Christians today are under enormous pressure to remain silent.
In a society increasingly hostile to biblical values, many believers have adopted a posture of cultural disengagement. They retreat into private faith, assuming that if they simply preach the gospel and avoid confrontation, they will be faithful witnesses. But is that truly what God expects? Is retreat a biblical option?
This article contends that faithful Christianity requires not only private holiness and gospel proclamation, but also public engagement. To avoid engaging the culture is not an act of humility—it is an act of abdication. Our Lord has not given us the option of silence. We are called to be salt and light in a decaying and darkened world (Matt. 5:13–16). To fulfill that calling, we must recover a biblically full vision of Christ, understand the examples of bold cultural witness in Scripture, identify the false teachings that stifle our voice, and reclaim our responsibilities as citizens and ambassadors of the King.
The Biblical Mandate for Cultural Engagement
Scripture does not permit the Christian to remain detached from the moral, social, and political concerns of the world. We are told to “expose the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11), to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), and to be a “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Jesus Himself said that His followers are to be “the light of the world” and warned that salt which loses its savor is worthless (Matt. 5:13–14).
The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20) is not limited to individual conversions. Christ commands us to teach the nations to obey everything He has commanded. That means engaging every area of human life—law, ethics, education, sexuality, family, and more—with the authority of the King.
Old Testament Examples of Cultural Confrontation
The Old Testament is rich with examples of bold cultural engagement:
- Noah preached righteousness to a corrupt generation (2 Pet. 2:5).
- Lot attempted to restrain evil in Sodom (Gen. 19:9; 2 Pet. 2:7–8).
- Moses demanded justice from Pharaoh (Exod. 5–12).
- Phinehas acted zealously against sin (Num. 25).
- Elijah rebuked idolatry and false prophets (1 Kings 18).
- Jeremiah endured persecution for confronting Judah’s sins (Jer. 20).
- Daniel resisted Babylonian indoctrination (Dan. 1–6).
These figures confronted their cultures not quietly, but with public clarity and divine authority.
New Testament Boldness
The Church did not become passive after the resurrection. Quite the opposite:
- Jesus cleansed the temple and rebuked corrupt leaders (Matt. 23; John 2).
- John the Baptist called out Herod’s adultery (Luke 3:19).
- Stephen confronted religious authorities with hard truth (Acts 7).
- Peter and John defied unjust commands (Acts 5:29).
- Paul preached repentance to rulers and philosophers (Acts 17–26).
- The early Church disrupted corrupt systems and lived holy lives (Acts 19; 1 Cor. 6:9–11).
Their witness was courageous, confrontational, and unashamed.
Do You Know the Real Jesus?
Many modern Christians follow a distorted Christ—what some call a “Play-Doh Jesus”—soft, pliable, non-threatening. This Jesus never offends and never judges.
But Scripture reveals the true Jesus:
- Who returns with a sword (Rev. 19:15)
- Who demands obedience (Luke 6:46)
- Who is YHWH in flesh (John 8:58; Heb. 1:3)
We must embrace both aspects of Christ—Suffering Servant and Reigning King—or we follow a caricature, not the living Lord.
Marcion Lives On
The early heretic Marcion rejected the Old Testament and separated the “God of wrath” from the “God of love.” Today, some Christians echo this error by:
- Ignoring the Old Testament
- Denying judgment
- Silencing calls to repentance
But the God of both Testaments is one and the same. Jesus is not a departure from YHWH—He is YHWH. To deny this is to lose the fullness of the gospel and neuter the call to cultural witness.
Cultural Engagement Begins with the Church
Before we confront the world, we must confront compromise in our own house. The Progressive church—often cloaked in compassion—frequently preaches:
- Another gospel (Gal. 1:6–9)
- Sexual immorality (Rom. 1:26–27)
- Neo-Marxist ideologies
Paul warned of “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and Jude spoke of false teachers creeping in unnoticed. Some in these circles may be true believers deceived by error—but they still must be lovingly, truthfully confronted. Silence is not love. Truth is.
