<\/p>\n
To be honest, I never gave much thought to Christianity\u2019 influence on the world until I read N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird\u2019s book Jesus and the Powers<\/em> last fall.[1]<\/a> Since then I have seen our nation\u2019s elected leaders attempting to make sure that everyone knows how Christianity shaped our nation.\u00a0 For example, Ryan Walters\u2019, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, mandated that the Bible be incorporated into the classroom.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n In his book Dominion<\/em>, Tom Holland traces the impact of Jesus\u2019 teachings throughout the last 2000 years.[3]<\/a> Holland starts his book giving examples of pre-Christian history. The acts of Persian torture Holland discuss made King Darius\u2019s attempt to feed Daniel to the lions seem like a humane act of execution.[4]<\/a> Holland then proceeds to trace Jesus\u2019 teachings, later conveyed by Paul in both his letters and missionary journeys, through various church and governmental leaders throughout history. Concepts such as \u201cconcern for the downtrodden\u201d exhibited by Basil and Gregory or human equality are cited throughout the book.[5]<\/a> Holland also highlights the \u201ccrimes of Christian civilization,\u201d those that occurred both inside and outside the church.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n I read an AI summary of the book and a synopsis by Phil Mitchell.[7]<\/a> I also listened to a couple videos focusing on Holland\u2019s book. One involved several philosopher\u2019s discussing Holland\u2019s book and Charles Freeman\u2019s The Reopening of the Western Mind<\/em>.[8]<\/a> In his concluding remarks, Jason Rheins says \u201cHolland is a book that academics aren\u2019t even going to bother to talk about.\u201d \u00a0Yet here we are several scholars discussing this book in the context of leadership[9]<\/a><\/p>\n For this post I want to take a few moments to consider Holland\u2019s closing remarks.<\/p>\n \u201cInevitably, to attempt the tracing of Christianity\u2019s impact on the world is to cover the rise and fall of empires, the actions of bishops and kings, the arguments of theologians, the course of revolutions, the planting of crosses around the world. It is, in particular, to focus on the doings of men. Yet, that hardly tells the whole story.\u00a0 I have written much in this book about churches, monasteries, and universities; but these were never where the mass of Christian people were most influentially shaped. It was always in the home that children were the likeliest to absorb the revolutionary teachings that, over the course of two thousand years, have come to be so taken for granted as almost to seem human nature.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\n I believe that by tracing Christianity\u2019s impact on the world Holland is portraying the steps, sometimes baby and sometimes giant, that God has made in bringing his kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Jesus instructed his followers to pray \u201cYour kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.\u201d[11]<\/a> Holland considers this the \u201cdoings of men.\u201d[12]<\/a>\u00a0 It is the doings of men, but just like the stories in the Bible, it is really God working through imperfect, fallen men (and women).\u00a0 As Wright and Bird suggest, even leaders being used by God still struggle with the temptations to [hold on to or] abuse power.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n Holland states that it is in the homes where children are most likely to hear teachings influenced by Christianity.[14]<\/a> In doing this are we not fulfilling God\u2019s command found in Deuteronomy 6?<\/p>\n \u201c4<\/sup>Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 <\/sup>Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 <\/sup>These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7<\/sup>Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8<\/sup>Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9<\/sup>Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.\u201d[15]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Holland states that these teachings have become almost like human nature.[16]<\/a>\u00a0 In RARE Leadership<\/em> Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder discuss living into your identity.\u00a0 \u201cWho we are determines what we will do and identity operates faster and more powerful than choices.\u201d[17]<\/a>\u00a0 The teachings modeled in the homes shapes the child\u2019s identity.\u00a0 That identity, as Warner and Wilder point out, is part of our fast-track thinking, so in essence, it does become human nature (muscle memory).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How does Holland\u2019s book relate to leadership? Holland states the purpose of the book in his preface \u201cThis book explores what it was that made Christianity so subversive and disruptive; how completely it came to saturate the mindset of Latin Christendom; and why, in a West that is often doubtful of religion\u2019s claims, so many of its instincts remain \u2013 for good and ill \u2013 thoroughly Christian.\u201d[18]<\/a>\u00a0 This book is just over 500 pages, yet as Holland indicates, it is only a small example of Christianity\u2019s impact on the world.\u00a0 This is similar to how John concludes his Gospel.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201c30<\/sup>Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31<\/sup>But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.\u201d[19]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n I am not calling Dominion<\/em> the Bible or a gospel, but it does contain many lessons like the Bible, of both success and failure of how Christianity influenced the world. Leader at every level should take time to consider how they and those they lead have been impacted by Christian thought\/teaching and how to harness that to accomplish their mission and vision.<\/p>\n As a Christian leader, Holland\u2019s book can also serve to remind us that many of the people whom we lead may act<\/em> Christian because of Christianity\u2019s influence on our culture, but they may lack the faith necessary to fully live out the Christian identity and we should not expect them to do so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, Jesus and the Powers:<\/em> Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies, <\/em>(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2024), 30.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Oklahoma State Department of Education, OSDE Instructional Support Guidelines for Teachers.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Tom Holland, Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind<\/em>, (London, UK:Little Brown, 2019).<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Daniel 6:16 (Christian Standard Bible).<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Holland, 123; Galatian 3:28.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Holand, 518.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Phil Mitchell, \u201cA Synopsis of Dominion, by Tom Holland, The 401st<\/sup> Prophet, May 6, 2021, https:\/\/www.the401stprophet.com\/a-synopsis-of-dominion-by-tom-holland<\/a>.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> ARI Bookshelf, \u201cDominion by Tom Holland, and The Reopening of the Western Mind by Charles Freeman,\u201d Ayn Rand Institute, 1:21:50 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YjhHIgZzO3k&t=5s<\/a>.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> ARI Bookshelf.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Holland, 519<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Matthew 6:10<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Holland, 519.<\/p>\n [13]<\/a> Wright and Bird, 49.<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> Holland, 519.<\/p>\n [15]<\/a> Deuteronomy 6:4-9<\/p>\n [16]<\/a> Holland, 519.<\/p>\n [17]<\/a> Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder, Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead, (Chicago, IL: Moody, 2016).<\/em><\/p>\n