Navigating Today’s Culture
I have a confession! Sometimes as I listen to news media outlets, scroll the socials, and scan through the radio dials there is a flurry of thoughts and emotions that flood my system. I move between worry and anger; completely dialed in to almost completely disinterested. It all comes down to what’s my role, especially as a follower of Jesus in the culture around me.
To navigate the deluge of thoughts and feelings that comes at time regarding the culture, I look to God’s Word as a guiding source of truth.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT
When discouraged by what is being broadcast around me, I have found that praying for my community, city, and ultimately the nation in which I am blessed to live, causes a confidence to grow and I am brought back to a place of peace.
Recently, I was introduced to a new resource by way of a podcast that talks about the culture we are living in and the various opinions that exist and are sometimes shouted loudly. What impacted me the most is how viewpoints were discussed at a factual and non-emotional level with the filter of God’s Word. The Church Politics Podcast is hosted by the founder of the www.andcampaign.org, Justin Giboney, which has a gospel centered worldview committed to compassion and conviction.
In engaging with this resource, I have personally found something that not only resonates with me as an individual but most importantly as a follower of Jesus that also “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
As a follower of Jesus, it is good to pray for ALL people. Yes, even the ones we don’t agree with or (in a whisper voice) don’t even like. We are asked to pray for the rulers over us so that “we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” Please do not mistake living a peaceful and quiet life as an unengaged, checked out type of life because to be marked by godliness and dignity necessitates caring for those God has placed in your sphere of influence. If your experience with culture at any given time has looked similar to mine, be encouraged. There is a higher goal at stake that we get to do our part in seeing it be accomplished. The ultimate goal is for “everyone to be saved and know the truth”.
