There is a transformation taking place around the world. A new awareness and revelation is being revealed in this hour.
However, I believe the mandate of masks wearing speaks prophetically of the call to silence what needs to be spoken in this hour.
The question we all need to be asking is “What is our role as people of God (the church) in society today?” This is vital.
For years, we have been told that the church isn’t to be involved in politics, citing “separation of church and state.” However, the term “separation of church and state” is nowhere in our Constitution. That term and false argument is a tool cultivated by the left to silence the church from involvement in governmental affairs.
Over the years, that same false narrative was used to silence us from speaking up in schools through prayer or to allow godly teachers to impart biblical wisdom to our children. The Ten Commandments were removed from both school houses and many government buildings. It was declared inappropriate as the ACLU attacked our freedom of speech and religion with their unconstitutional arguments.
And we complied.
Over time, the church (the people) were relegated to sharing the light to the church (building) and told to keep our beliefs to ourselves as they are a “private matter.”
The problem is that the Bible says just the opposite. It never tells us our role is simply within the walls of the church building. In fact, just the opposite. We are told to “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Fast forward to the shelter-at-home pandemic mandate where church gatherings were shut down. Even now, some churches have been prohibited from reopening. So, if the church (the people) are relegated to the church building, and the church is shut down, do you see the problem?
What about those who gave up on the church years ago and have already been “sheltering at home,” separate from the church (building)?
As we reflect on all that has transpired in recent months, this gets back to an important question. What is our role in society?
It’s actually very simple. We are to go into every realm of society as the church (the people) to bring transformation.
The Greek word used for “church” in the book of Acts is ekklesia ,which means “called-out ones.” It is a governmental term that was first coined in Rome.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “The term ‘ecclesia”‘was the name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens in which officers were granted political power and juridical functions.”
So why was this same term used to refer to the “church” in the New Testament? Because as the ekklesia (the church), we are called out as an assembly to effect change and to govern. We are to transform society, not let society transform and/or silence us. We are to go into every realm to bring His light and His life. However, the only way the church transforms society is when we are in it, fulfilling our call in the realm of our gift.
When we allow ourselves to be silenced, we have effectively removed God’s voice and influence in these realms of which we are called to walk and work.
If you are a teacher, an engineer, a medical professional, a therapist, counselor, pastor, a student, a service worker or governmental worker … Whatever your daily job is at this moment, you are the church (ekklesia) called out to walk into your office/realm/space each day to take His light and life and bring transformation.
As I look around at the masks worn during the pandemic, I believe they speak prophetically of the attempt to keep our mouths silenced. Note, I’m not attacking the use of masks for those who feel they need the protection it can offer. I’m saying only that they are visual evidence of an effort to silence dissenting voices—especially the church.
It is vital that we recognize who we are and know that we were called “for such a time as this.” (Es 4:14).
We are not meant to remain silent at this time. People are seeking answers and those won’t come from the CDC, but from the Word of God which as believers we carry within us.
We are to be salt and the light. Salt that preserves and light that exposes and brings truth. We are the only “church” that some will ever encounter. They may never darken the door of a church building, but when we as the church (ekklesia) go to our office/classroom/store/arena each day we take the Church, God’s Light, to them.
That is our role in society. We are to go into every realm. Media. Government. Education. Religion. Family. Economy. Arts.
And when we do that is when the church fulfills her mandate to bring transformation. What is your role in society? To transform it with the light within you.
“Lord, we ask You to give us a renewed zeal for You and to understand our role in this hour. Help us to be bold and courageous and to speak up about You. May we bring transformation wherever we go. That when we walk into a room, You walk into the room. That we are presence carriers of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be aware of that wherever we go to be light and bring Your healing power into a world that is sick, fearful and lost.” {eoa}
Karen Hardin is a literary agent, author and intercessor. In addition to her writing, she also leads prayer teams to Washington, D.C., to pray for governmental leaders. Her work has appeared in USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors For America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List and more. For additional information, you can contact her at prioritypr.org, karenhardin.com or destinybuilders.world/
Reprinted with permission from Intercessors for America—ifapray.org.
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