Andy Flannagan gives thought to what brings true change

Andy Flannagan

Christians all across the country are stepping up to the challenge of working with local and national government. But do we need a new vocabulary for this interaction?

For years, there has been a debate amongst Christian agencies working in all parts of the world about whether you come with a Bible, or with bread, or with both. The broad argument is rendered meaningless by the presumption that the Bible and bread represent two different agendas. At their best, and in terms of philosophy and theology, they are both simply part of a single agenda - transformation. We must simply acknowledge the obvious truth that any external transformation often starts with and is sustained by internal transformation. As A.W. Tozer said, "There is no such thing as societal change without individual transformation". The gospel isn't just about individual change, but it isn't just about societal change either. There is a change of heart involved. The collective impact of the change of individual hearts - corporate transformation - can cause unstoppable societal change. There is a major difference between change that is inspired mostly by external factors such as the political wind, or expediency, and change that has an internal root. Change which has been caused by a true change of heart has a chance of lasting. Please however note that this is not to pretend that this holistic agenda has always been embraced by the church. Far from it. And for that we must simply hold up our hands and say sorry. The church is also a body of people undergoing transformation.

Avowed and outspoken atheist Matthew Parris put it like this in his 2009 article for the Times:

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

And again..

I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith. But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.

And again..

Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more open.

Inside Out

Bob Geldof was once asked what he was going to do next to change the world. His answer was, "Don't be ridiculous - I can't change the world - I can't even change myself." Climate change is the perfect example. We all accept the reality of situation, but most of us remain incredibly hypocritical in the way we live our lives. Whether it's our continued addiction to flying and driving or our consumption of pre-packaged food, our actions belie our professed care for creation. The problem is that our heads may have been converted, but our hearts have not. Nothing really changes in the external until the internal has done a 180 degree turn. There is selfishness at the root of all of us, yet we spend our time merely snipping off the leaves and branches, rather than pulling up those roots.

A community of faith is often an incubator of this transformation, because left to our own devices, unsupported, the goodwill and new years' resolutions quickly fade. There is an encouragement and accountability about tight community that is rarely replicated. I have met too many youth workers and community workers who are burnt out, because they feel like lone rangers. Also those in whom they do see positive change often have no community context to give into or grow in. Therefore the change (especially with young people) is all too fleeting. As the African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together".

This doesn't merely apply to local situations. There is a global family of faith. There are countless projects where mutual transformation occurs through church partnerships. A church in Luton is transformed by its encounter with the hospitality and faith and community values of a church in Chennai, India. The church in Chennai is blessed by the provision of funding and expertise from Luton for its projects amongst the destitute of their city.

Here's a sample of a recent policy document from us:

CSM is keen to underline the profound impact of faith-based agencies and churches in communities all over the UK, and also in the area of international development. However we believe that a deeper level of understanding is required if this impact is to be maintained and in fact deepened. Please bear in mind that this is not a discussion about funding, but understanding.