Forms of Faithful Cultural Engagement
Believers engage culture in different ways depending on their gifts and calling:
- Outspoken & Bold – preaching, protesting, public school board and other advocacy for youth
- Writers & Thinkers – articles, letters, curriculum
- Teachers & Mentors – discipling with worldview clarity
- Gentle & Relational – hospitality, mercy ministries
- Civic-Minded – running for office, legal work
- Artists & Creatives – music, visual art, storytelling
- Intercessors – praying for institutions and leaders
Every Christian can engage faithfully using the gifts God has bestowed upon them —there is no excuse for withdrawal.
And, contrary to the claims of some Christians who are obsessed with their own ministry, we are not all called to join them in their particular ministry. Abortion abolitionists, engaged in a very important ministry, are particularly guilty of judging other committed Christians in this manner.
Guardrails for Cultural Engagement
Faithful engagement must be:
- Truthful – Speak facts, not slander
- Gracious – Be firm, not cruel
- Consistent – Live what you declare
- Hopeful – Don’t be paralyzed by defeatism
- Just – Resist evil without becoming evil
- Uncompromising – Don’t adopt the vile behaviors of the left, including their use of violence and profane language
The goal is not culture war for its own sake, but faithful witness under Christ’s Lordship.
The American Opportunity and Its Short Window
America’s unique freedoms offer a rare chance for bold witness. But those freedoms are evaporating under the pressure of:
- Censorship
- Legal persecution
- Cultural Marxism
We are accountable for the stewardship of liberty. If we do not speak now, we may soon be unable to speak at all.
The High Cost of Silence—Especially for Our Children
If we refuse to speak, we ensure a society where our children:
- Are taught gender confusion
- Are exposed to pornographic curricula
- Are subject to state-driven moral indoctrination
- Are numbed to abortion, sexual perversion, and godlessness
Evil triumphs where the Church is silent.
Confronting the Ideologies of Death
The enemies of truth today are not just moral—they are ideological and spiritual:
- Neo-Marxism – redefines oppression and identity
- Abortion – kills the unborn in the name of choice
- Transgenderism – mutilates bodies and blasphemes creation
- Sexualized Education – corrupts innocence and undermines family
These must be named, resisted, and answered with truth.
Practical Pathways for Cultural Engagement
Engagement is not limited to extroverts or intellectuals. Every believer can act:
- Preach, teach, or write
- Run for office
- Adopt or foster children
- Lead prayer teams
- Create godly media
- Encourage faithful pastors
- Educate your children in truth
- Support pro-life centers and missionaries
Christians must no longer say, “That’s not my place.” This is the place. This is the time.
Conclusion: A Call to Faithful Boldness
We must recover our nerve.
- We serve not a plastic, smiling “Play-Doh Jesus,” but the risen King.
- We are not called to comfort alone, but to confront where necessary.
- We are not to be nicer than Jesus—but as faithful as Jesus.
“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Speak truth. Show love. Stand firm. And engage the culture in the name of Christ, until He returns in glory.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
MMXXV
rob@basedchristianity.org
RELATED CONTENT
Concerning the Related Content section, I encourage everyone to evaluate the content carefully.
If I have listed the content, I think it is worthwhile viewing to educate yourself on the topic, but it may contain coarse language or some opinions I don’t agree with.
Realize that I sometimes use phrases like “trans man”, “trans woman”, “transgender” , “transition” or similar language for ease of communication. Obviously, as a conservative Christian, I don’t believe anyone has ever become the opposite sex. Unfortunately, we are forced to adopt the language of the left to discuss some topics without engaging in lengthy qualifying statements that make conversations awkward.
Feel free to offer your comments below. Respectful comments without expletives and personal attacks will be posted and I will respond to them.
Comments are closed after sixty days due to spamming issues from internet bots. You can always send me an email at rob@basedchristianity.org if you want to comment on something afterwards, though.
I will continue to add videos and other items to the Related Content section as opportunities present themselves.