I read a quote last week that deeply resonated:
“Consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Spirit, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God and heaven without hell.” –William Booth
I’m sure all of us could give a loud “amen” to this. Pop culture preaches a lot of what this quote addresses and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It does. Deeply.
It seems the world of acceptance and tolerance is growing bigger by the second with blurred lines and confusion all around.
But last week, while spending a few minutes in quiet time, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt my spirit with this truth:
You can’t reshape pop culture, but you can reshape yourself. Start there.
If we want things to change about our surroundings, our culture, our circumstances, our lives, our families, our friendships, our neighborhoods… it involves a willingness to go first and lead the way.
Instead of being bothered by what we experience and observe, we have to make a point of being the one person who will go it alone… who will try to figure it out… who will set the tone… who will live by example… who will ask the tough questions… who will trust… and believe… and hope… and expect… and pray for big change.
It starts in us and with us.
It’s one thing to be bothered by something; it’s an entirely different thing to do something about it. But these are the kind of lives Christ is calling us to live.
Do I practice a religion without the Holy Spirit?
Do you believe in a Christianity that denies Christ…. or do you barely speak of Him?
Do I expect or accept forgiveness without offering up heart-felt repentance?
Do you preach a message of salvation without living in continuous renewal yourself?
Do I engage with politics without considering God’s point of view?
Has your view of faith become about only heaven without confronting hell?
Or when it comes to quotes that find a way of resonating…
Do I ask the Holy Spirit why, and do I carve out time to honestly confront the state of my own heart?
Change starts with us first… then He can use us to lead the way.
“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (MSG)
