Having
gone on an adventure in understanding the great cultural civil war, which is
fighting for the heart and soul of western civilisation, we have begun to look
at practical issues. How, on earth, should you respond to the massive
challenges that lie before us? While it may be tempting to retreat into one’s ‘safe
space’ and try to ‘wait things out,’ we are discovering this is not an option.
The culture war will not leave the church, nor Christians, alone. You can only
be exempted as a conscientious objector if you don’t believe that faith and
family are worth the fight. And it that case, you are risking everything in the
process and you will be forced to surrender.
In
the previous article, we looked at the fact that neutrality is not an
option. Key points were 1. Be in the know; 2. Don’t run from the fight; 3.
Have wisdom to know when not to respond (Proverbs 26:4) and when to
respond (Proverbs 26:5).
How to Respond
If
you must do Option 2 - to answer a fool according to his or her folly, lest he
or she be wise in their own conceits. Please keep these points in mind:
1.
Spiritually strong: Here’s some insight:
at its core, the culture war is more than politics, polemics, or culture. It is
a spiritual conflict. The real powers are invisible spiritual forces in high
places (Ephesians 6:12). Since the cause is spiritual, the solution is equally
spiritual. There can be a strong spirit of partisanship, division, death,
deception, and outright hatred. This is not a place for the faint-hearted yet
God will fortify you. Thus, when you are actively or passively engaging in the
culture war, it behooves you to be in spiritually in tiptop shape. For example,
be prayerful, in fellowship, meditate on God’s Word, and keep a good attitude.
Sometimes too much social media and on-going news channels give diatribes that
can be, after a while, vexatious to the spirit. Have a break from these things
and seek spiritual refreshment. Turn off the television, notifications on the
phone, and enter into God’s hiding place. Most of all, learn what it means to
be ‘filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18) at all times; for the Holy Spirit
will give you boldness and words that no one can refute or gainsay. This first
point is actually the most important of all, but don’t forget the others below.
2.
Treat culture warriors as friends, not an
adversaries: This may seem a bit ridiculous - your opponent is attacking
the very things you hold dear. Why can’t you treat him or her as an adversary?
Because ultimately, as already stated, the root cause of the culture war is
spiritual and your human opponent is not your real enemy. They are loved of
God, made in His image, and Christ died for them, too. The real enemies are in
the invisible, spiritual realm. So take a spiritually mature stance, extend the
grace of a colleague rather than the shrill rhetoric reserved for an enemy. If
you are prayerful, you have a good chance of defanging the tiger by your strong
gracious attitude. Having said all this, it does not preclude putting up a ‘good
fight of faith,’ because the battle is with an ideology, and the spirit behind
it, not an individual;
3.
Project confidence and strength: you must also protect confidence and strength.
Weakness and under confidence will be as bait to the piranhas.
4.
Stay calm: This goes along with
Point 3. Whenever a person, feeling trapped because their arguments are shown
to be ridiculous and/or false, may descend into a temper tantrum and begin to
throw out childish insults. A person who does so has lost already. Proverbs
continues to be a wise guide in all this:
• He that is
slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that taketh a city. - Proverbs 16:32;
• In the
multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is
wise
— Proverbs 10:19;
• Even a fool,
when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is
esteemed a man of understanding - Proverbs 17:28;
• A soft answer
turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger - Proverbs
15:1.
Are we getting the picture? Stay calm
and watch your words. Need help in this area? The Holy Spirit is here to give
you power, boldness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).
While there are more points to be shared, just
practicing the above points will put you in an advantageous position.
Comments
Post a Comment