Transforming culture through the prophetic
by Marissa Bornholdt
This is an interesting time to write a blog post about the prophetic.
I realize some may need a little space before they’re ready for this topic in light of all the corrections the Lord is bringing to the way this gift is practiced in this time.
I also know that there are going to be others who will come across this post at a later time when we’re on the other side of this moment.
My hope is to share some thoughts, encouragement, and helpful advice that will build up the Body in this season of correction and be of value in the future as we benefit from the lessons we’re learning today.
The fascinating thing about culture is that no matter what approach you take, whether you’re hands-on, intentionally shaping the culture of the organization or social group you’re a part of, or hands-off, letting culture emerge and form organically, culture always exists.
It’s always there.
Every group of human beings has unspoken norms and ways of relating that shape the interactions among members.
Merriam-Webster defines culture as:
"The beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a particular social group, place or time; a particular society that has its own characteristic features of everyday existence (as pastimes or a way of life); the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization; the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic; and the combined pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends on the transmission of knowledge to succeeding generations.” [1]
These attributes always exist in any group.
However, most groups aren’t intentional about forming and shaping their culture.
Sometimes that’s okay; the group naturally gravitates toward healthy ways of relating among members, where people are respected, honored, and valued for who they are and the contributions they bring to the group.
For Christians, we aim to model Jesus in the way we live.
In the Beatitudes and the greater Sermon on the Mount as a whole in Matthew 5-7, Jesus described some of the attributes, behaviors, mindsets, and values that all who follow him should embody.
The commands of Jesus throughout the gospels instruct us in how to walk out this Christian culture.
Just as he instructed the twelve in Matthew 10:8, so also, we are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers (i.e., restore people who are outcasts and bring them back into community), drive out demons, and freely give what we’ve received from him.
When Jesus sent the disciples out, the Greek word used to describe that action is “ἀποστέλλω” (the plural form of the verb “ἀποστέλλω”), which is a word borrowed from the popular culture of their day.
It refers to sending an ambassador from one territory to another.
In Roman culture, these ambassadors were sent abroad with a fleet of ships to bring the culture of Rome to the new city so that when the Roman emperor visited, he would feel at home.
Everything from government and cuisine to art and architecture was transformed to resemble Rome.
So, when Jesus sent the disciples out with the command to heal, resurrect, restore, and deliver, he was instructing them in how to bring the culture of God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, to the Earth wherever they went.
When we talk about shifting culture through the prophetic, we’re discussing the acculturation of society, transforming it from a worldly system of beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors into one that reflects the culture of the kingdom of heaven.
But how do we do that?
I’ve been closely following Mark Chironna’s social media content on the prophetic over the past couple of months.
His emphasis on spiritual formation, character, and relationship with God as the primary objective over anything else we might do in service of the Lord is like a breath of fresh air for me right now.
In a webinar a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned an ancient church saying that struck a chord with me.
In the words of Dutch Pietist Jodocus van Lodenstein, later quoted and popularized by theologian Karl Barth, “the church reformed, always reforming” reminds us that transformation, both individual and corporate, is a continuous process.
We must be re-formed ourselves according to the word of God before we seek to transform and reform society/culture.[2]
As we allow the Holy Spirit to form and shape us into the image bearers of God we were created to be, we’ll become better equipped to bring the kingdom of heaven to the world around us.
So, step one in transforming culture through the prophetic is to be disciples of Jesus, to follow the ancient paths of spiritual formation.
A great resource I highly recommend as a starting point on this subject is “Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit” by Henri Nouwen.
In this book, the author describes five movements believers go through as they embark on a journey of prayer, studying the Word, and being in community with the body of Christ, where our theology, both intellectual/theoretical and practical, is refined and re-formed as we are transformed into the image of Jesus.
The Lord’s exhortation to Jeremiah is equally important for us today: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”[3]
As we walk out this inner transformation, we’ll start to notice spaces and places around us that are out of sync with the culture of heaven that’s being shaped and formed in us.
When that happens, our first step should be to go to the Lord in prayer and ask him some questions.
What is his will for this place?
What is his dream for this organization, city, or region?
In what ways could this place be transformed to look more like the kingdom of heaven?
How do we get there?
What practical steps should we take to transform the culture here?
Just as Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs and Rome sent ambassadors out with a fleet, when we set out to transform an organization, city, or region, we should find other Christians to join us in this effort.
As you pray together to discern God’s will for a territory, bring the insights that you receive to the group to weigh, test, and process together.
Once you’re clear on what the Lord is saying, the next step is to put your faith in action and begin taking the steps he’s given you.
There is no formula beyond that!
No 5-step process for cultural transformation.
Every place is different, and God will give you insights that are specific to that place and the people he wants to reach there.
The best advice I can give you is to pray without ceasing, continually checking in with the Lord to ensure you’re following his will, and to do so in community with others you trust until the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ (Revelation 11:15).
Seek out intercessors to pray with you and cover your organization, city, or region in prayer. And let us know in the comments how we can be praying with you, too!
References
[1] “Culture,” Merriam-Webster, last modified February 10, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture
[2] “Always Reforming – and Avoiding Two Extremes About That,” Historical Theology – Practical Theology, March 2022, https://www.reformedclassicalist.com/home/always-reformingand-avoiding-two-extremes-about-that
[3] The Holy Bible: The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Je 6:16.