Frontlines of the Culture War
Steven Lee
Pastor for Preaching & Vision
Dear North Church,
On Wednesday, I was invited to speak to a group of Campus Outreach regional directors gathered in Minneapolis. If you are unaware, Campus Outreach Minneapolis is our college ministry. We have staff at Bethel University and the University of Northwestern, as well as at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota, in partnership with Bethlehem Baptist Church. Staff members raise their own support to evangelize and disciple students to be mature followers of Christ (you can support their ministry here ).
In many ways, this ministry is on the frontlines of the culture war. They are ministering to university students, who are often indoctrinated with secular humanism, moral relativism, critical theory, sexual revolution ethics, and deconstructionism. Even if you don’t know what all these words mean, you can imagine the lies they are fed, rather than the truth of God’s word.
Here is an excerpt of what I shared with those regional directors. This is also applicable to each one of us as we engage with neighbors, coworkers, and friends who view the world differently from us. I shared four reminders from the book of 2 Timothy.
- Stand unashamed of Jesus
Paul commands, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord” (2 Tim 1:8). Or to put it positively, be courageous in standing up and standing firm for Jesus. Don’t seek to be so winsome and inoffensive that we dull the power of the gospel. Be unabashedly serious Christians who are unashamed about everything the Bible teaches. On the cultural issues, be willing to say what the Bible says. We should never be ashamed of what the Bible teaches. The Bible contains the words of life and reveals God’s good design for human flourishing.
- Embrace suffering for Jesus
Paul asserts, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Be ready to suffer, to endure, to persevere, and to stand fast. The world needs a bigger vision of what their lives can look like. They need men and women who can say, “Watch me.” Watch me as a husband or wife, a father or mother, how I use my time, how I serve others, how I study my Bible, how I pursue holiness, and how I endure suffering for the sake of Christ. Few things will be more compelling than lives that are entirely sold out for Christ.
- Run hard after holiness
Paul exhorts Timothy, “If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21). To be used by God, we must be set apart as holy. Are we cultivating honesty, transparency, and the pursuit of holiness in our private lives? If the Lord were eager to bring revival, would he find us to be vessels for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master, ready for every good work?
- Hold fast to God’s word
Paul writes, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). This is the essence of discipleship—taking what you have heard and passing it down to others who can teach others. Be word-centered people. Consume both the milk and the meat of God’s word to grow up into mature disciples of Jesus. Remember that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16–17).
May this be true of our Campus Outreach ministry, our college staff, our students, and our church. May it be true of each one of us. May we look back thirty years from now and be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).
Press on,
Pastor Steven
