by Jordan Green

Created on: October 03, 2009   Last Updated: October 05, 2009

Only Jesus can dramatically revolutionize a world full of evil, rebellion, deceit, selfishness and materialism. Unfortunately, the definition of "Christian" has dramatically changed in the American church. God has blessed the United States with prosperity, but there is a flip-side to plenty. The American church has embraced materialism. I too, am guilty. Ephesians says to imitate Christ, so why do we look so much like the world? Jesus spent most of his ministry with thieves, prostitutes, and liars. He loved the poor and accosted the rich.

Evangelical American theology says just "pray the prayer" and you're fine. But there is a new way, something to transform our lives. When we step into Jesus' shadow, the spiritually starving world will see. But where is this truth? Where can we find the new life that will change our nation? Why not look to the very author of truth himself? Throughout the Word of God, we see a recurring theme; faith, hope, and love. These are the things that will Regenerate Our Culture and revolutionize the way we live.

Faith is more than an attitude, faith is action. What are our lives like outside the four walls we call church? Do I yell at my sister, or respond in love when she says cruel words? Hebrews 11, God's Hall of Fame for men of faith, demonstrates that faith is an action. Not a single verse says, "he believed God existed and went to church 3 times a week". Noah is praised for obeying God's command to build an ark. I would not be surprised to hear that Noah didn't feel like building an ark. If faith is only a feeling, Noah probably wouldn't have spent 100 years building a boat to rescue his family from "rain", something he'd never seen before. Instead, faith is believing that God is waiting at the bottom of a figurative cliff, and leaping off the cliff in obedience.

Hope is the second path to starting a revolution for Jesus. I love running long distance races (not competitively, but just for fun) because endurance is one of my strengths. However, if I focused all my attention on the people watching, the football game going on nearby, and how much my legs hurt, I wouldn't finish the race. No, in running, only the finish line matters. Christianity is also a marathon. Money, food, sex, sports, and entertainment, are all a powerful lure, and focusing on these things leads away from the finish line. Hope, on the other hand, gives us the determination we need to complete the race of life. Hope is vital to the Christian faith. Unlike faith,

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