Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?

[Garland-Green]

by Ken Ham on October 7, 2014

The United States Supreme Court and gay “marriage” are in the news again. News media reported on the latest “non-ruling” by the Supreme Court:

The Supreme Court on Monday turned away appeals from five states looking to prohibit gay marriage, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage in those states and likely others—but also leaving the issue unresolved nationally.

The justices rejected appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The court's order immediately ends delays on gay marriage in those states.1
By doing this, the Supreme Court Justices have really effectively endorsed gay marriage by allowing the rulings in favor of gay marriage in the lower courts to stand in those jurisdictions.

Standing By Our Convictions
Over the years, Christians have spent millions of dollars trying to change the culture in regard to the abortion issue and the current very high profile gay marriage debate—but this hasn’t really worked! The culture continues to become more secularized every day.

Christians do need to publicly stand on the authority of God’s Word and judge such moral issues accordingly—and be prepared to publicly and unashamedly, but with boldness and gentleness, proclaim the truth that God reveals in His Word. God’s Word clearly teaches that marriage has its origin in the creation account in Genesis, and thus is one man for one woman (Matthew 19:4–7). God’s Word also teaches that humans are made in the image of God; therefore, abortion is the deliberate taking of a human life. Around 55 million children have been murdered in their mothers’ wombs in the US since the Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 in Roe v. Wade.

Also, just because Christians believe and obey God’s Word, teaching against gay marriage and abortion doesn’t mean they are intolerant of people who disobey God’s Word. Christians have every right to stand by their convictions in regard to all moral issues—stealing, murder, marriage, adultery, fornication, and so on.

Changing the Culture by the Gospel
What should our response as Christians be?

The Lord Jesus Christ gives God’s people two commands:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

We need to understand that the gospel changes people—changes their hearts and minds. And it’s hearts and minds that change a culture.

In Proverbs 23:7 we learn, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

We are also told that, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:13–14).

Christians are to be salt and light, influencing the culture for good as they reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in everything they do.

Secularists understand that if they can capture people’s hearts and minds by instilling in them the foundation that man’s opinion determines what is true and what is right, then such people will build a secular worldview. Secularists do not just believe that people have a right to believe what they choose, but rather that there are no absolute standards of right and truth. They believe that right and truth are matters of opinion. And they argue that when Bible-believers insist that there is an absolute standard that comes to us from an authority higher than man, from God the Creator of all, those who stand in opposition to God’s standards are somehow being persecuted or having their rights violated. (See “Gay Marriage as a Civil Right—Are Wrongs Rights?” for more about this.)

Continue reading; Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?  

[Lady Vizsla]

Christians are commanded to uphold the morality put forth for us by our Creator, uncompromisingly. Unfortunately, the reality is that the world will get worse before it gets better as long as secularists are open game for Satan and his demons.

Quote:

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

 

[CherieBunnie]

I definitely agree with both points. Yes, we are supposed to set a good example and encourage others to do so as well. However, there are always those who completely refuse to do anything but walk after their own lusts. (At least for now)

Lady Kariel

Christians are commanded to uphold the morality put forth for us by our Creator, uncompromisingly. Unfortunately, the reality is that the world will get worse before it gets better as long as secularists are open game for Satan and his demons.

Quote:

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

 

[Lady Vizsla]

CherieBunnie

I definitely agree with both points. Yes, we are supposed to set a good example and encourage others to do so as well. However, there are always those who completely refuse to do anything but walk after their own lusts. (At least for now)

Lady Kariel

Christians are commanded to uphold the morality put forth for us by our Creator, uncompromisingly. Unfortunately, the reality is that the world will get worse before it gets better as long as secularists are open game for Satan and his demons.

Quote:

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

Yeah and some of them get angry just hearing anything about Christianity. Their rage is startling.