Society's cure

And the role policy plays in bringing about change

We all hold underlying assumptions and beliefs that drive our actions.

For some, you believe that policy will bring about real societal change. That if we could only pass and enforce the right laws, then we could transform this culture into submission to Christ. Therefore you fight to that end — with your words, your actions, and most importantly, the energy of your heart.

While I contend, the best you can produce from such a primary focus is an incentivized morality — with behavior motivated by rewards and punishments, rather than from the overflow of the affections of the heart.

To which many who oppose would reply, “Who would you rather have making the rules?” And how quickly then we devolve once again into the lesser of two evils argument. “If it’s not ‘us’ making the laws, then it will be ‘them,’ which is far worse.”

I continue to stand firmly behind my stance that the lesser of two evils logic is never the Godly perspective.

So what is the alternative then? If not policy, then what?

I pray you hear me clearly and the intent of my heart when I say this — Society is revived not one policy at a time, but one household at a time, starting with the fathers.

I think history bears this out as well. Policy does not bring the awakening, it flows from it. Once a people group find themselves revived, then policy is reformed. I share two examples:

One. Revival swept through England and America in the 1700’s, continuing on through the end of the century. In 1784, John Wesley wrote, “This country is all on fire and the flame is spreading from village to village.” (Praying the Price, Robinson, 1992)

Geoff Waugh makes the connection between this revival of holiness, which led to hundreds of thousands of conversions, and the eventual policy changes that flowed from a people now renewed:

“It impacted England with social change and created the climate for political reform such as the abolition of slavery through the work of William Wilberforce, William Buxton, and others. John Howard and Elizabeth Fry led prison reform. Florence Nightingale founded modern nursing. Ashley Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury, reformed employment conditions.” (Flashpoints of Revival, 2009)

Two. Likewise, and at a similar time, revival broke out among the North American Indians in 1747 underneath the preaching of David Brainerd. A great awakening, “never excited by any harangues of terror, but always appeared most remarkable when I insisted upon the compassions of a dying Saviour, the plentiful provisions of the gospel, and the free offers of divine grace to needy distressed sinners.” (The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, 1749)

He continues, “The effects of this work have likewise been very remarkable…Their pagan notions and idolatrous practices seem to be entirely abandoned in these parts. They are regulated and appear regularly disposed in the affairs of marriage. They seem generally divorced from drunkenness…although before it was common for some or other of them to be drunk almost every day…a principle of honesty and justice appears in many of them, and they seem concerned to discharge their old debts…their manner of living is much more decent and comfortable than formerly…Love seems to reign among them, especially those who have given evidence of a saving change.”

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Though much could be said about the first part of my sentence, “Society is revived…” I instead want to turn our attention to the end of my statement, “Starting with the fathers.”

As I’ve written about before, when I pray, often I pray that God would raise up a new breed of men.

“Lord, will you raise up and establish men of prayer, of the Word, and of conviction. Men who have been alone with You and have been changed because of it.

Even as Moses’ face shone when he came down from the mountain, so much so that the people were afraid to come near him; and even as Peter and John spoke with such boldness that the people marveled as they realized these men had been with Jesus, likewise change this new breed of men so dramatically, Lord.

Make it evident that these men have been alone with You…”

Or as I referenced a few weeks ago when detailing out the purpose of marriage:

“Husbands, I call your attention to your aspirations. Where are they placed? Could I remind you, “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” It does not say, if anyone obtains the office, simply if they aspire to it. Where is the nobility? In the aspiration. Now let us look more closely at our word aspire, for while in English it may mean little more than wishes and dreams, in Greek the picture is profound, “To stretch one’s self out in order to touch or grasp something.” (Strong’s) One who is stretched out finds themselves in a vulnerable position, fully extended, forsaking safety for the chance to touch or grasp their prize. To stretch out is to be all in, holding nothing back, driven and determined by the goal, knowing it may come at a great cost. Putting it back in context, the one who aspires to be an overseer, stretches themselves out just for the chance to one day touch or grasp this sacred office.

This same picture is used in two other places in the Scripture. First, those with faith are said to stretch themselves out as, “they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.” (Heb. 11:16) And conversely, those who have “strayed from the faith,” stretch themselves out in greediness and covetousness, always aspiring to touch that which they do not have — a work leading to many sorrows, “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Tim. 6:10) Men, where do we find ourselves stretching out? What is that object which we must have above all others and for which we will sell all we have just for the chance to one day touch or grasp? 

As the qualifications mention, do we stretch ourselves out to be the husband of one wife, blameless, able to teach, not quick tempered, gentle, not quarrelsome, ruling our own house well, with our children in submission with all reverence, not allowing them to be insubordinate, running wild, unrestrained, or in rebellion? Or, do we find such careful tending to our wife and children as tedious, bothersome, and far too insignificant for us to give our chief effort and attention to? Is our first response to dwell with them in understanding, seeking God on their behalf, and using the resources we’ve been given to shepherd them with deliberate intention, or is it to erupt in impatience or indifference? If it’s the latter, know this, our prayers are currently hindered. Such is the seriousness of this beautiful, mysterious, glorious symbol which is marriage.”

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Does your heart long for true societal change, not of the surface morality type, but of the deep heart transformation sort?

Then join me in these prayers. Pray for revival, one household at a time, starting with the fathers.

Labor to this end, first in your own home, and then in the households where you find yourself with a position of influence.

The energy of the heart does not flow with limitless capacity, therefore, may we use what we have to the greatest end — the proclamation of the gospel, the advancement of the church, the coming to pass right now of His kingdom, all to the praise of the glory of His grace.

In love,

Derek