"Over the
next 30 years the fight for cultural renewal in America will be won by bringing
exclusively Biblical values to the public square. For that to happen, a drastic
revision of the mindset and philosophy of the role of the church in America
will need to happen. The Church must move from the meetinghouse to the
marketplace, to what is called the Ekklesia.3 The shift of Christians
from ‘church house’ to public square for civil engagement will cause a profound
realignment.
Rejuvenation
of the culture will require a different model than any now being used. The Church must begin again to
influence the categorical imperatives of the culture. There must appear
a new type of leader, different from those often presently operating,
perpetually preoccupied with social justice, the distribution of wealth,
budgets, buildings, additional privileges and rights. Focusing in these areas
has been tried and found ephemeral. The WORD must be the centerpiece, both in
the Church and in the culture.
This new
type of leader will not be in the same mold as we conventionally envision a
leader: a single person in front of a crowd of followers. For the leaders of
the new paradigm, think of Gideons and Rahabs. Each individual can and must be
a leader so that we have a nation full of them. Each will have experienced
intimacy with God; holiness will be their sole desire. Through
knowledge of His Word, they will be able to stand against the deluge of
Secularism, which has ravaged American culture. These saints, called to
walk point, may appear 'a little bit angry with the world'4,
and with what Secularism has done to the country. In all likelihood, however,
they will have learned to think spiritually, and speak in the secular. In their
education, they will have acquired the knowledge to make the most effective use
of political currency, which will include the mustering and marshaling of
Christians to the public square."
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