply don't want to lose
those things. It doesn't matter to them whether it is Truth or not. If
it affects their reputation, their position or their organization, they
will oppose it with everything they have.

Sadly it is very difficult to see a "smooth" transition to this kind of
Christianity. I believe we are in for a shaky ride. But I certainly
believe that it is on God's agenda. And like the Great Reformation
before it, I believe He will do WHATEVER IT TAKES in order to
get us there.

Here's to true 'NEW TESTAMENT' Christianity, my friends - the
kind that Jesus and the apostles actually invented in the beginning.

Let us settle for nothing less - WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Please send feedback to- prophetic@revivalschool.com

God bless you all.

Andrew Strom.