I recently returned from visiting a number of countries including Uganda and Russia. The trip highlighted for me the different ways we can all play a prophetic, Christ-like role in our culture. The question is, do we try to build a better world from the grassroots or do we try to do it from the inside with access to power?

My time in Uganda included seeing World Vision’s Citizen Voice and Action process. Its advocacy approach allows people to speak up to their governments for their rights to education, health and clean water.

The change Ugandans have been able to affect have been through community organisation and grassroots campaigning. These have traditionally been the main tools of the activist.

Russia was different. I was there with the G20 and it involved meeting with the powerful. As representatives of civil society, we emphasised that economic growth has to be inclusive.

If it only goes to the top five per cent, then even when there is growth in the world and functioning markets, the poor still miss out.

Thankfully, the G20 agreed with us and has now added inclusive growth as one of their main pillars.

What my trip showed me was that our prophetic role as Christians can include both grassroots activism and making change by meeting with and speaking truth to those in power. This is what we see in the Old Testament prophets, as Philip Yancey points out in his recent book, Christians and Politics: Uneasy Partners. Elijah actively opposed Ahab’s rule while Obadiah ran Ahab’s palace. Amos and Hosea spoke out powerfully against kings while Isaiah acted as a type of court prophet. And Daniel held high office in two successive pagan governments.

As Christians and citizens we can all play a prophetic role, whatever it may look like. It is easy, as theologian Walter Brueggemann says, to be so comfortable in our culture that we are numb to the realities of poverty and injustice in the world. Brueggemann says that our consumer society reduces our humanity by taking away our capacity to imagine a better world.

Our Christian faith is to be characterised by a holy dissatisfaction with life—knowing that hope in Christ drives us on to good deeds, including being a prophet. And you can do it in whichever way God calls you. As God told Joshua, be strong and courageous!