The world doesn’t lack passion. It lacks footing.

In a recent Ministry Collaborative podcast, Mark Ramsey quoted an old saying:

“Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world.”

That simple sentence exposes a hard truth: movement without a foundation is just motion—and motion alone rarely changes anything.

I’ve been pondering his words, and I’ve come to a less-than-obvious conclusion.

Much of our ineffectiveness—in life, in relationships, and in ministry—comes from an unwillingness to take a stand on what truly matters, or even to dare say that some things matter more than others.

I appreciate the impulse behind the idea that everything matters to someone, depending on perspective. It is a generous instinct, rooted in a desire to affirm people. But even noble intentions carry risks.

When everything matters, nothing does.

When vision is distorted by isolation, individualism, or materialism, we become myopic—unable to see clearly. In those moments, what we need is a better lens.

For those who preach or lead congregations—and for all who seek to follow Jesus—that lens is grace: grace that calls for righteousness and justice without condemning those who have been deceived by selfishness and insularity. It is grace that affirms the life and dignity of all God’s creation. It is compassion. It is generosity.
Where we stand, if we hope to move the world, is in Christ, with Christ, and on Christ.

If we want to move the world, the question is not whether we are passionate enough. The question is, ‘Where are we standing?’

The Church does not need more motion. It needs more grounding.

My ancestors understood this when they sang words that carried faith through uncertainty and loss:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand…
All other ground… is sinking sand!

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11

Learning where to stand requires:

• Naming your Ground
This week, take time to name—out loud or in writing—what you are actually standing on.
Ask yourself: What convictions shape my decisions when no one is watching?
If Christ is our foundation, clarity matters.
• Practicing Discernment, Not Equivalence
Resist the pressure to treat everything as equally urgent.
Pay attention to what you elevate with your time, energy, and attention.
Some things matter more—and choosing wisely is an act of faith, not exclusion.
• Letting Grace Be Your Lens
Before reacting, judging, or withdrawing, ask: Am I seeing this through grace?
Grace does not deny truth or justice—it grounds them in compassion and generosity.
• Examining Your Movement
Notice where you are busy but ungrounded.
Activity is not the same as faithfulness.
Ask: Is my movement rooted in Christ, or driven by anxiety, outrage, or fear?
• Seeking Community
Faith was never meant to be practiced alone.
Seek grounding in community—through worship, conversation, prayer, and shared discernment.
Standing firm is easier when we stand together.
• Maintaining your Foundation
Make space each day—however briefly—to return to Christ as your footing.

If we want to move the world, we don’t start by running – we start by standing—

in Christ,
with Christ,
and on Christ.

ihs,
just adam