Changing The World

“Changing the world sounds grand, until you consider how poorly we do even at changing our own little lives. On a daily basis we break our promises, indulge our addictions and rehearse old fantasies and grudges that even we know we’d be better off without. We have changed less about ourselves than we would like to admit. Who are we to charge off to change the world? Our excitement about changing the world can quickly lead us into the grand illusion that we stand somehow outside the world, knowing what’s best for it.” - Andy Crouch

This quote made me pause and brought me down a humble peg or two. Sure, we do change the world and its culture in tiny ways through what we do and create everyday. We’re all culture makers. But scale-wise in the greater scheme of things, the culture we make often doesn’t reach beyond the walls of our inner circles, and unfortunately I think we often end up absorbing way more than we change.

Not at all that we shouldn't try and make every situation and place better for us having been there. Not to say that we aren't called to love deeply, give generously, serve sacrificially and show kindness to all. But I do think in the midst of all that good stuff, we need to be wary of subconsciously promoting ourselves from human being to world-changing God. Wary of when our pride leads us to think that our thoughts and ideas and ventures are God’s gift to the universe.

Actually, I thank God I can’t change the world alone. Because if I had the power to single-handedly change large sections of it, I guarantee that it wouldn’t be better than it is now. Why? One, because my knowledge of the universe and its working is non-existent when compared to the One who made it (Isaiah 55:8-9). I can't see the big picture, I don't know the full story, I can't see behind the scenes, I don't actually know what's best for anyone—myself or the world.

And two, because in my heart of hearts, I’m not a good person. Sure, because of the Holy Spirit in me, I’m capable of doing good things, but too often my motives are driven and corrupted by pride. So I don't know if I would change the world to be better, or just to be better for me, my comfort and my pride. And at the end of the day, that would probably do more harm than good.

So when I love people, when I show kindness, when I go out of my way to serve, when I write on this blog, it’s not so that I, Kelsey, can change the world–although I pray that in some way I do influence the culture and people around me, in whatever small way I can. But I want the overarching goal to be pointing to Jesus, the only One who can truly change the world to reflect what God created it for.

And that brings to mind a quote I read last week that has stuck with me since then:

"God is good at being God." - Lysa TerKeurst

All throughout Psalms, Isaiah, Job, Jeremiah, we see the incredible might and power of our God. God is fantastic at all things, including world changing.

I can’t change the world, but I can point to the One who can.