We can change the world
How the act of committing to a people and a place leads to world change.
In my last article, I could be forgiven for being a bit depressing in suggesting that a "change the world" narrative might be unhelpful. Shouldn’t we aspire to greatness? Shouldn’t we desire to improve the world in substantial and meaningful ways? Let’s dig a little deeper.
One of the primary ways I read the Scriptures is through a missional-relational lens. Often, we view the Scriptures through a more transactional lens—a legal conception of sin paired with a technical solution in Christ, as evidenced in most of our soteriology. While this is a dimension of the Gospel, it can cause us to miss something critical.
At its core, the story of Scripture is relational. Beginning with the Trinity itself, we see that God is inherently relational. This extends to the Abrahamic covenant and the formation of Israel, culminating in the Church in the New Testament. Throughout history, God has been building a people for Himself.
The issue of sin, among other things, is that it severs our relationships—with God and others—resulting in profound loneliness. The relational consequences of sin cannot be overstated.
In Christ, we find the ultimate solution to the brokenness of relationships in our world. The story of Christ is one of reconciled relationships and mission to the world (2 Cor 5). This theme is everywhere: the “dividing wall of hostility” in Ephesians, the nation of priests in 1 Peter, the inheritance of God in Galatians, and so forth. The most prevalent language in the Gospel is that of family—every New Testament book builds upon the reconciled family of God in some way.
The New Testament calls us to be reconciled to God and invites us to live purposefully in relationship with others. This may seem simple, but it is the scripturally mandated formula from which any effort to change the world must originate. We find our mission in the mission of God. We humble ourselves, lay down our ambitions, and take up His purposes.
Why is this important? This theological foundation must have a practical outworking. If the primary issue in the New Testament is relational brokenness, our calling is to discover the incredible ways God invites us to walk in covenantal relationships.
One of the most radical things we can do as followers of Jesus is to love a particular people in a particular place and make disciples together. While this may not seem like it will change the world, make no mistake: it will.
A Particular People:
It is unavoidable that we are called to walk in intentional, covenantal relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet, the modern church often echoes the ideals of the world: be the biggest, best, grandest, most comfortable, and most attractional. Why, because those things tickle our individualistic tendencies where personal comfort is more important than our relationships.
The church is meant to be an overflow of the Gospel of Jesus, expressed in relationships. As Christ commands in John, we are to love one another—not in a shallow, transactional way, but in the sacrificial, genuine way that Jesus modeled on the cross.
This means training our churches to truly, sacrificially, and authentically love and prefer one another by sharing our lives.
By committing to a particular people, we can address one of the most painful and pervasive human ailments: loneliness. In so doing, we participate in something truly radical.
A Particular Place:
Our modern world has fractured our relationship with place. We often live, commune, work, and play in different communities, a reality made possible by modern transportation and technology.
Suppose we are to be committed to a particular people. In that case, it naturally follows that we should also be committed to a place—whether a university campus, a neighbourhood, a street, or some other hyper-local community. Instead of constantly seeking greener pastures, we can cultivate them right where we are.
I might not be able to change the entire world, but by committing to a people and a place, we can change *our* world. Importantly, this invitation is universal—it can apply to believers everywhere.
So yes, let’s change the world—but let’s do it the way Jesus commanded: by loving one another in a particular place with a particular people.
When I was 17 years ago, entering first year university I did just that. I chose to make the biggest possible impact in my university for the Gospel. So, I “left home” and decided that I would give my whole self to reaching and serving my new city and campus. (I also announced this decision to my mother, inadvertently breaking her heart… youthful zeal doesn’t pay much attention to the sensitivities of a mother.)
19 years later, I’m still here and what God has done in our church over that time has surpassed anything I could have imagined.