Planted by Water

When discussing the influence of the Kingdom, mnay people have asked questions about affecting political decisions, law-making, soical policy and social ethics. These things are very important and specifically the question that Doug Hon raises about whose moral values affect public policy and legislation. I will address these matters in future postings.

But I also want to say that for me much of the influence of the Kingdom in the world - the sowing of seed in the field of the world, the spreading of the yeast throughout the whole dough - is not directly about such things. I think of the young student I spoke to yesterday when I spoke at the Local University’s Christian Union. He has a vision to be an ifluence for the Kingdom in the world of advertising. Another spoke about his study of journalism. I have spoken to others over the years about being a Kingdom influence in the various worlds of music, the media and the arts, architecture etc. I think of a recent conversation with James Aubrey about his engagement with creative writing and literary critical theory (that seedbed of postmodernism!!). No area or activity of life in the world need be surrendered to the enemy. I get thrilled hearing about people who are seeds of the Kingdom sown in the various fields of this world. Influencing the world is not just about ethcial issues or politics or legislation; it is about sowing the seeds of the life, grace, wisdom, creativity, power, joy, goodness etc. of the Kingdom wherever we go. And doing so with confidence and grace and not with defensiveness or agressiveness, or religious judgementalism. I know there will be confrontation at times, but our whole approach should be positive, confident and life-affirming in whatever area of life God has sown us into. That’s got to be a starting point for influencing our world!