Faithfulness in a Broken Culture (Part 2)

Read Part 1.

Cultural engagement does not mean compromise, it means boldness. Many fundamentalists have looked at the culture and thought that we need to distance ourselves to stay faithful. We need to be more like Elijah at Mt Carmel declaring the superiority of Christ even against stern opposition. We have a huge advantage when we speak the truths of Scripture to the world around us. One of the great problems of our day is that we do not know the Scriptures well enough to be bold in them. Some have forsaken Peter’s instruction to always be ready (1Pe 3:15) because we can think that other things are more important. We give the most time to what is most important to us. How many Christians can speak of the latest news but cannot walk you through the doctrine of the Trinity in the Scriptures?

Because we can be fickle, temporal creatures we can give our attention to the urgent instead of the critical. It is time for us to prepare well and dig into the Word of God so that we might engage the culture around us with boldness. Being in the culture does not mean that we succumb to wickedness but that we declare the truths of Scripture and show the love of Christ in the midst of it.

The world around us will not be ready to hear the truths of Scripture unless we bring it to them in love. Love does not mean a lack of boldness, but it does mean that we demonstrate kindness and compassion as we bring truth to those around us. Steve Viars does a great job of helping us in this regard in his book Loving Your Community.¹ Viars encourages us to be creative and bold in our love of the world around us. He talks about bringing your community into your building, caring for children, starting schools, ministering to men and women in precarious situations, and more. He presents a church that is present and active in the community and because they are involved, the community listens.

Jesus set this example for us as He ministered in His context. He spoke truth while healing and feeding those around Him. His love demonstrated that He is the Messiah. Our love demonstrates that we come in the name of the Messiah. James encourages us to care for widows and orphans in their time of need and to be holy Gas 1:27). John tells us that if we see fellow believers in need and neglect to meet those needs it is evident that we are not believers (1Jn 3:17). Christians are purveyors of truth, but we must also be purveyors of love. We know that the world will not receive what we bring as love because they hate the Truth, but we bring love, nonetheless.

First John 3:12-13 tells us that righteousness in the lives of believers will result in persecution. We should not be surprised when difficulty comes. This can never be a reason for us not to biblically engage the culture around us. We are not to be unloving, but we are to be bold. Standing for what the Bible says is true may result in hate. Calling to repentance those that practice homosexuality and transgenderism will without a doubt bring fierce retribution in many situations. The faithful Christian is not concerned with the opinion of the world, but with the judgment of the Father (Mt 10:28). Yes, even if you come along gently, speaking the truth in love, you can expect hatred, and that what you say may likely be taken out of context. You can expect that they will hear things that you never said and receive them in a manner in which you did not convey them. The truth that you speak to those around you will certainly be received as foolishness (1Co 2:14). The Lord told us this would happen (In 15:18). Why are we often surprised and/or afraid of the pushback? Speak the truth in the context in which the Lord has placed you and do not compromise. Our responsibility is faithfulness, not results. Fear of persecution is inconsistent with what the Lord has given us which is a spirit of power and love and self-control (2Ti 1:7).

In this spiritual battle, we must not think that we have to carry the torch on our own. The Lord is gracious to us and in His good plan to make all things new, He is starting with us. Believers have the Holy Spirit within, and the Lord is expanding His work on earth through those whose hearts He is changing. When you tire of the culture around you and begin to think that the battle is lost, remember that Christ is still at work. He is always working in the hearts of His people to bring about His good purpose. The battle is won, Christian. We should not walk around as though it is lost. God has told us the end of all things in the book of Revelation, and it isn’t even close. God is not throwing a hail Mary at the end of the game hoping the right team comes down with it in the end zone. He has won the battle; we get to see Him bring it to pass.

Perhaps in a low place, you are tempted to think that God has forgotten you or your city. Bible Center Church in Paonia, CO is on a street where you see half a dozen “pride” flags as you drive down to the church. God has not forgotten Bible Center Church and He has not forgotten you. If you ever doubt, preach the gospel to yourself. God loved you enough that He gave His only Son for you. Of course, He loves you. The battle is not lost. We are winning.

The local church must lead this charge of cultural engagement. Elders should model cultural engagement and lead their churches in fighting against the godless tide of the current age. The battle to be fought is not one for para-church ministries. God promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church (Mt 16:18). Nothing else has this promise.

Pastors have a responsibility to lead their churches down the path of cultural engagement and be bold enough to declare the truth and engage in the battle. Dispensationalists, armed with the truth of Scripture, should be in the best position to fight back against the culture around us. Churches should work together, start schools, plant churches, begin universities, and disciple our children and the adult believers around us. We cannot abdicate our responsibility in view of Christ’s return. It should make us all the more diligent in proclaiming the truth of the Word. We have the Lord’s promise that nothing can stop the Church and the best weapon conceivable is the Word of God. Why would we not press on? When our Lord returns let us be found faithful.