The World Is Burning. But Sure, Let’s Fight About the Worship Song.
Christians have plenty of outrage. The question is whether we’re spending it on anything that matters.
Some Christians seem determined to win every argument except the one that matters: whether our faith makes any difference in the world. Spend ten minutes online, and you’ll find believers going to war over a worship song, a preacher’s vocabulary, a disputed passage, or somebody’s personal preference dressed up as biblical conviction.
Meanwhile, people are being radicalized by Islamist extremists. Families are falling apart. Neighbors are losing hope. And too often, the church’s contribution is another angry comment thread.
Doctrine matters. Truth matters. But so does knowing the difference between defending the gospel and defending your favorite interpretation of a secondary issue. We’ve confused being argumentative with being courageous. We’ve mistaken outrage for influence. And we’ve allowed the need to be right to overwhelm the calling to be faithful.
Here’s a question worth asking before your next online battle: If I win this argument, who benefits? Will someone understand Jesus more clearly? Will a struggling family find help? Will a young person discover a reason to believe? Or will my little corner of the internet simply applaud?
Christians don’t need less conviction. We need better priorities.
Read deeply. Think clearly. Defend essential truth. Then put down the phone and do something that costs you more than an opinion. Mentor someone. Support persecuted believers. Create something excellent. Serve your community. Build relationships with people who don’t share your faith.
If we want Christianity to influence the culture, we have to offer the culture something more compelling than Christians fighting with Christians.
Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash
Phil Cooke, PhD. has been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.” As a media producer, writer, speaker, and consultant, his client list includes major film studios and TV networks as well as major Christian organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, and others. He’s also coached and consulted with many of the most influential churches and nonprofit organizations in the world, helping them use media to tell their story. You can hear his podcast here.
