Living in the midst of a pandemic, along with tremendous political and public unrest, can create anxiety and confusion. For many, the stress level multiplies as we move further away from some of America’s foundational freedoms. Keeping a biblical perspective on our changing culture and current events is essential for every follower of Christ.
I have earnestly sought the Lord regarding how believers should approach these times. Spiritual clarity always comes through Scripture. So, here’s a biblical perspective on three strategies I believe Satan is currently using in our culture.
The intimidation and manipulation of speculation.
Speculations are ideas or theories without supporting evidence. The Bible says to “refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23). Sound familiar? Yet speculations thrive by playing to emotions, manipulating many to act out of fear and panic. And whatever we allow to manipulate us, we allow to control us. That’s dangerous!
Reacting in fear is a warning sign that we’re not trusting in God and His Word. That’s why Paul instructs believers to “destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The suppression and censorship of truth.
All truth is God’s Truth. It’s also the key to true and lasting freedom (John 8:32). Consequently, God classifies the suppression of truth as unrighteous. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). You see, suppression is not just preventing truth from being told, it’s also the promotion of falsehood.
Adolf Hitler once said, “What luck for rulers that men don’t think.” Suppression and censorship don’t accidently take place. It’s a willful choice, usually driven by an agenda. When we get one-sided, we get lop-sided, and then we get blind-sided. It would help us to heed the wisdom of Proverbs 18:17, “The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”
The hypocrisy of a seared conscience.
A seared conscious becomes numb to truth and righteousness due to consistent rebellion against God. As a result, there is no concern with morality. As a matter of fact, a person with a seared conscious considers the immoral to be moral. First Timothy 4:1–2 explains, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”
I firmly believe that our nation is now under the control of people with no moral compass. Their collective conscious has been seared by decades of denying and rejecting godly truth. There’s no better example than their callious disregard for the unborn.
So, what should believers do?
First, let the fact that these strategies are in the Bible encourage you. Why? Because it reminds us that God is not surprised by all the chaos. First century Christians lived in a time of great persecution and poverty, yet they remained faithful to the call and cause of Christ. And that’s exactly what we should do.
The words Paul wrote to Timothy are just as fitting today as they were then. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5).
As a believer and a preacher of the Gospel, my mission hasn’t changed. I’m going to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). There may be days when I’m not sure what’s going to happen but God is never at a loss. So I’m keeping my eyes on Him. Dear believer, I challenge you to maintain a biblical perspective on your corner of the world and on the world at large. As you do, God will strengthen and encourage you to “endure hardship” and “fulfill your ministry.”
