culture

Yesterday we discussed the need for Christians to forgive others “as the Lord has forgiven you” (Colossians 3:13). How does this imperative work in our larger cultural engagement?

As we become more divided over major issues, one may wonder, is the time for civility over?

America, and society in general, are facing a "catastrophic loss of truth" due to an embrace of individualism and an abandonment of God's law, says author and speaker John Stonestreet.

This is a moment in which the Church has to learn how to defend itself against this sort of thing and do it in a way that is constructive with what we’re witnessing in our culture today. The HHS mandate is but the tip of the iceberg. It’s about the latest visible manifestation of a growing hostility towards Christianity mainly because—this has always been the case— government officials feel threatened by the power of the Church because we all worship a king higher than the kings of this Earth. And that’s seen as a threat, and we’re also seen as wanting to impose our views on people.

Carl R. Trueman’s new book is titled Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution. It is the best historical explanation of our current cultural crisis I have ever read. Trueman believes we are facing today “a situation without obvious historical parallel.” In brief, contemporary society has made two catastrophic decisions that are undermining our culture and endangering our future.

The percentage of teens who identify as atheist is double that of the general population, according to new research from Barna. Atheism and secularism are growing trends in our postmodern culture, and it is important to understand these trends if we are ever to reverse them. The youngest generation is sure to have a great influence on the future, and it is imperative that we reach these young people with the Gospel. These teens are part of Generation Z, the first “post-Christian” generation.

To help you understand this generation, here are seven facts you need to know about “Gen Z:”

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While “fake news” emerged as a political phenomenon during the 2016 election, lies have been masquerading as truth since the beginning of time. Christians should be encouraged our postmodern, post-Christian culture is having a conversation about truth as something that can be known, identified, and sorted out from lies. I see this as one of the best opportunities in our time to introduce people to the One who is Truth.

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Cultural attitudes, norms, and preferences about what makes for a meaningful life have a far bigger impact on fertility than previously thought. Young adults today are having fewer children than ever before, not because they can’t keep food on the family table, but because for so many there is no family table. Christians should have different priorities.

In an interview with Shane Morris on the Upstream podcast, Natasha Crain pointed to the recent results of the American Worldview Inventory, conducted by George Barna and Arizona Christian University. According to that survey, just 6 percent of Americans hold a “functional biblical worldview,” meaning they gave recognizably Christian answers to questions like, Who is God? and What are human beings? and Is there absolute truth?

The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi is one we need to claim as our own in this cultural moment. Paul prayed for this church that “their love would abound more and more in truth and in all discernment.” We need truth, and we need the skills to navigate all of the ideas, the competing authorities, and the information of this moment. The word for that is discernment, the ability to distinguish between what is true and false, what is genuine and counterfeit, what is good and what is evil.