Summary Of To Change The World

Hunter writes To Change the World to Christians who want to change the world, but have tried to do so in many well intentioned, but misguided ways. Hunter divides the book into three essays, beginning with a discussion on why the Christian view of culture is mistaken.
Christians tend to have an idealized view of changing the world, but do not have a full understanding of culture. They long to change the world, but believe in “grass roots movements” and adopt the misconception if they are more faithful, more intentional, more holy they will be able to affect change in their culture. Hunter argues that this is mistaken. Culture is complex, there are many moving parts. In response to the misguided idealism of many Christians, Hunter offers eleven propositions for what he argues is a better way. He unpacks in these propositions ideas realistically describing culture and what cultural
Christians have mistaken politics for power in America. This begins Hunter’s discussion on three ways that Christians have tried to engage culture and failed. The first ideology he addresses is “the Christian right” who adopted a defensive posture toward the culture as it has “evolved”. The values that America was founded on have been lost and must be reclaimed. According to Hunter, those in the “Christian right” are seeking to engage culture by returning to a “Christian America”. The second ideology he addresses is those on the “Christian left”. These are the Christians who have adopted a “relevance to” posture of cultural engagement. These are Christians who seek to change the world by social justice. Using Old Testament prophets to proof text their positions, they believe that to change the world they need to develop a more relevant culture meeting the needs of the people. They blame the Christian right for the negative ways culture has responded to