There’s something that’s really been on my heart lately, and I feel like it’s so important for myself and others to keep in mind and remember. It has to do with our future. The future of our families, our churches, our communities, and our country.

I hear people pass blame for the state of our country and our communities all the time. All of the time we are saying that today’s culture and today’s society and today’s fill in the blank are going to be our demise. That culture has run away from us and is changing our lives and filling our kid’s heads with junk. That the culture is leading us into a state of apathy where we no longer care about others or keeping the laws or leading with character and morals. Christians are calling people out for their bad character and then blaming them for the trajectory of our collective future.

You know what I think? I think that if you are a Christian, the future of our community, our neighborhoods, our kids, our families, our country, even our world depends on you, not “them.” If you profess Jesus Christ as your savior and long to do right and abide in him each day, then the future of our culture is up to you. Why? Well, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says this, “Some people don’t have the Holy Spirit. They don’t accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. Things like that are foolish to them. They can’t understand them. In fact, such things can’t be understood without the Spirit’s help.” NIrV. Do you have the Holy Spirit living in you? Then you, my friend, understand. You’re ahead of the game. You get the things of the Spirit. It’s not nonsense and foolishness to you. Also, did you catch, “such things can’t be understood without the Spirit’s help?” That means that you cannot expect an unbeliever to behave as one who believes. They might not think the same as you. They might not make the same decisions as you. They might not lead their families and communities the same way you do, or you would if given the opportunity.

But, guess who’s job it is to teach them? Yours. Mine. Ours. Yes, that’s right. Matthew 28 gives us the Great Commission, correct?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So, as we are going, as we are living and hanging out and drinking our mochas, and working our 9-5’s, as we’re doing these things, Christ calls us to make disciples. We are to make disciples. We are to lead others to Him, and in turn, they will be filled with the Spirit and changed forever. We are the ones to change the tide. We are the ones called to change our culture. To right the wrongs. To stand for justice. There is no one we can blame for this incredible culture shift but ourselves. Sure, I know that the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) I get that. And he, along with this fallen, broken, messy world, sometimes slip us up and get us into trouble. But, righting those wrongs? Bringing others before the throne of our most gracious God? Our job.

The blame game, the fighting, the name calling has to stop. Saying that the culture has stolen your children doesn’t get you out of bad parenting any more than crying to the police officer gets you out of a ticket. We have to own up to our responsibilities and fight for what’s right and true. It is our turn to do the right thing. To change the tide. To show the world that in the end, we know who wins and, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35. Let’s stop the blaming and the name calling and truly love others into the arms of Jesus. Right the wrongs. Fight the fight. Lead the way.