Counter Culture

1. The Gospel Compels Us to Confront Social Issues

The gospel not only compels Christians to confront social issues in the culture around us. The gospel actually creates confrontation with the culture around—and within—us.

Gospel-centered activism. The gospel is not just a personal belief system, but a transformative force that shapes how Christians engage with society. It calls believers to actively address pressing social issues, even when doing so puts them at odds with prevailing cultural norms. This confrontation is two-fold: externally with societal values and internally with our own sinful tendencies.

Comprehensive approach. The gospel demands a holistic response to social issues, not cherry-picking causes based on comfort or cultural acceptance. Christians are called to:

• Defend the sanctity of life from conception to natural death
• Care for the poor, orphans, and widows
• Combat human trafficking and exploitation
• Uphold biblical marriage and sexual ethics
• Promote racial reconciliation and justice
• Advocate for religious liberty for all

Costly obedience. Following Christ in confronting cultural issues often comes at a personal cost. It may lead to social ostracism, professional setbacks, or even legal challenges. However, the gospel provides both the motivation and the power to stand firm in the face of opposition.

2. Abortion: A Modern Holocaust Requiring Christian Action

Across the world, over forty-two million abortions occur every year. That's 115,000 abortions every single day.

Staggering statistics. The scale of abortion globally is overwhelming, with millions of unborn lives ended each year. This reality demands urgent attention and action from Christians who believe in the sanctity of human life from conception.

Biblical perspective. The gospel affirms:

• Every human life is created in God's image
• God forms and knows each person in the womb
• The unborn have inherent dignity and worth

Christian response. Believers are called to:

• Advocate for legal protections for the unborn
• Support crisis pregnancy centers and adoption services
• Show compassion to women facing unplanned pregnancies
• Offer forgiveness and healing to those affected by abortion
• Address root causes that lead to abortion, such as poverty and lack of support

3. Orphans and Widows: The Church's Responsibility to Care

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Biblical mandate. Caring for orphans and widows is not optional for Christians; it's a core expression of genuine faith. This care extends beyond mere charity to active involvement in their lives.

Practical application. Churches and individual believers can respond by:

• Fostering and adopting children
• Supporting single-parent families
• Providing practical assistance to widows
• Advocating for improved foster care systems
• Partnering with organizations serving orphans globally

Gospel reflection. Our care for the vulnerable reflects God's heart and the gospel message. Just as we were adopted into God's family through Christ, we extend that love to others in need of family and support.

4. Sex Trafficking: A Global Crisis Demanding Gospel-Driven Response

Every time a man or woman views pornography online, we are contributing to a cycle of sex slavery from the privacy of our own computers.

Hidden connections. Many Christians are unaware of the direct link between pornography consumption and the sex trafficking industry. This realization should drive believers to take personal and collective action against exploitation.

Comprehensive approach. Combating sex trafficking requires:

• Education about the realities of modern slavery
• Support for organizations rescuing and rehabilitating victims
• Advocacy for stronger laws and enforcement
• Addressing root causes like poverty and gender inequality
• Personal commitment to sexual purity and ethical media consumption

Gospel motivation. The message of Christ's redemption provides hope for both victims and perpetrators. It compels Christians to pursue justice, offer compassion, and proclaim freedom to the captives.

5. Marriage: God's Design Under Attack in Culture

From the beginning of time, God designed marriage in this way for a purpose. That purpose was not fully revealed until Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, and instituted the church.

Divine blueprint. Marriage is not a human invention but a God-ordained institution with profound spiritual significance. It's meant to reflect Christ's relationship with the Church.

Cultural shifts. Traditional marriage faces challenges from:

• Redefinition of marriage in law and society
• High divorce rates and cohabitation
• Devaluation of lifelong commitment

Christian response. Believers are called to:

• Uphold biblical marriage in their own relationships
• Provide premarital counseling and marriage support in churches
• Engage respectfully in public discourse on marriage
• Demonstrate the beauty of God's design through faithful marriages

6. Sexual Morality: The Gospel's Call to Purity and Freedom

The gospel tells us why this is so. We all possess a heart of pride that is inclined to turn away from God.

Root of sexual sin. Sexual immorality stems from our fallen nature and rebellion against God's design. The gospel addresses this fundamental heart issue.

Biblical sexuality. God's plan for sexuality includes:

• Sexual expression within marriage between a man and woman
• Celibacy and contentment in singleness
• Freedom from pornography and lust

Grace and transformation. The gospel offers:

• Forgiveness for sexual sin
• Power to overcome temptation
• A new identity in Christ that transcends sexual desires

Christians must compassionately proclaim this message of hope and transformation in a sexually confused culture.

7. Ethnicity: Unity in Diversity Through Christ

The gospel begins with a God who creates all men and women in his image and then diversifies humanity according to clans and lands as a creative reflection of his grace and glory in distinct groups of people.

Biblical diversity. God intentionally created ethnic diversity as a reflection of His creativity and glory. The gospel affirms the equal dignity of all people while celebrating cultural distinctions.

Overcoming division. The cross of Christ breaks down barriers between ethnicities, creating a new humanity united in Him. This unity should be evident in the Church.

Practical steps. Christians can promote ethnic reconciliation by:

• Intentionally building relationships across ethnic lines
• Addressing personal and systemic racism
• Celebrating diverse cultural expressions in worship and fellowship
• Advocating for justice and equality for all ethnic groups

8. Religious Liberty: Defending Freedom of Conscience

The gospel compels me to say this, because the gospel begins with a God who gives men and women the freedom to pursue or deny him as they please.

Fundamental right. Religious liberty is essential for human dignity and the free exercise of faith. It allows individuals to seek truth and live according to their consciences.

Current challenges. Religious freedom faces threats from:

• Government overreach and restrictions
• Cultural pressure to conform to secular values
• Persecution of religious minorities globally

Christian response. Believers should:

• Advocate for religious liberty for all faiths
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide
• Engage respectfully in the public square
• Be prepared to face opposition for living out their faith

9. The Urgency of Reaching the Unreached with the Gospel

Are we going to choose comfort, or are we going to choose the cross?

Great Commission focus. The ultimate goal of countering culture is to advance the gospel to all peoples. Billions still lack access to the message of Christ.

Sacrificial living. Reaching the unreached requires Christians to:

• Prioritize global missions in prayer and giving
• Be willing to go to difficult and unreached places
• Reorient personal and church resources toward evangelism

Cultural engagement with eternal perspective. As we address social issues, we must keep the primary mission of making disciples at the forefront. Our cultural counterculture should always point people to Christ and the hope of the gospel.

Last updated: October 1, 2024