The Pulpit Is for the Word—This Blog Is Where I Speak to Culture (and Other Stuff)

Over the years, I hear periodically from people who wonder why I don’t more often address social, cultural, or political issues on Sunday mornings. They are usually very polite, but they earnestly feel that, given all that’s happening and all that’s at stake, Christians should not be silent on matters of good and evil when it comes to society at large.

I agree.

However… when it comes to the pulpit…

Here’s the simple truth…

The pulpit is for the Word of God.

My calling as a pastor is to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), not to serve as a political, cultural, or social commentator. That doesn’t mean these issues don’t matter. It means that when we gather for worship, our focus should be on Christ—who He is, what He’s done, and what He calls us to become.

The mission of the local church is the Great Commission. And Jesus and the Holy Spirit do a much better job of changing hearts than you or I can.

That being said, I’m not silent on the challenges we face in today’s culture. It’s just that, when it comes to the culture wars gripping our society and the battle between good and evil taking place all over our world, my primary approach is to keep everyone’s eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2), to remind us to NOT be conformed (in our thinking) to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:1-2), and (in the spirit of Ephesians 4:11-12) to equip believers to properly approach and navigate the challenges of today.

I stand by this as the proper, biblical approach for pastors to take.

I’m called to be a pastor, not a political commentator.

I’m also called to be a pastor — not a prophet, social prognosticator, or culture warrior.

Nevertheless….

As a believer in Christ, student of the Bible, and citizen of the United States, I have addressed many of the cultural, social, and political issues in our world. I’ve done so on this blog as well as on the Medium platform (where I write more as a Christian apologist since that platform is dominated by non-Christians and anti-Christians).

I’m also on the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD).

I’ve done a few things on social media with respect to cultural and social issues, though (because of how time-consuming that can be, I’ve backed off in recent years – and focused more on my principal calling which, again, is as a pastor).

I can assure you I’m not silent. You can say a lot about me, but you can’t accuse me of being silent on issues that matter.

For example, when the UnitedHealthcare CEO was murdered and people (including some professing Christians) were openly cheering or at least extending tacit approval for that act of cold-blooded murder, I whipped out a short ebook in a few weeks and self-published it on Amazon. (You can see it here). That’s how outraged I was that even some professing Christians (emphasis on professing over Christian) would see cold-blooded murder as an acceptable solution to our society’s health care problems.

If you’re interested in where I stand or how I’ve addressed certain issues, here are some examples on this blog. I encourage you to read with an open Bible, an open mind, and an open heart.

• “America Doesn’t Need a Pride Month – We Need a Humility Month”
• “What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?”
• “Societies That Encourage Violence Cannot Endure”
• “What is a Christian Nationalist?”
• “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem”
• “From Respect Your Elders to Okay, Boomer – America’s Humility Crisis”
• “When Cities Burn, What Should Christians Do?”
• “We Need Moderation in American Politics”
• “Should Your Church Be Judged by its Sermons on Current Events?”
• “Let’s Talk About Politics: Should Pastors be Political?”
• “I Went Viral on TikTok (and it Wasn’t Fun)”
• “If You’re Going to Cancel the American Founding Fathers for Their Sins, What About Yours?”
• “What Does the Bible Say About Identity, Sex, Marriage, and Family?”
• “The United Methodist Church Affirms LGBTQ+ Members – I Have Questions”

This is just a sampling. There are other articles I could link to, but the point is…

I have addressed sensitive and controversial issues gripping our society today. I’m not afraid to wade into controversy or take a stand for truth.

My general approach is to address sensitive issues with…well…sensitivity and to speak the truth in love. I would also rather persuade or teach than denounce. This doesn’t mean I don’t feel strongly. It means I’d rather love people and reason with them than beat them over the head with my Bible.

Make no mistake, though. I care about what’s happening in our society and our world. You’re reading a guy who used to be deeply immersed in politics–before God called me to ministry. I love the United States of America and I want to see our nation truly be “one nation under God.”

But… when it comes to the pulpit at Olney Baptist Church and my calling as a pastor …

I’m keeping my focus on the Word of God.

God bless you!

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