There, I said it. Now, before you jump to conclusions and assume that I’m a pessimist who underestimates the potential of one singular person’s influence within the sphere of our world, please just listen…or rather, read.
I did not say that I wouldn’t influence the world or that the world couldn’t be changed through my influence, only that my blog alone would not be responsible for these results.
I admit, it sounds almost hypocritical to say this, since the point of a blog is to spread one’s point-of-view throughout the virtual world. To be quite honest, I do have great, even global, expectations of this literary platform called suchasihave.com. In fact, most of my life I’ve clung to the gut feeling and belief that I could and would make a difference in this world. Lately, however, my understanding of the scope and means through which that difference would come has shifted.
Like most of us who’ve grown up in the land where the pursuit of one’s personal happiness is a guaranteed privilege, and whose cultural heroes hail from comic books and stadiums, I’ve believed a lie. I cannot bring lasting, meaningful, and positive change to the entire world! Alone, my voice, my words, and my actions are insignificant and limited.
I came to this conclusion recently after reading one sentence in a book regarding cultural change that shook me to the core. It referenced the critical role of institutions in long-term, sustainable change. The author suggested that true societal change happens when individuals combine their voices, resources, and efforts and act as one, thus becoming an institution, whether officially or unofficially.
If you’re like me, just the word “institution” conjures up all sorts of distasteful thoughts and feelings. It is the very antagonist of my over-inflated independent pride. Yet, this visceral response is proof that there must be some truth to the author’s assertion. As much as I would like to believe that I can change the world by myself, the real nature of how things change speaks otherwise.
Want to test this theory? Take almost any person who is recognized for their individual impact in the world and look around them. You’ll see a host of other people who either supported them or followed their lead. Oftentimes they either rose up through an institution, or a new institution was formed because of their influence. For example, Samuel Adams inspired the patriots who would carry out the Boston Tea Party, which would lead to the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and the birth of the great institution named the United States of America.
No man, or woman, is an island. Even Jesus worked within the framework of this universal principle when He created His Church. In reflecting on His own legacy He said:
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12:24
Jesus was determined not to do it alone! Not only did He choose twelve men to pour His earthly life into, but He chose to pour His eternal life into His collective body that was gathered on the day of Pentecost through the gift of His Spirit. And He pours it out still!
As a pastor, one might assume I am indoctrinated with institutional thinking, but until recently nothing could have been farther from the truth. Although I’ve had a passion for the Church since I was young, I still maintained an individualistic mindset. Most of my preaching has been toward promoting individual transformation, individual potential, and individual worth. Rarely have I spoken at length about the corporate identity, mission, and role God’s children carry throughout the earth. How could a country boy who grew up with ya’ll and you’uns in his vocabulary not see the plural “you” throughout Scripture?
Once again I’ve found the need to repent and re-think my individual role in light of the institutions around me. No longer can I disregard the institutions that have shaped me, or those that I might shape. Rather than complain that I am a victim of these bastions of society, or blame them for society’s woes, or ignore them entirely, I must humble myself and insert my life into those which I find noble and worthy, or else seek to create another.
For me, the latter option is not usually necessary. I have been privileged to be born, and born again, into the most glorious institutions in the history of the world. This great nation, despite its most recent decline is, as an institution, the most perfect political union ever established by the will of man. Within its framework and history are the underpinnings of liberty and justice that will most certainly stand the test of time. And within its function is the opportunity to raise my voice and cast my vote.
There are other institutions wherein my influence can leave a lasting impression: my family, community, school and workplace.
But there is an even greater institution to which I pledge my allegiance, the Church of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His is the only institution that is eternal, and though it is still being perfected on the earth, one day it will outshine and outlive all others. Furthermore, His is the only institution that was formed to lift up the individual to their highest place and esteem His corporate entity simultaneously. In other words, I am not lost within its identity, nor is it lost within mine.
As Jesus said:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them , and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23 NKJV
That, my friend, is how the world will change!
Such as I have I give,
In Jesus’ name
