The need for trust goes beyond the individual evangelist to the culture he or she represents. New converts don’t want to join toxic cultures. Some human groups and cultures are more trustworthy than others, and this includes churches! Cults represent an extreme example of unhealthy society, but cultural toxicity is by no means confined to such groups. It is always good to examine our own cultures, not because we want to undermine them, but because we want to build them up, and we know that the best way to do that is to become what is called in organisational psychology a ‘learning organisation.’ A learning organisation is a group of people who continually facilitate the development, wellbeing, and success of its members. Such a group observes itself, actively capturing knowledge, and transforming itself to adapt to both internal and external changes, under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit (in the case of Christian families, businesses, and churches). A Christian fellowship treats learning not as a separate training event, but as a core, everyday part of life, and because of this, it makes seeking God and listening to Him, its central practice.
