How we think about culture changing does not and can not work.

The title of this blog is the opening assertion that James Davidson Hunter makes in his book, To Change the World. It's an assertion that actually gives me some comfort. Since about 1995 I have been explicitly thinking about whether it is possible to change the trajectory of the life of a city.

It was in 1995 that I was first challenged to think and act at the city level, and frankly I stepped into a way of approaching the task that was handed to me. Two people in particular who led these movements at a national level were deeply influential in shaping how I go about the work that I do as a part of Mission Houston. The longer and harder I've worked at what was given to me, the more I've wondered if our lack of results in cities across the country is actually tied to the fundamental assumptions we bring to the work. Hunter challenges some of those fundamental assumptions in his writings.

He believes, as I do, that human beings by divine intent are world makers. They are charged with the stewardship of the earth. What we do, and how we engage our relationships and our environment, matter. There is a sense in which we work together with God to create the future. And, Hunters says that our legacy in this endeavor leaves much to celebrate and much of which to repent. I agree.

He says that as he writes this book, he will explore the implicit theories (assumptions and mental models) and explicit practices that operate within the complex and often conflicted religious and cultural movements that are present in the U.S. His explorations are broad ranging. His work includes reviewing the ways that conservatives and progressives, Catholics and Protestants, mainline, charismatics, and evangelicals go about trying to change the world. Though we have seemingly different theologies, Hunter asserts that we all have a view about changing our world that is more alike than different. And the view that we hold is precisely the reason that we don't see more impact.

In the open chapter he writes: " I contend that the dominant ways of thinking about culture and cultural change are flawed. The model on which our world changing efforts are based not only do not work, they can not work."

Hmmm . . . he's sure got me thinking. More to come.