Work which is slow and deep

Elull on the nature of the Christian's work in the world:

But when we say that the situation of the Christian is revolutionary--and that it is here that the change in our civilization must begin--this statement sounds paradoxical and ironical. To say that the Christian is a revolutionary, does not always seem obvious in history...For today Christians certainly seem to be the most conservative, and indeed the mildest, of men...But the fact that Christians, as human beings, at certain periods in history lose sight of the revolutionary character of their religion, does not mean that the Holy Spirit has ceased to work, and that the position of the Christian...has ceased to be revolutionary.

For the intervention of the Holy Spirit is not dependent on man and his choice, any more than the revolutionary character of the Christian situation depends on man. It is not because people choose Christ that they become Christian, it is because Christ has chosen them.  It is not because Christians choose to go out into the world that they work there, it is because Christ sends them there. They are not revolutionary because they feel the urgent need for revolution...The situation of the Christian is revolutionary for other than intellectual or self-chosen reasons...This situation is part of the work of the church in the world, and it is true to say (as simple fact) that during the greater part of its history the church has, indeed, been in a revolutionary situation.

We must, however, define what we mean more precisely: we are here concerned with a situation, but not necessarily with an action.  This situation may be defined as a "state of permanent revolution," which may be translated into concerted action, but which may also remain in a state of ferment, and lead to a work which is slow and deep...Our concern is for a revolution affecting the world, and not only the State, or the government.  It is possible to have a conformist attitude to the government, and yet to be revolutionary toward the world.  Here the idea of revolution is much deeper.  Here the concern is not essentially to change the form of the State, or of an economy, but the very framework of a civilization, which ought to be continually examined and tested...Thus we have a deeper vision...of what this revolutionary character of the Christian faith might be in the world at the present day.

Jaques Ellul, The Presence of the Kingdom, pp. 32-33.