These are two common phrases from Christians who graduate from High School or University. They are not always said, but often when they do they are referring to changing the world in a big grandiose way. This phrase has come to mean to many: go to some poor country and work towards fixing everything with them. There are many books on the proper way to do so as well. There is nothing wrong with people changing the world through radical, big acts such as becoming missionaries to a third world country or starting a coffee shop ministry. However, I have found that these phrases can be discouraging to those who feel called to stay where they are at. Who feel called to work within the mundane life in a small rural town. To those who feel called to simply live the Gospel out in their day to day lives. It is much harder to see the impact and growth out of those kinds of callings. Brad McKoy's new book A Culture of Few: Following Jesus Transforming Culture, however, gives hope to your every day "world changers."
I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of his book and I found it to be a perfect companion to The Shaping of Things to Come by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost. The book is filled with applicable examples of how to be a world changer in ways that one might not first expect and/or plan on. It is an encouragement to those who are not called to head to some far off, exotic location, but to those who are called to live a simple life for the Gospel. McKoy explores 5 I's in understanding what our focus must be in becoming a culture of the few. In following in the way of Jesus and His culture of few, he looks at our need for finding our Identity, Invitation, Intentionality, Intercession, and Intimacy with God.
He talks of many who try radical and fast-producing ways to change the world and often find themselves burnt out and ready to quit. McKoy shares that, "One of the most important things that every would-be world-changer needs to know is that God’s plan is not for you to be poured out and empty"(170) and that "The hope for cultural transformation does not come from us reaching our potential or making names for ourselves. It doesn’t come from getting credit for something good or for coming up with a clever strategy. The hope for cultural transformation comes from the lives of courageous people who carry transformation inside of them, allowing their lives to spill over on others"(198) He also shows that the Kingdom of God is slow moving, but once we know that we do not have to do everything ourselves in every possible situation and learn that we are called to do what we see the Father doing it reminds us to refocus our lives. It reminds us to start with our Identity as adopted children of God and embrace the sonship/daughtership as we work towards the Kingdom.
Overall, I felt this book was a reminder of the question, "What could God do with a few people committed to live a focused life in the midst of the crowd?" and McKoy answers it with the reminder that "The direction of the masses is typically shaped by the relative few. Influence in the hands of a handful can change the course of history, for better or for worse” (pg. 18). So we do not need large numbers and crazy, radical events to change the world. We just need a culture of few who are committed to knowing their identity, having an attitude of invitation, being intentional, and becoming people who are not only intercessors, but who have an intimacy with God. This is our reminder to stop wishing we could do something big and crazy like some other world changer we know, but instead focus on the ways that we can impact those around us and follow the idea that it only takes a few to leave an impact. Stop making excuses, stop trying to find the perfect organization, but instead do what God is calling you to do, right now, where you are at for the Kingdom. I would greatly recommend this book to anyone, but not as a church planting or discipleship model, but as a way to live life for the Kingdom no matter where you are at.
