What brings about effective, lasting change in behaviour? In a recent Out Of Ur videocast thingy, Andy Stanley maintains that it isn't great messages, slick events or whatever that changes people but systems (the video is short & he doesn't explain the point beyond making it).
Not long after watching that, I read this post by Matt Perman. Some time previously he made the point that systems trump intentions. I think there's some mileage in that point. But he now adds that culture trumps systems, referencing an article about Obama's response to the recent failures in the security systems of the US to make the point. I think the point is well-made.
Which leads me to pondering: if systems are helpful in creating behaviour (think: godly patterns & structures) yet are not sufficient to secure that behaviour, how can the culture (think: motivation) be impacted in order to bring about genuine transformation?
I think the answer lies in the biblical combination of Word and Spirit. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2) and we are to be transformed into his image with ever increasing glory which comes the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
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