The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Sample

The Transformation of Society

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) lived and died to see society transformed. In 1964 he became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end social segregation and discrimination.

In one of the greatest and most quoted speeches of all time he spoke of his dream of one day living in a nation where his children would ‘not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.’

He spoke of his ‘dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.’ He dreamt of a time when everyone would be able to join hands and say, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’ 

Martin Luther King Jr. was a follower of Jesus. His agenda was the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not just about the conversion of individuals – important though that is – but about the transformation of society. That is why our vision at HTB and Alpha International is ‘to play our part in the evangelisation of the nations and the transformation of society’. 

Proverbs 11:9-18

1. Be a blessing to your nation

Your life can have an influence, not only on your own family and local community, but also on your city, and even on the whole nation.

The writer of Proverbs makes the point that how we live as individuals affects not only ourselves, but also the whole society around us – for good or for evil.

On the one hand, ‘when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices’ (v.10). And ‘by the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favour [because of them] the city is exalted’ (v.11a, AMP). On the other hand, ‘the mouth of the wicked’ can destroy a city (v.11b). And, ‘for lack of guidance a nation falls’ (v.14).

How then should we live? We are not to slander our neighbours, but rather we are to exercise restraint and hold our tongues (v.12). We are not to gossip but to be trustworthy in keeping secrets (v.13).

We all need wise, godly people around us to provide good advice: ‘Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety’ (v.14, AMP). If you have wise counsellors consult them often. If you don’t have them, ask God to provide you with such advisers.

We are to be kind-hearted (v.16) and sow righteousness (v.18). If we live like this, the whole city and nation will be affected.

Lord, help me to be a good influence in my city and in my nation. May I be trustworthy, kind-hearted and righteous. May I see my city and nation transformed.

John 4:1-26

2. Break down divisions of every kind

Every church should be an inclusive church because God’s love is radically inclusive. Jesus came to break down every barrier in our society.

Jesus’ fame was increasing. ‘The Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed ... They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals’ (vv.1–2, MSG).

Jesus was not interested in fame, rivalry or competition. ‘When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee’ (v.3). He was very interested in helping one individual Samaritan. He takes time to minister to her. Mother Teresa said, ‘Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.’

In this encounter Jesus demonstrated that one of the ways in which society will be transformed is by the breaking down of divisions.   

• End the war between the sexes
  Jesus had a prolonged conversation with a woman in public. This flew in the face of the conventions of the time. The strict rabbis forbade a rabbi even to greet a woman in public, let alone have a long conversation. When the disciples returned, they were ‘surprised to find him talking with a woman’ (v.27).

As John Stott writes, ‘Without any fuss or publicity Jesus terminated the curse of the Fall, reinvested woman with her partially lost nobility and reclaimed for his new kingdom community the original creation blessing of sexual equality.’

The sexes should not be at war. As Pope Benedict XVI put it, ‘In Christ the rivalry, enmity and violence which disfigured the relationship between men and women can be overcome and have been overcome.’

• End racism, discrimination and apartheid
  The division between Jews and Samaritans went back a long way. John explains that ‘Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans’ (v.9, MSG).

Jesus does not compromise on the truth: ‘Salvation is from the Jews’ (v.22). Nevertheless, he reaches out to this Samaritan woman. In doing so he breaks the curse of racial discrimination and apartheid. The transformation of society requires the breaking down of divisions of race and ethnicity.

• End class war and social division
  God loves you regardless of your previous life or present lifestyle. Thank God, he loves imperfect people.

This woman would have been a social outcast. Not only did Jesus speak to a woman who was a Samaritan, he spoke with a ‘sinner’. This woman had led an immoral life. ‘You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband’ (v.18). She has been divorced several times and is now living with a man to whom she is not married. Jesus does not compromise on the truth, but he does not reject the Samaritan woman because of her lifestyle or social position (cf. Mark 2:17; John 8:10–11).

The religious did not mix with ‘sinners’. By his interaction with this sexually promiscuous woman, Jesus breaks down yet another barrier. His love reaches to all sections of society – across the barriers of class, lifestyle and social position.

Ultimately it is only the Holy Spirit who can bring about the transformation of society. It is the Holy Spirit who brings unity, breaking down the divisions of gender, race and social position. Those indwelt by the Holy Spirit should be at the forefront of the fight for sexual, racial and social equality.

Jesus’ conversation with this woman was all about the Holy Spirit. He says to her, ‘All who drink this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’ (v.13–14).

The transformation of society starts with the Holy Spirit transforming our lives. It starts with drinking the water of life, which Jesus gives to everyone who believes in him. When the Holy Spirit comes to live within us he becomes a permanent spring of overflowing water throughout our lives and into eternity.

We are transformed by the Holy Spirit and by our personal relationship with God. The word used for ‘worship’ here means ‘to go down on our knees, to draw close in an intimate relationship of love’ – we ‘must worship in spirit and in truth’ (v.24).

Lord, today I come to you and drink. Please fill me with this spring of water welling up into eternal life. May this water flow out of my heart and transform all my relationships – in my family, with my neighbours and in my community.

John 4:1-26

3. Cry out to God for good leadership

We live in a disordered and chaotic world – in some ways not very different to the world described in the book of Judges.

Eugene Peterson describes entering the book of Judges as ‘something of a shock’. In it we find a mix of ‘sex and violence, rape and massacre, brutality and deceit … nearly unrelieved mayhem.’ We see how the Israelites failed to get a grip on idolatry and sin when they settled in the Promised Land. Despite God’s warnings, they compromised with the religious and ethical practices of the Canaanites (2:1–2). As a result they become ‘thorns in [their] sides and ... a snare to [them]’ (v.3).

God calls us to be utterly ruthless about the bad stuff in our own lives. God does not want us to compromise with evil. He does not want us simply to cut down the areas of our lives that we know are wrong, but to cut them out completely and ruthlessly.

The people found themselves in a cycle of disobedience, being oppressed by their enemies, then crying out to God for help.

God answered by sending them leaders (judges) who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, delivered them in miraculous ways. He used all kinds of rather unlikely people as leaders – which gives great encouragement to us all.

Lord, forgive me for the times when I have not been ruthless in getting rid of the bad stuff and have compromised with sin.

We cry out to you to raise up good leaders in our city and in our nation. May your name be glorified. May we see the transformation of our society.

Pippa Adds

John 4:1–26

Of all the people Jesus could have spent time with he chose the lowest of the low. In Jesus’ upside down kingdom, Jesus gives dignity to those who have none.

Notes:
John Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today, (Zondervan, 2006)

Eugene Peterson, The Message, (NavPress, 2005)

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.