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“How can we possibly change the world NOW?”
In the continuing aftermath of the recent US elections, two kinds of communication have dominated my inbox. Utopian-minded Christians, mostly young people, are terribly bothered that whatever the outcome of the presidential vote, their vision of a wholesale rewrite of their country was obviously rejected. Conservative Christians young and old are very concerned about religious freedoms that face increasing attacks. Each bunch is worried about their ability to effectively bring positive change to a broken world.
A way forward from Peter
In such a situation the Christian needs to start with self. This is counterculture and rather difficult since the problems all seem to lie with others. However, starting change with self is scriptural, even in dark times. Peter wrote to people facing serious and frankly frightening blockades – not only to their biblical mission, but also to their very existence. Nonetheless, 1 Peter calls for Christians to continually focus on one’s own walk with God. Admiral McRaven famously echoed this priority in a speech given at the University of Texas, where he said, “If you want to change the world, make your bed every morning.”
Through Peter, God guides every Christian to understand the simple truth of God’s grace and live by it alone. Christians should dwell on earth as people who are:
- bound for a future grander than anything temporal
- transformed by God’s gracious election
- operating according to a greater purpose
Sadly, that is rarely our experience, necessitating engagement with God’s word from Peter. When we so engage, the Lord changes us and through us He changes the world. Trapped in their difficult context, Peter’s original readers likely couldn’t fathom the blessings they bequeathed to us. May future generations say the same of us.
God bless,
Wayne