Luke 22:24-34
I recently read some articles by Christians whose primary objective was to change the world. In these impressive articles they had borrowed from the best of sociology to demonstrate that the world has not been, nor would it ever be, changed by good theology and sincerity. The world is changed rather by the elite of society – the cultural icons whose ideas find their way into the main stream, effecting group thought and ultimately the behavior that shapes the world. I found the articles intellectually compelling. At another level, I found them deeply troubling.
Their point was that in the two millennium they have been applied, the “piety” and “prayers” of believers have not yet changed the world and that it is not likely that they ever will. The authors emphasized that this experiment has yielded very marginal results so far. It wasn’t said outright but the article implied that continuing on this course might be a form of insanity. (I wonder if the authors bothered to imagine what the world would look like without Christianity?)
Another stream within the church which also aspirires to change the world has made the same observation; that atop seven particular arenas of human affairs dwell the “mind-molders” – those who ultimately shape the world. It is implied within both of these streams that if Christians want to change the world, they need to set their sites on the summit and begin their ascent. I am not in disagreement but I am troubled because of the absence of something in their strategic thinking…..
Let him who is greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant…..I am among you as the one who serves.”
This passage teaches that those with aspirations to climb, even at low altitude may already be hampered by the unclear thinking that normally occurs in the thinner air at the summit.
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be the greatest.
I can almost hear the rebuttal of the world-changers, “But we have a mandate to climb. We won’t succumb to the same pride and pettiness as Jesus’ disciples”. Really?
Peter was giving similar rebuttal to Jesus as Jesus was trying to give Peter insight about his case of low-altitude delusion and the vested interest Satan had in his demise. Peter’s attitude of heart was, “No. You don’t understand. I really can do this!”
Lord with You I am ready to go to both prison and to death!
We know what happened next. Peter had to be broken before he could lead. He had to discover that he had grossly misjudged himself. Can you imagine the painful awakening that began for Peter when the cock crowed three times? This was both Peter’s lowest point and the starting place of his revival and his ascent to a high place of leadership in the early church.
I am not really sure which stream of Christian thought I am in these days but as I watch the currents swirling around me (often flowing without consideration of brokenness) I wonder if they are not dreaming that water flows uphill. Can one really lead without being broken? What are the losses within the body of Christ and to the Kingdom of God created by leaders who are unbroken?
One last question. Where in the scriptures did Jesus give us a mandate to change the world? Ok, I suppose it is implied in the original garden mandate to take dominion over the earth. But, does that original mandate today equate to setting our individual and corpoarete sights on the summits of these various mountains of influence? WWJD?
Well…I feel confident God is going to work this out somehow without my scaling the K2 of the Business Mountain. I don’t believe the point of this passage, or the scriptures, is about changing the world (at least not directly). It is about the building of God’s kingdom by those who have (and will) stand by Him in His trials who I suspect will be broken in the process – equipping them to serve and then to ascend.
“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you (the kingdom).”
There are “little-t” truths and “big T” Truths. Changing the world falls into the “little t” category of missions for me. It’s real. It’s vital. It’s a worthy aspiration. However, I believe the Kingdom of God is the ultimate “big T” Truth. In its eternal nature it is like a vast mountain range that dwarfs the Seven Mountains of Society. One day God’s kingdom’s humble broken leaders will hike on past the high places of the earth’s movers and shakers into an eternal Kingdom. From that lofty place they will ultimately rule and judge this world (see vs 30) with love and wisdom. Then we will see the world changed in earnest. So, whether you are a world-changer or a kingdom-builder, grab a copy of Hind’s Feet on High Places (see warning below). This is Hannah Hurnard’s trail guide to the kingdom summits.
And in regards to piety and prayer as strategies, remember Satan has requested permission to sift us; so (as Jesus’ instructs us)…….”Don’t abandon “prayer”.
Father, the winds of Your Spirit are blowing. Even though we don’t always see where they are taking us, we do know that we are to gird ourselves as You did, to love and serve our neighbor. Help us to identify with the needs of those around us. Help us take our next steps downward that we may ascend. Amen.
Warning; Hannah Hurnard will not pass the sniff test at the doctrinal check point. The bible police will stop you if you are caught with this book. They will show you her rap sheet and prove that she was a heretic. It may be in small print but please read the case notes. They will reveal that she in fact did drift into universalism in her later life. However, prior to her drift she wrote what many evangelicals thought was a theologically sound allegory; Hinds Feet on High Places – a story about the unlikely pathway to authentic influence.