The church is supposed to be a beacon of hope, a place where people see God’s love and truth reflected in action. But sometimes, while we’ve been good at pointing out what’s wrong in the world, we haven’t done as well at showing what’s right. The unfortunate result is that the church hasn’t always made the positive difference in society that it was meant to.
Think of it this way: the world is like a ship that naturally drifts off course because of sin—things like selfishness, greed, and injustice are baked into human nature. The Bible even explains this in passages like Psalm 51:5 and Ephesians 2:1–3, which tell us that we are flawed from the start. However, the church should act as a lighthouse, guiding the ship back on track. The problem is, when Christians don’t live according to their faith, the lighthouse dims, and the ship continues to drift.
This dimming effect starts at home. When Christian families don’t live in ways that reflect their faith—like showing love, kindness, and integrity—then the churches they make up become weaker too. Weak churches struggle to inspire or help their communities. And when the community doesn’t feel the church’s presence as a force for good, the broader society misses out on the positive impact that the church was designed to bring.
So, what’s the solution? The Bible gives us some tough love in 1 Peter 4:17, reminding us that change must start with the church itself. If Christians want to make a difference in the world, they first need to look inward—examining how they’re living their faith within their families, churches, and local communities.
The ultimate goal is to build “kingdom-minded” people—individuals who reflect God’s values in their daily lives. These are the kinds of people who not only help their neighbors and communities but also step into leadership roles, using biblical principles to guide their decisions. Whether it’s in schools, businesses, or even government, the church has the potential to shape a society rooted in justice, compassion, and truth.
In simple terms: the church was created to make the world better. But that can only happen if Christians take their faith seriously, starting in their own homes. From there, strong families create strong churches, and strong churches become agents of real change in their communities, helping society as a whole find its way back to what’s good and right. If we want to see this kind of transformation, the work begins with us.
Minister A Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 