The Role of Christian Development in Reviving Society

The Fabric of Society is in Trouble – Christian Development is Key

On a cool afternoon, Emma heads towards the local park for her daily power walk. She pumps her arms, passing others. After several minutes, she finds a shady park bench to rest, absorbing the sights and sounds of her bustling little town.

Closing her eyes, her face warms up from the sun. She inhales the aroma of fresh cut grass while listening to children laughing and birds singing. She grins.

When she opens her eyes, a disturbing scene catches her attention. Her mouth drops open.

A group of young teenagers huddle by a large oak tree and openly pass around what appears to be a marijuana joint. Smoke surrounds them after exhaling a round of long drags from the cigarette. The odor drifts towards Emma, confirming her observations.

Next, a boy pulls out a pill bottle from his pants pocket and shakes it into his hand. Each teenager reaches for his cupped hand and pops pills into their mouths, laughing. They pass around a tumbler. Could alcohol be involved too? Emma glances down, rubbing her forehead.

When she looks up, the boys hang on the girls inappropriately, and she shifts forward to see if they are in danger. Her eyes squint. The girls giggle and reach for another toke. Emma peers at her Apple watch to see it’s only 1pm. School is in session.

She presses her heart as a weighty sigh escapes her lips. She closes her eyes and reminisces about a bygone era when society seemed simpler, safer, and more morally grounded. Is it too late?

Instead of harboring judgment, Emma feels nothing but sadness and empathy for the children by the large tree. A mere indicator of a systemic problem within our society.

She prays silently for the group of teenagers and then for all children lacking the wisdom of God and His love.

After concluding her prayer, Emma looks within herself and wonders if one person can truly make a difference. She asks God to reveal her role within mending the fraying world around her.

She senses the Lord inspiring her to deepen her Christ-like character so others can witness His love through her. A tear trickles down her cheek, reminding her of Matthew 5:15.

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

She stands, taking one last look at the kids and races towards home, realizing there is more she can do for her community.

Statistics show a drastic rise in drug use over the last few years, especially Fentanyl. A correlation we can’t ignore is the decline among Americans who believe in God and the small number of Christians who read the Bible outside of church. Visit the American Bible Society for supporting data.

In a recent article published in Statistica by John Elflein, around 70,600 people in the United States died from a drug overdose that involved fentanyl in 2021.

A significant increase from the number of deaths reported in 2019 and a record number of fentanyl overdose deaths in United States history.

Today, the opioid epidemic is mainly driven by Fentanyl, resulting in the most overdose deaths in the US.

This rise inevitably correlates with heightened mental health crises and escalating suicide rates. Christians can choose to see these numbers as signs of no return or as possibilities to create transformative change.

By cultivating our Christian values and virtues, we can offer a lifeline of hope and positivity.

7 Ways Christian Development can play a pivotal role in restoring American core values.

1. Deeper Personal Faith

   The first step towards influencing positive change in the world is to solidify our internal relationship with God. By dedicating time to prayer, immersing ourselves in scripture, and engaging in continuous reflection, we become spiritually fortified. This strength enables us to extend wisdom, compassion, and direction to those seeking refuge.

2. Practice Unconditional Love

   Pulling a thread out of Jesus’ teachings, we must learn to love without restraints or biases. We can build unity by showing empathy and understanding to everyone, regardless of their past or beliefs.

3. Engage in Community Service

   Through immersing ourselves in voluntary community work, we show God’s love. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, or mentoring the youth, our actions can be a testament to Jesus’ teachings.

4. Promote Family Values

   The nuclear family is the bedrock of our society. To reshape the moral compass of future generations, it’s important to teach family values and lead by example.

5. Promote Honest Conversations

   Instead of avoiding controversial topics, we should have empathetic and open conversations. Mature discussions foster mutual understanding, eliminate prejudices, and lay the groundwork for harmony.

6. Humble Leadership

   By acknowledging our imperfections and shortcomings, we spearhead humble leadership. We use this approach to aid our personal spiritual journey and inspire others to look inward.

7. Invest in Christian Education

   Christian development through education is vital for spiritual transformation. We need a fresh approach because of the decline in Christian values. Social reform requires investment in future generations with Christian discipleship and resources.

Each day, the media confirms another broken piece of our decaying society. When we see rising crime, drugs, murder and suicide, it’s easy to feel powerless against declining moral values. But there’s hope.

As we take charge of our Christian development and reach out to others, we can shine as beacons of hope. Rather than casting judgment, let us illuminate the path forward, showering love, understanding, and guidance on all.

As the Apostle Paul elegantly encapsulated, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

About the Author

Teresa Devine is former Fortune 500 Executive helping busy Christians focus on faith and pivot to more purposeful living. She is the founder and CEO of Teresa Devine Co. LLC and creator of 24/7 Purpose® Academy. Teresa is a 4x certified Christian coach, Christian writer, and professional speaker.

As a floundering Christian for decades, Teresa searched for ways to foster Christian development. From her experience, she created a proven method to help activate and amplify spiritual development for the busiest Christians.

Teresa has helped numerous people get unstuck and on track from folks in addiction recovery to Fortune 500 Company Executives and everyone in between.

Fabric of Faith offers a dose of fun and valuable reading full of practical ways to weave Christianity into daily life. With an emphasis on career and the workplace, Teresa brings a unique perspective as a former corporate executive you won’t want to miss.

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Teresa is a 4x certified Christian coach. She is also a Christian writer, and Christian speaker. To learn more, visit TeresaDevine.com.