Revolution

Read: Romans 12

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2

IN WORD

It’s a common theme in literature and film. A small band of rebels breaks away from a massive, monolithic, oppressive machine of a government and finds a way against impossible odds to undermine the system. The revolution-against-the-evil-empire theme is rarely successful in actual history, but it’s somehow embedded in our deepest desires. We’re drawn to any story in which the noble few overcome the brutal masses. Courage in the face of tyranny captivates our imagination.

There’s a reason this theme fascinates us. It’s the story of humble servants of God going up against a world dominated by evil. On the surface, it looks impossible. Can love really overcome an every-man-for-himself culture? Are the powerful systems of this world really vulnerable to values like humility and sacrifice? Does a revolution against the prevailing spirits of the age really have a chance?

Yes—to all of these questions. Jesus came to overthrow an enemy posing as the rightful ruler of this world, and He called His followers into this uprising. We have to engage the world, not by adopting its spirit but by countering it with the Spirit of truth. Our attitudes, words, and ways are decidedly different, and they are more powerful than all the world has to offer.

IN DEED

Romans 12 captures the character of our revolution. It’s a path to Kingdom-building. We don’t tear down the culture that’s there; like leaven in a lump of dough, we infiltrate and transform our relationships and surroundings from within. In many ways, this is a silent uprising. But it’s a potent one, and ultimately unstoppable. We can’t afford to live with a mind-set that acquiesces to the world’s ways, nor can we simply separate ourselves from them. If we determine to live contrary to the culture of the age and insist on living the Kingdom culture, we who have been transformed become transformers. And the uprising grows stronger every day.

ADDITIONAL READING: John 15:8

All that is best in the civilization of today is the fruit of Christ’s appearance among men.

DANIEL WEBSTER