by Pst. Mark Batterson
In 2 Kings 8:19 we are introduced to Jehoram, king of Judah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but God spared him "for David's sake." What God does for us is not for us, but it is for the 3rd and 4th generation. God has a good memory. Reformation is not diminishing what God has done before. We stand on the shoulders of great men and women of God who have gone before us. But at the same time every generation needs its own Reformation.
How God brings reformation will look different for each country. This is why we see the apostle Paul change hats so frequently. The message does not change, but methods must. In Acts 17 he visits Athens. He went to the marketplace and competed in the marketplace. A first century philosopher said that it was easier to find a god in Athens than to find a man. He went to the areopagas and opened his mouth.
We should be known more for what we are for than what we are against. We must criticize by creating. Uniqueness is God's gift to us. Creativity is our gift to God. Paul went to both synagogue and marketplace. The church belongs in the middle of the marketplace.