Why Christians Must Engage with Culture
Have you ever had a conversation with someone whose worldview differs from yours? You likely struggled to know how to respond with both love and truth. In our rapidly shifting culture, we need God’s Word to guide us in how to stand firm in His truth while also being a witness of His love and mercy. One example from Scripture that can help us is Daniel.
Here was a young man, exiled in a foreign land, faced with choices that would define not just his future but his faith. Instead of withdrawing from the Babylonian culture around him, he did something remarkable – he engaged with it.
He learned the language, excelled in his studies, and served in the king’s court, all while remaining uncompromisingly faithful to God. His story challenges me because we face similar choices today. How do we live as faithful believers while meaningfully engaging with a culture that often seems at odds with our faith?
Jesus gave us clear direction on this when He called us to be salt and light in the world. Not hidden away, not blending in, but actively engaging as a preserving and illuminating force in our culture.
Yet if I’m honest, this calling can feel overwhelming. When I talk with women in our community, I often hear their hesitation. “What if I compromise my faith?” they ask. “How do I respond to difficult questions? Isn’t it safer to just stay in our Christian bubble?”
I understand these concerns deeply. But here’s the truth that keeps pressing on my heart: when we disengage from culture, we lose our influence. We miss opportunities to witness. We allow echo chambers to grow stronger.
And perhaps most concerning, we risk the church becoming increasingly irrelevant to younger generations who are asking real, important questions about faith and culture.
The beautiful thing is that Scripture doesn’t leave us without guidance on how to engage effectively. Look at Paul in Athens – he didn’t condemn their culture outright. Instead, he took time to understand it. He found common ground with his audience. He noticed their altar to an unknown god and used that to point them toward the truth of Jesus. He even quoted their own poets! Paul shows us that effective cultural engagement starts with understanding and builds bridges to truth.
But how do we do this practically in our own lives? I believe it starts with being grounded in truth. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. This comes through regular Bible study, prayer, and developing a biblical worldview. When we’re secure in our foundation, we can engage with confidence rather than fear.
Then, we must lead with love. This might seem obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget in the heat of cultural debates. Every person we encounter is made in God’s image, whether they acknowledge Him or not. When we start from this truth, it changes how we engage. We build bridges instead of walls. We speak truth, yes, but we do it with grace and love.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in ministry is the power of listening before speaking. Really seeking to understand others’ concerns and values, even when they differ from our own. It’s amazing how much more receptive people are to truth when they feel genuinely heard and understood.
This doesn’t mean we compromise on truth – far from it. But it does mean we choose our battles wisely. We focus on building relationships rather than winning arguments. We learn when to speak and when to listen. We maintain our humility, remembering that we too are on a journey of growth and understanding.
I believe we’re living in a unique moment. Despite all the challenges we see in our culture, there’s also a profound hunger for truth and authenticity. People are searching for meaning, for hope, for something real. The church has an incredible opportunity to engage with this searching in a way that points to Jesus.
This is exactly why I’m so excited about our upcoming conference, “Equipped to Engage: Biblical Responses to Cultural Shifts.” We’ll be diving deep into these very issues, exploring practical tools for cultural engagement while staying firmly grounded in biblical truth. You’ll learn how to:
- Develop confidence in sharing your faith in today’s culture
- Respond biblically to challenging cultural issues
- Build meaningful relationships with those who think differently
- Engage in cultural conversations with grace and truth
- Make an eternal impact in your sphere of influence
Early bird registration is open now, and I’d love for you to join us. Together, we can learn how to engage our culture effectively for God’s glory, following in the footsteps of faithful believers like Daniel who made an eternal impact in their generation.
Lord, grant us courage to engage, wisdom to speak, and love to guide our every interaction as we seek to be salt and light in our world. Amen.