A 3-Point Plan for Positive Cultural Impact

I have proposed this 3-Point Plan for positive cultural impact through the church. This plan involves the following three foundational components: 

1. Assemble: Unified Sacred Gathering
Kingdom-minded pastors or leaders develop a communitywide pastors’ fellowship that meets regularly and hosts an annual solemn assembly (Isa. 58:1–12; Eph. 2:11–22).

2. Address: Unified Compassionate Voice
Kingdom-minded pastors or leaders actively develop disciples who speak out with a unified message, offering biblical truths and solutions on contemporary cultural issues (John 17:13–23; Matt. 28:16–20). 

3. Act: Unified Social Impact
Kingdom-minded pastors or leaders collectively mobilize their churches or organizations to carry out a visible presence of ongoing good works, improving the well-being of underserved communities (Jer. 29:5–7; Matt. 5:13–16).

1. Assemble: Unified Sacred Gathering

Have you ever noticed how special interest groups in our country carry far more weight in influencing our policies and opinions, even though their numbers are but a small fraction of the number of believers in America? They carry so much weight and influence because they unite.

We may have the numbers in our favor as an overall body of believers, but we have rarely, if ever, truly united over anything. It is time to set our preferences and egos aside and go before the Lord as one body. The problem is not merely our waiting on God to involve Himself in our country’s demise, but it is also that God is waiting on us to call on Him collectively, and according to His prescribed manner. I have compiled the following action items (aimed at spiritual leaders) to help us achieve this first point of the 3-Point Plan:

• Start or join a racially and denominationally diverse fellowship of kingdom-minded pastors in your local area.
• Meet regularly with kingdom-minded pastors to strengthen relationships, provide mutual encouragement, and to meet the needs of one another.
• Worship together and seek God in prayer.
• Use social and digital media to facilitate communication with your fellow spiritual leaders.
• Train and develop lay leaders who can provide practical assistance and support for meeting your goals.
• Plan and host a local solemn assembly at least once a year, gathering congregations together to seek God on behalf of their community and the nation. Share your pulpit on occasion with like-minded pastors across racial, class, and denominational divides.

2. Address: Unified Compassionate Voice

The second point in the 3-Point Plan is to address the issues at hand through a unified, compassionate voice. If we could agree to speak in unison on our ideologies and theologies of agreement—rather than spend all our time arguing the portions of disagreement—we would do better at calming the anger and hostilities in our churches and land. In so doing, we could offer several productive and impactful options for restoration and biblically based equity.

A number of special interest groups have been successful in influencing culture because they have managed to unify their collective voice both in the media and entertainment, even though they are small in number. It is time to set our platforms and personal agendas aside when it comes to the matters of national importance so that we can effectively speak into and address the concerns of our day. Here are some steps our spiritual leaders can take in order to do this:

• Seek common ground and shared goals that foster biblical solutions to contemporary issues needing to be addressed, rather than get hung up on the areas of disagreement. Show grace.
• Hold discussion groups and prayer sessions to explore the biblical answers to cultural issues.
• Read and discuss relevant books and videos together to form a basis for common understanding.
• Commit to serving together to work for cultural transformation and biblical values.
• Host community forums to address relevant social issues.
• Collectively meet with civic leaders for relationship building to address issues related to justice and righteousness, and in an effort to influence needed policy reforms.
• Reestablish the biblical importance, permanence, and centrality of marriage and the family as the foundation for a stable and productive society.
• Equip and deploy church members to be kingdom disciples who have transformed lives that visibly transfer the values of the kingdom of God into the societal spheres of politics, education, law, medicine, business, entertainment, etc.
• Utilize the pulpit, platforms, and other ministry opportunities to give an equal emphasis to the issue of justice as is done with righteousness.

3. Act: Unified Social Impact

The third point of the 3-Point Plan is to act together to bring about unified social impact. We will make a bigger impact when we intentionally align our actions with each other in order to produce greater momentum. Here are some action items that can assist ministry and lay leaders:

• Pray for wisdom and guidance as to how you can partner in good works together.
• Work together toward meeting the needs of the local homeless population.
• Implement the “Kindness in the Culture” initiative by distributing “Acts of Kindness” cards to your church members or community group. Encourage them to perform a random “act of kindness” for anyone in need, then give them a card with the information of their local church on it, or other information, and ask them if they can pray for them or present the gospel.
• Coordinate a collective voice in petitions, letter writing, phone calls, and other ways to influence political leadership to bring about righteous and just policy and legislative reforms.
• Create an atmosphere where congregants are challenged to pursue relationships promoting racial reconciliation while simultaneously working toward biblical justice.
• Seek ways to collectively address shortages of food, housing, and other basic needs of underserved families in your community.
• Equip and/or shape the mindset of church members regarding a kingdom perspective as they engage with the culture.
• Build relationships with local law enforcement to foster a stronger relationship and serve as a bridge between the police and the community.
• Construct a network for business leaders who want to assist in creating employment opportunities and economic development for underserved communities.
• Identify key service agencies in your community that you can collectively support in order to facilitate a beneficial kingdom impact.

When we come together to Assemble, Address, and Act on behalf of God’s kingdom in society at large, we will bring about a greater impact as a whole. The scope of our unity will determine the scope of our impact.