Cultural Impact

As professing Christians, we can be devoted to speaking the truth, but if we are keeping it to ourselves, we are not fulfilling our cultural opportunities and responsibilities. James chapter 2 states:
17 ...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

As we continue to explore the instruction of Scripture to be salt and light in this world, according to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, a new survey shows that while the desire to walk in that manner seems to be there among Christians, but actually living that out seems to miss the mark.

An article published at The Christian Post, written by Lauren Cooley, Executive Director of the Institute for Faith & Culture, which is an extension of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, states this:

A new survey commissioned by the Institute for Faith and Culture (IFC), in partnership with Lifeway Research, reveals that while an overwhelming majority — 93% — of respondents believe it’s important to interpret the world through Scripture, and 87% believe the Bible speaks to modern issues, their commitment often stops short of biblically-informed civic action.

This is a survey of 1,000 American evangelicals.  Among them, around 3 out of 4 say that God is concerned with the voting choices.  But, as the article says, "Even though 76% agreed that God is concerned with how they vote, fewer than half of the respondents strongly agreed that they make voting decisions based upon biblical truths."

As you dig deeper, you find there is a resistance among some evangelicals to truly be effective representatives of Biblical truth.  Cooley writes:

According to the survey, 24% of Evangelicals have altogether given up on trying to influence our culture; another 6% are simply unsure about their efforts bearing any fruit. For the remaining 70% who still seek to engage, there is a noticeable reluctance to act.

Only 38% actively seek opportunities to promote the Bible’s perspective on controversial topics, likely due to fears of backlash or societal pressure. Even more concerning, 46% admitted they are either only ready to discuss a few biblical truths they know well, or worse, they’re not prepared to share what the Bible says at all.

Cooley relates:

Passivity is no longer a viable option. The political and cultural landscape of our nation is shifting rapidly, and if Christians fail to act, we risk losing the opportunity to influence our nation for good. Registering to vote, staying informed, engaging in public dialogue, and casting ballots for candidates who uphold a biblical worldview are essential steps in ensuring our country returns to righteousness.

Churches must play a vital role in equipping their congregations to engage thoughtfully and confidently. Society suffers under fair-weather Christianity. As the Bible speaks to all areas of life, pastors and ministry leaders should present biblical truth that will prepare their congregations to navigate today’s complexities with conviction and compassion.

She also notes, "Organizations like Vote Your Faith, which partners with the Institute for Faith and Culture, offer resources to help Christians connect their faith with their civic duties, including voter registration drives and educational guides on key issues."

You can find out more at votefaith.org. Chris Leader, who founded Vote Your Faith, was a guest on The Meeting House, a few weeks ago.  You can find that conversation in our Media Center at FaithRadio.org and it's linked to our Election Resource Page at our website, as well. In our conversation, he referenced information on the Florida Abortion Amendment, which, if passed, could legalize abortion in Florida in all nine months of pregnancy. There's also other election information at the Vote Faith website.  And, Chris is doing a series of daily videos leading up to Election Day.

Let's revisit Lauren Cooley's statement, "Passivity is not an option." Knowledge helps to overcome passivity - in fact, that survey shows that people don't think they know enough in order to engage on cultural issues.  But, if we are devoted to reading our Bibles, calling on the Lord, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can appropriate God's supernatural resources.  

Which we so greatly need today.  Because there are spiritual forces that are aligned against the Church. We need to be spiritually prepared, clothed in our spiritual armor, and allowing God to use us as a mouthpiece for truth.  The danger of progressivism is a direct assault on the principles of Scripture, and we must stand strong.