Its easy to complain about what is, about what is not, about them, about what we don't like, about this, about that and about the other. The problem with complaining, however, is we have fooled ourselves into believing that complaining is the same thing as being involved, the same thing as being constructive, the same thing as solving a problem, the same thing as doing something about it, whatever "it" is. That is why, despite all our complaining, little really changes in our own lives, our schools, local politics, state government and Washington DC. Real change requires real involvement by committed people, thinking big on a small scale by addressing a problem over an extended period of time until the desired results are achieved.
For the Christian the prime example of this principle in action is the early first century church and specifically the Apostle Paul. The first church in Jerusalem was a rag-tag collection of fisherman, tax collectors and other unimpressive Hebrews and Gentiles. Yet within fifty years of Christ's crucifixion the church was so wide spread throughout the Roman Empire that Nero feared it enough to feed the faithful to Colosseum lions and burn Rome to the ground as a pretext to justify his persecution. The main architect of this dramatic and almost immediate change was of course Paul. So lets briefly examine how he accomplished the task, how he made real, lasting change happen within a religious and political atmosphere that was fully devoted to not just defeating, but totally destroying his agenda. I think you will be amazed at how simple yet effective his plan was.
First of all Paul was prepared before he began. We know from his letters that his preparation began in being trained to be a Pharisee of Pharisees (Philippians 3:5). He knew the Old Testament by heart even before he was blinded by Christ on the Road to Damascus. So although spiritually dead before his conversion, the thoughts, ways and patterns of God were permanently tattooed on Paul's heart waiting for him to rely on when the time was right. We also know from his letters that he spent perhaps the next fourteen years (II Corinthians 12:2) personally studying with the risen Lord Himself for the task that lay ahead of him. So the first step to making real, effective change of any kind take place is preparation for the work ahead.
Second, Paul knew there was strength in numbers. He did not see himself as a lone wolf. As his ministry grew, each step of the way Paul was humble and sought the prayer and financial support of the Church in Jerusalem and Antioch. And he also took partners such as Barnabas, Mark, Luke, Timothy, and others on each of his missionary journeys. So the second step to realizing change is developing a sincere humility about oneself. Its not about me, its about the change.
Third, Paul planned big by working small. His overall goal was to have the Gospel of Christ preached to the entire Roman world. He even called himself the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). But how did he go about doing that? One soul, one church at a time. He had no advance teams going before him preparing the way. He didn't have press agents or place adds on TV and the Internet, prepared no Power Point presentations, asked no money for his efforts (I Corinthians 4:12) and didn't stay in the swankiest hotels. When he entered a new town he went immediately to the Jewish Synagogue out of respect for local authorities and tradition (again its not about me) and began simply to preach the Risen One. From there circumstances and the responses of the locals guided his next moves. But it was always one local village, one local soul at a time. Plan big by working small.
Finally, Paul persisted (II Corinthians 11:25). Despite repeated disasters, roadblocks, attempts on his life, imprisonments, and rejections Paul remained focused on his one simple goal-preach Christ to the Roman world.
So change can be accomplished through preparation, humility, planning big by working small and persistance. Where do we go from here?
God will be fully honored in America again. More later
