Gradual Awakening: The Unfolded Promise of Christian Transformation

The Christian understanding of change has always been built not on instant revolutions but on a deep, gradual impact on people’s souls. From the very beginning, the teaching hints that true change starts with an inner awakening that subsequently spreads to society. The truth embedded in the Gospel is meant to permeate hearts slowly, allowing an individual encounter with the divine to transform each person and eventually the whole world.

Today we see that in the two thousand years of promises proclaimed by Christ, the world has still not achieved complete unity. Christianity exists in a variety of traditions, and despite all efforts, its core message is often distorted by different interpretations. This reminds us that even the deepest spiritual ideas require time and patience to be realized.

At the same time, a fundamental problem remains unchanged – the absence of love, which is the force capable of uniting and breathing life into the teaching. True transformation is only possible when inner sincerity and care become an inseparable part of every heart. For this very reason, Christians must demonstrate love, serving as an example for the world, even when confronted with disagreements and obstacles.

Thus, the genuine transformation of society has always been and remains a matter of spiritual awakening, requiring time and personal responsibility. Rather than demanding immediate changes, the teaching calls for continuous, conscious effort which, over time, can bring about true unity and love in the world.

Why have Christians not transformed the world as expected?

The answer to this question lies in understanding that from the very beginning, Christian teaching did not intend for an instantaneous social transformation, but rather a gradual influence on human souls and society. On one hand, as noted in one source, in two thousand years the truth promised by Christ has not fully materialized in unity and peace:
"But now two thousand years have passed, and there is neither peace nor unity in the world. Christianity itself is divided; indeed, the Gospel is preached to all nations, but from different mouths, and therefore believers are not gathered into one flock. … Christ’s promise remains unfulfilled, and His prayer was not heard." (source: link txt)

On the other hand, Christian teaching was originally not meant to immediately transform the world; rather, the forces brought into the world by Christ are meant to gradually infuse society as individuals embrace the Gospel. Another source stresses:
"But we will try to prove that in the Church, as it exists today, Christianity is preserved as purely as the divine, untainted can be when poured into earthly vessels. First of all, Christian teaching did not come into the world to transform it instantly; the freedom of the world and of humankind itself presupposes that the forces introduced by Christ will slowly spread throughout the world as people adopt and freely become imbued with them." (source: link txt)

Another important aspect is the internal problem – the lack of love, which is the driving force behind transformation. One source sums up this notion as follows:
"That is, everything is logical, everything is correct, but there is one thing missing: love. And a world without love is dreadful. Therefore, we must, like the salt of the earth, as Christians, manifest this love. And yet, we ourselves do not possess it." (source: link txt)

Finally, it is emphasized that the infusion of spiritual power into society is a slow, gradual process that does not promise an immediate change in external forms. It is precisely this inevitable slowness and the varied acceptance of the Gospel by different peoples and cultures that explain why the transformation of the world does not occur immediately but as the result of a long and complex process of spiritual awakening.

In summary, Christians have not yet transformed the world as expected because their mission was originally aimed at deep, personal, and gradual spiritual transformation of society—rather than an instantaneous overhaul of all external structures and the establishment of unity, which also faces challenges of internal division and the lack of fundamental love.