Clive Urquhart

The future belongs to those who take hold of it now. What we do today effects what tomorrow, what next week, next year, the next 10 years and beyond will be like. God has called the church to influence, to shape the future. If we don't shape the future by what we do today then someone else's vision of the future will shape us.

There are growing pressures and agendas from political correctness, different faiths and lifestyles that are seeking to influence and even control communities and society. In these rapidly changing times, the church is called to influence through visible and relevant means in its locality, region and nation - like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

We have been seeking to get to grips with what this means in our church. We were recently asked, "What do you want your city to look like in 2020? What kind of nation do you want to live in, in 15 years time? What are you doing today that will determine and shape these outcomes in the years ahead?"

These questions help to evaluate what we are doing. Are we just doing the 'church' thing? Do we really believe that God could give such influence and favour to the church locally and nationally that it would define culture, morals and lifestyle in society? Do we dare believe that God really has called us to be salt and light in the world and a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden? When we look at our immediate area we've been asking, what is our church known for in our locality? What would stop happening if our church wasn't there? If our church shut down would the town even know? How do we respond?

Preaching from platforms, running church programmes and protesting about the state of society won't bring the influence and change that is needed. Words are powerful, but words with action bring about change. Jesus spoke the truth but He always coupled it with very visible ministry. He was modelling what the body of Christ was to be like. From the rich, wealthy businessmen to the poor, the sinner and the outcast, He loved, healed and delivered, related to and met needs in very practical ways. He became the talk of the town wherever He went, challenging the status quo and religious culture of the day. What a great role model! What a great example of how we, the church, are called to be in our society today. Jesus' own mission statement - 'the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost' - is the propelling mission of the Church in the 21st Century.

Paul, the apostle, and Silas were accused of causing trouble 'all over the world' through the gospel. What a great reputation. Firstly, the world knew who they were. Second, the world knew the message they carried and exactly what they lived for.

God wants to be the centre of attention and God wants the church to be the centre of attention! He is redefining the mandate of the church and how that needs to be expressed in the 21st Century. It's time for the church to come out of the shadow of religiosity and irrelevance into the public arena in business, media, education and arts and both local and national government. God is positioning believers in all these spheres of influence, moving the emphasis away from platform orientated churches to the believer in the marketplace of life.