| Home | eBooks |
| Devotions | Podcasts |
| Articles | Church Suppliers |
| Videos | Our Writers |
| About Us | Find Church Jobs |
Adobe
"If the church marries the spirit of the age, she will soon find herself a widow."—Charles Spurgeon
We live in a world that changes faster than we can tweet about it. Cultural norms shift. Language evolves. Morality gets redefined. And for pastors and Christian leaders, the question looms large:
How do we remain faithful to biblical truth while engaging a culture that seems to drift further from it every day?
It's a delicate balance. Too much compromise, and we lose our gospel distinctiveness. Too little engagement, and we lose our gospel voice.
The tension is real
Some churches, in the name of relevance, soften or silence biblical truth. Others, in fear of compromise, retreat into isolation. But neither approach honors Christ.
Ephesians 4:15 offers a better model:"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Truth and love. Conviction and compassion. We're not called to pick a side—we're called to hold both together.
Four commitments for faithful cultural engagement
1. Preach the truth in love
The pulpit is not a stage for performance or opinion. It's a sacred place to proclaim God's Word.
Preach boldly—but with a shepherd's heart. Culture may challenge biblical truth, but that's all the more reason to present it clearly and lovingly.
2. Equip people with a biblical worldview
It's not enough to inspire from the stage. We must equip believers to think biblically about sexuality, justice, identity, technology, and truth.
Teach apologetics. Provide resources. Offer classes and small groups that tackle real-life issues through a gospel lens.
3. Speak with gospel clarity, not partisan bias
When the church aligns too closely with political parties, it loses prophetic power. The gospel transcends politics—it critiques every ideology.
Preach Christ crucified, not a political platform. Be clear, not combative. Let the Word confront both sides of the aisle.
4. Engage technology with wisdom
Social media and digital tools aren't the enemy—they're the new mission field. Use them to amplify truth, not division.
Create meaningful content that draws people toward Jesus. Be salt and light online as much as in person.
The bottom line
This generation isn't looking for a more trendy church. They're looking for a more authentic one. One that doesn't trade truth for popularity. One that stands firm in the storm and speaks with hope in the chaos.
The culture will keep changing. That's a given.
But the gospel doesn't.
So let's lead with conviction and compassion, with biblical clarity and cultural awareness. Let's be pastors and leaders who are not only in the world but truly for it—without ever being of it.
 | Brad Delaughter serves as Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church De Soto, MO. Brad is married to his bride, Kristin, and together they have 4 crazy kids (Jackson, Michaela, Jase, and Jacob). In addition to serving as Lead Pastor, Brad also serves as a hospital chaplain, is the Director for National Sustainability and Missouri Team Lead for Prison Seminaries Foundation and is an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn More » |
Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.
 | Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for … |
 | Todd Hopkins is founder and CEO of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services. He earned the … |
Ryan Sanders serves as the Director of Content for BiblicalLeadership.com. |
 | Copyright © 2025 Networld Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. |
Already a member? Sign in below.
