Planting in a Eroding Culture
I remember in fifth grade when we planted a tree on the property of East Clayton Elementary school for Earth day. Our class dug the hole, lowered the tree into the ground, and tied the strings to anchor it into the ground. The tree made the courtyard prettier, but it also symbolizes something greater.
Have you thought about why trees are planted? Sure, trees create oxygen, provide habitats for animals, and make everything more scenic. However, trees also provide stability and they are signs of new life and future hope.
It seems that our culture is eroding. The signs are all around us. Things that were once unheard of are battles we are fighting. Division both politically, culturally, and racial seem to be wider than ever. Stability and hope for the future seem to be an ancient belief of the past that has given way to uncertainty and fear.
What if the antidote to an eroding culture isn’t…..
Winning the next election.
Fighting cultural battles online and in the streets.
Hunkering down and going into protection mode.
What if the antidote to an eroding culture is planting. Just like planting new trees provides stability and hope for the future, what if planting churches provides stability and hope for our future cultures?
Church planting has long been the church's secret weapon to bring hope. In fact, the first time the Church planting hops on the scene in scripture is in Acts when the church at Jerusalem is planted. From that seed planted in Jerusalem, the church sprang up in Judea, Samaria, and beyond.
Today, in a cultural ground that is eroding before our eyes, it may be that planting churches in cities, rural areas, suburbs, and beyond is the key to bring the hope of the gospel and the stability of faith to areas and people groups that need it most. Maybe, it is the stability and hope of the gospel that is the seed that can help stabilize a hopeless and eroding culture?
Much like that tree we planted in fifth grade brought stability to the eroding ground of the school courtyard. Much like that tree symbolizes hope for the future. Maybe, the stability and the hope for the future of America resides in church planting? It's just a thought for your consideration.