Fall 2024

THE INCREASE: Brian Hommel - Changing the Culture

How do you change a culture? Before we can answer that, we must first understand what the culture is doing to us.

“But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days.” — 2 Chronicles 15:17

What are the high places that are being spoken of here? High places were literally places that were geographically high and they were used as a place of worship. The problem was, instead of worshipping the Lord at those places, they were worshipping pagan shrines and idols.

That got me thinking the other day when I was I praying. I asked the Lord, “Are there any high places in my life?” That was a dangerous question to ask the Lord, but a necessary one. So the first thing that came to my mind was TV. I was like, “Come on Jesus. I love watching sports and it’s Sunday. I like to sit on my couch and watch.”

What do we allow into our minds on a regular basis? What we watch will affect our souls. Not just with TV, but with social media, iPhones and everything else. I am not saying trash all that stuff, but I am asking you to think about the impact these are having on your life and the lives of those around you.

What takes the highest place in your life?

— Brian Hommel, Arizona Diamondbacks chaplain

The Increase, part of the Sports Spectrum Network, is a community of Christian pro athletes sharing their personal stories of the decrease of self and the increase of Christ (John 3:30). Visit TheIncrease.com for more stories and videos.