Biblical Truth In The Midst Of Cultural Issues

Recently I heard two men talking on a Christian radio station who were going to discuss a particular social issue. One of them asked, “How are we going to talk about this without causing division?” I thought to myself, if there is no division then there is probably compromise, and if there is compromise there is a departure from biblical truth. Since when is there not supposed to be division? There already is by the simple fact that Christian beliefs are pretty much opposite of how the secular culture believes. While it is true that with some beliefs there may be some common ground, but with the subject that was going to be discussed, not so.

The truth of God’s inspired Word is very clear about certain things. Not only that, but the entire Christian life is also supposed to be centered around holiness and obedience. The biblical meaning of holiness is to be “separate” or “set apart.” This word is used over 600 times in the Bible. One example is Ephesians 1:4. “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”  1 Peter 1:15 says, “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” There is separation between God’s Kingdom of light and Satan’s kingdom of darkness. And in today’s culture this separation has become increasingly more definitive and obvious.

Holding firm to biblical teaching is what determines one’s position on moral and cultural issues. A major problem, however, is the fact that a large percentage of so-called Christians no longer adhere to biblical teachings. The Bible says what it means, and means what it says! There is a saying that where God has put a period don’t replace it with a question mark. In the case of the subject to be discussed on the radio, the opposition has altered particular passages of scripture to bring them into conformity with their lifestyle, and they have their own Bible translation called the New Queen James Version. I presume that the two men on the radio were not aware of this.

If Christians are going to try not to cause division, we will not be much different from the rest of the culture, and we will not be a spiritual light to a darkened world. Biblical truth does not change from generation to generation, nor from culture to culture! Division is to be expected. “It’s our job to simultaneously engage the culture around us without allowing it to infiltrate our lives”, says author Blake Guichet. She adds, “The truth delivered without love is brutal, but love offered without truth is enabling. What I want more than anything is the ability to hold truth in one hand and love in the other and offer them to a world desperate for both.”*

So, how should Christians respond to other believers who want to compromise their beliefs, or to non-believers who are in opposition? 2 Timothy 2:23-26 tells us. “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being held captive to do his will.” 

*Blake Guichet, Confessions of a Crappy Christian, Tyndale House Publishers, 2023, pgs. 186-187