Written by: gfesadmin on March 14, 2013

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Make a Fortune – Write a Book

The title alone of James Hunter’s book, To Change the World, should vastly increase his brokerage account!  Everyone wants to change the world – that’s our mandate.  With eager Christian consumers ready to pounce on any book that might transform lives, his financial future should be set and God’s purpose for us will have been achieved.  However, after opening the pages, the reader quickly realizes that it might not be as simple as we think as most efforts throughout the years have failed and that the way we do Christianity hasn’t seemed to work in changing much either.….in over 2,000 years.

He reminds us that we are a Church in tension, desiring meaningful things; “transformation of the world” and “reclamation of the culture,” but upon further examination, these goals seem opposite of Christ’s call.  Instead, we need to come to grips with the fact that we are exiles here on earth and that there are no truly Christian nations.  Upon understanding that concept, then we can perhaps make a difference.  He speaks of learning to “flourish people” and rediscover ways of engagement of culture instead of strategizing the next political move.

Leaving the US for Brazil as missionary years ago changed my understanding of the politicizing effects of religion.  Instead of denominational sparring, criticism and wondering if “that” group will really be part of eternity with us as I was accustomed, I found that if I stuck to the core beliefs, the few missionaries in our area of Brazil – from varied US and European denominational groups – worked well together.  We found that when given the opportunity, the little things melted away.  It was validation of Hunter’s comments that “true community will be what helps in this difficult life.”  Working together, concentrating on the core beliefs would be a step in the right direction.

Although many try to separate Christianity from life while others infuse it exclusively into one area such as government, Hunter believes that “Faithful Presence” will be key in growing future influence.  A faith that plays out in all spheres of life; work, home and social, will go great lengths in establishing the kind of presence on earth that brings worth to Jesus’ life and death.  Perhaps that’s the correct step in transforming or changing……a life.

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