Understanding the Times: Engaging Culture with Truth and Compassion

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This is a question given to David in Psalm 11. The foundation is crumbling. It seems as if there is no hope. So, what advice does David receive? “Flee like a bird to your mountain.” This is a timeless temptation God’s people face. Daily, the pressure mounts for Christians to flee instead of standing firm. It seems as if the pressures are mounting for Christians.

What do we do? Do we flee like a bird to the mountain? The Bible’s answer to the increasing pressures to retreat is to stand firm. How can Christians remain steadfast in this polarized world? As believers, how can we stand by our biblical beliefs while also genuinely loving those who may disagree with us?

Standing Firm in Faith

Rooted in the Word

The foundation of our faith is the Word of God. In a culture that often redefines morality and truth, we must be deeply rooted in Scripture. Psalm 1:2-3 reminds us that those who delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night will be like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season. When our faith is anchored in the Bible, we are not easily swayed by cultural trends or pressures.

David Wells argues, “An evangelical faith that is not passionate about truth and righteousness is a faith which is a lost cause. All that it will then be living for is simply its own organizational preservation.”^[1]

He goes on to say,

“If we do not recover the sufficiency of the Word of God in our time, if we do not relearn what it means to be sustained by it, nourished by it, disciplined by it, and unless our preachers find the courage again to preach its truth, to allow their sermons to be defined by its truth, we will lose our right to call ourselves Protestants, we will lose our capacity to be the people of God, and we will set ourselves on a path that leads right into the old discredited liberal Protestantism. We have to recover a vivid other worldliness by making ourselves once again captive to the truth of God regardless of the cultural consequences.”^[2]

Understanding the Times

The Apostle Paul, in Acts 17:22-23, demonstrated an understanding of the culture he was engaging with when he addressed the Athenians. While our faith is unchanging, our approach to sharing it must be informed by an awareness of the cultural context. This doesn’t mean compromising on truth but understanding where people are coming from to communicate the gospel more effectively.

“Be curious, not judgmental.” You may remember that line from the hit show on Apple TV, Ted Lasso. Don’t be so quick to overlook opinions, criticism, and differences of thought. Ask questions. Learn why people think the way they do. Understand their thought(s). Be a good student of the culture. Listen. Observe. You’ll be better equipped to engage them with the truth of God’s Word.

Speaking the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4:15 calls us to speak the truth in love, growing in every way into Christ. This means that our engagement with culture should never be characterized by harshness or arrogance but by humility and compassion. The truth of the gospel is unyielding, but our delivery of it should reflect the gentleness of Christ.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching others evangelism. One of the points I consistently make is, “It’s not just important what you say, but how you say it.” For example, I have three children. My oldest is seven years old. She loves Jesus. One day, while talking with my kids, my oldest looked at my second-born autistic son and said, “If you don’t believe in Jesus when you die, you’re going to hell.” Man. Was she right? Absolutely. The Bible affirms her teaching. However, he was five at the time. He was terrified. He ran away screaming and crying. Because of her bluntness, he thought if he didn’t believe in that moment, he was going to die and be separated for all eternity in hell from God.

Speak truth. Absolutely. But speak the truth in love. I don’t think my daughter was wrong to say what she did. I honestly believe she was telling him what she knew to be true and had the best intentions. Too often, people may miss what we say because of how we say it. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading when engaging with others.

Standing rooted in God’s Word, our faith naturally leads to acts of love that demonstrate the gospel in tangible ways. This connection allows us to move from a defensive posture to one of outreach, engaging the world with conviction and the love that Christ modeled—truth combined with grace. How can we love others well?

Loving Your Neighbor

Seeing People as Image Bearers

Every person, regardless of their beliefs or lifestyle, is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This truth should shape how we view and treat others. Loving our neighbor means recognizing their inherent worth and dignity, even when we disagree with them. It means listening, empathizing, and showing kindness, not because they deserve it, but because Christ has loved us first.

We’ll be tempted to retreat emotionally if we’re not careful when engaging the world. For example, As someone once wrote,

“Some withdraw emotionally. They stop caring for the world around us. When they see a man suffering the consequences of his sin, they say to themselves, “It serves him right. He is getting what he deserves.” They forget that God does not give us what our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). They forget the beatitude that says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Emotional withdrawal is not an option for someone who has been touched by the grace of God.”

Speaking on the power of the tongue, James says, “With it [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God (James 3:9).” Are you guilty of neglecting those you disagree with as being image bearers of God?

Practicing Radical Hospitality

Jesus was known for eating with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:15-17). His willingness to engage with those on the margins of society was a powerful demonstration of God’s love. As believers, we are called to open our homes and hearts to those different from us. Hospitality breaks down barriers and builds bridges, creating opportunities to share the gospel naturally and relationally.

While addressing the Areopagus, the Apostle Paul said, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him (Acts 17:26-27).”

Did you catch that? God, in His sovereignty, has placed your neighbors around you. He put the coworkers around you. To what end? That they may hear the gospel. How can you be hospitable toward those in your sphere of influence? If this area interests you, I encourage you to read Rosaria Butterfield’s book The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World.

Serving Others Sacrificially

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus says He came not to be served but to serve. One of the most effective ways to love our neighbors is through service. When we serve others, we reflect the character of Christ and demonstrate the gospel in action. Whether we volunteer in our communities, help a neighbor in need, or stand up for the marginalized, our actions should speak as loudly as our words. How can you serve others?

Questions for Reflection

In what ways am I allowing the culture around me to shape my beliefs rather than letting Scripture guide me?
How can I better understand the cultural context of those I am trying to reach with the gospel?
What practical steps can I take to love my neighbors with different beliefs or values?
Am I more concerned with winning arguments or winning souls for Christ?
How can I demonstrate radical hospitality and sacrificial service in my everyday life?

Conclusion

Engaging with culture while staying true to our faith and caring for our neighbors can be challenging. It needs wisdom, bravery, and a strong commitment to the truth of the gospel. It also means showing Christ’s love in everything we do. Our job is to be part of the world but not controlled by it, to speak the truth but always with love, and to see every person as a chance to demonstrate God’s kindness and forgiveness. When we do this, we follow the most important commandments: to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. This way, we reflect Christ’s light in a dark world and guide others toward the hope and truth found in Him alone.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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