The Position of the Church in Social Change

Dr Rick Warren (Saddleback Church, Purpose Driven Life, etc.) has suggested that the community church is uniquely positioned to create massive global social change. And he encourages Christians to use that position to do just that, in part by linking and networking the social structure they already have resident in even the smalled congregation.

By example, he remarks that in many third world countries, the church is the only "public" building in the village. It is the only place where people can gather to discuss issues common among themselves.

But the church is also big - very big. There are an estimated 2.3 Billion Christians in the world, representing thousands of subgroups, clans and tribes. And they have a spiritual and social connection that is not limited by national and political barriers.

The challenge, says Warren, is to create those networks. He says that even in his own megachurch congregation, "most of the congregation is unseen beneath the waterline." Those who attend services carry the message and motivations back to their friends and neighbors, to Bible study and ministry groups at their home and jobsite.

It is this structure of loosely-organized and self-forming small groups that presents the opportunity for social change. Warren gives several examples of how churches respond to needs with social responses: 90% of Red Cross volunteers are from churches, and cook almost all the meals they give away. The church volunteers were the first ones there at Katrina, and have yet to leave. In Africa, there are more church-run clinics giving away AIDS medicine than official Ministry of Health clinics.

His message, in a nutshell, is that - despite fears of ulterior motives - the church is uniquely positioned to create massive positive social change.

How will you lead your church to join him?