“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.” Matthew 13:34 (NIV)
In 18th-century Britain, Hannah More was a literary sensation. Kings and queens requested handwritten copies of her poems. Her plays sold out London’s grandest stages. And as an educator, she laid the foundation for what would become the public school system in Great Britain.
Historians have described her as nothing less than the most influential woman of her time, even crediting her with abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire.
Perhaps you’ve heard it said that William Wilberforce, a member of Parliament, was the driving force behind ending the slave trade. But Wilberforce himself pointed to More as the heart behind the movement.
While Wilberforce worked to change politicians’ minds, More worked to change people’s hearts, writing plays, poems, and books that exposed the horrors of slavery. As a result, the culture shifted, paving the way for real change.
Long before Hannah More, Jesus modeled a similar approach. He could have pursued a seat in government or rallied for political power, yet one way He chose to change the world was through parables — stories that stir hearts toward the Kingdom of God. As Matthew 13:4 points out, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.”
Despite Jesus’ example, it’s easy to believe that the biggest changes in our world will come through government. We may think that electing the “right leaders” or passing the “right laws” will bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. And while politics has a place, Jesus and Hannah More remind us that true change often begins with the hearts of individuals.
When hearts are transformed, culture often follows.
Consider foster care and adoption as a case study. Scripture is clear that caring for orphans is close to the heart of God: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27, NIV). So a powerful question we can ask ourselves is, What is my creative response to this problem?
If you’re an artist like More, perhaps your response is writing stories, music, or films that highlight the beauty of adoption and the need for loving homes. If you’re an educator, maybe it’s nurturing a culture of compassion in your classroom and helping students understand the value of family. If you’re a business leader, it could be providing paid leave for foster parents or offering financial support for adoptions.
Whatever the issue — foster care, racial injustice, poverty, or something else — don’t just wait for others to reveal God’s Kingdom. Be the creator who makes it visible today. Because as Christian author and musician Andy Crouch has said, “The only way to change culture is to create more of it.”
Jesus, thank You for showing us the power of parables and stories to shape hearts. Give me wisdom to see how I can creatively use my gifts to create culture that points to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Mark 4:33-34, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything” (NIV).
How could you use your gifts to shape culture and bring lasting change to an issue you care about? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Jordan Raynor. All rights reserved.
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