Monday, November 29, 2010

On the ceasing of eating grass and transforming culture

The gospel isn’t primarily about saving or transforming temporal culture, though salvation does have a positive impact on culture. Spiritual work makes material differences. Demoniacs clean up and go to town dressed and in their right minds. Nebuchadnezzars no longer eat grass like cattle, and return to sanity and responsible government. Zacchaeuses quit robbing the citizens and make restitution. But spiritual work isn’t mainly about improving the community. The redemption spiritual work does is far deeper, far bigger, and more long-lasting than the betterment of a temporal village or state. -- Sam Crabtree