Weekly Blog - 5 April 2024 - Culture Wars
Culture wars
Every week on the television, radio, in the newspapers and online we hear stories of the ‘culture wars’ raging all around us at this time. Issues such as gender, trans-rights, women’s right, sexual orientation, abortion, ‘cancel culture’ in universities, contested historical narratives, identity politics, anti-vacc, climate scepticism, and conspiracy theories of all kinds swirl around us. All becoming increasingly heated and divisive as the algorithms that govern social media keep serving us with more and more stories that confirm our opinions and drive us into more extreme and divided groups. This blog is not about the rights or wrongs of any of the specific ‘culture wars’ issues. Rather it is about how we should have the conversation. How should Christians navigate their way through the culture wars? And can we be peacemakers to bring some healing?
How should Christians engage in the conversation?
Firstly, it may often be better for us as Christians to avoid the trap of getting drawn into contentious and divisive debates on these issues altogether. Rather what the world needs from us is to hear the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, that God knows and deeply loves all, that he wants us to go out and bring healing, peace, love, friendship to the lonely, to fight against social injustice, seek to end poverty and restore his broken creation. As Jesus famously said, quoting the prophet Isaiah and declaring his mission statement of what he had come to do, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4: 18 – 19). This is the good news and the work that the world needs from us, and that we should focus our efforts on, not endless engagement in divisive debates on contentious issues, which are often peripheral, rather than core to the unifying good news of God’s kingdom work.
However, that is not to dismiss that for so many these ‘culture war’ issues are sensitive and important, and there may be times when it is necessary for us as Christians to engage in discussion on these topics. There are of course Biblical views and Christian positions on all the issues raging in the culture wars. Many of these are touched on in Part 3 of the Arise Manifesto (Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world), and explored there within their wider context. As Christians we should of course not compromise on, or shy away from expressing what we believe is God’s truth and will on different issues where we need to. (Whilst of course, respecting and understanding that others, indeed other Christians, may hold different views and come to different conclusions.) Where we do have these conversations we should do so in ways that demonstrate huge respect and love for those whose opinions diverge from ours. As it says in the first half of the often quoted verse 1 Peter 3: 15 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” But as it also says in the less quoted second half of that verse “But do this with gentleness and respect”. It is entirely possible to hold these two things together. This should be our aim as Christians, to share what we believe on different issues without compromise, but in ways that are loving, respectful and full of kindness. There are more than enough people pouring bile and divisiveness onto social media without us adding to it. Agreeing to disagree, but still standing together as brothers and sisters in love, unity and mutual respect is a crucial witness to our divided world at this time.
What should the law be?
Stepping beyond the area of personal conversation and online debate in an open society, increasingly culture wars issues are becoming embroiled in conversations about what kinds of views should be permitted or legally allowed. As Christians we must stand against this, and should not be attempting to use the law to impose our personal moral beliefs on ‘culture war’ issues on anyone, or seeking to suppress the opinions of anyone who disagrees with us. We see this modelled by Jesus and the early church. They called all people to faith and challenged poor moral behaviour. But they believed this had to be a personal choice of the individual, not something that can be imposed on them through the law. Thus, we see that Jesus had no criticism of those suffering from leprosy or long-term bleeding who were unclean, and who according to the law of his time, should not have been associating with others in public. Indeed, he delighted in their company. Similarly, he was interested in showing love and mercy to those in lifestyles of adultery, prostitution and even blasphemy, rather than in imposing the death penalty, as the law implied. When the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus and asked him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” Jesus replied “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8: 3 – 11). Earlier, Joseph is commended for not following the same law when he believed Mary had been unfaithful, as he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace” and so “he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matt 1: 18 – 19).
Similarly, Paul wants all to come to know Jesus, and urges all who do to follow good moral behaviour, individually and within their community. However, he is not interested in enforcing and imposing this behaviour on those who do not yet know Jesus, for as he says, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?” (1 Cor 5: 12). Indeed Jesus was damning in his criticism of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law who did try to use the law to force belief or behaviour on others. None of this implies that Jesus, and the early church, condoned poor moral behaviour or a lack of faith. Far from it. However, he believed people must choose the behaviours touched on in Part 3 of the Arise Manifesto on discipleship, out of love and desire to follow him, not because they are legally forced to. Thus, having saved the woman caught in adultery from those who would use the law to punish her, Jesus instead gently urges her, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8: 11). Therefore, as Christians we should not now be attempting to enforce our personal moral beliefs on culture war issues on society. People should be free to live the lifestyles they choose so long as they do not harm others. It is only where actual harm to others is occurring that the law should step in (Arise Manifesto, pg 82 – 84).
As part of this freedom, free speech must be upheld. The freedom to promote ideas and criticise, debate and challenge others is essential. This is a fundamental principle of human rights which are themselves deeply rooted in Christian values. As the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the first of two major international UN instruments which operationalise the crucial Universal Declaration of Human Rights) says, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.” [1] Society cannot cancel or criminalise free debate and discussion because some might find it offensive. Of course all those engaging in such discussion should seek to do so in language that is loving and respectful. But even when sadly that is not the case, it cannot be criminalised simply because some find it offensive. Such a personal judgement is hard to define in law. Some find any challenging of their beliefs and views of any kind offensive. As a society, we should not be seeking to shut down and eliminate the expression of views we disagree with. Rather we should engage with them, and where needed argue against them in open and respectful debate and conversation. The principles of free speech, free media and free debate have been hard won in many countries over centuries. We throw them away at our peril.
Having said all of that, there are of course some limits to free speech. Threats of violence, incitement to violence, lies and slander are completely unacceptable, are already illegal and should be prosecuted, whether they take place in traditional media or in online social media or any other forum. Again the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights captures this balance well when it states that whilst it is essential that freedom of speech is retained, this freedom “carries with it special duties and responsibilities” including “respect of the rights or reputations of others”, and “incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law”.[2] Free speech for all to engage in discussion and debate (even of views that some might find offensive) is OK and must be protected, but threats of violence, lies and slander are not OK, and should be prosecuted. Again, it is in the latter case that the law should step in, not the former (Arise Manifesto, pg 105 – 106).
Conclusion
As Christians then, let’s avoid getting sucked into toxic culture wars debates where we can, and instead focus our efforts on the positive transformation of our world, on sharing the good news of Jesus, tackling social injustice, helping our communities, ending wars, ending poverty, improving human rights and restoring the environment. Many of which are areas where Christians and all people, with all different views on personal moral issues, can work together in unity for a shared positive vision of a better world. However, where we do need to engage in ‘culture wars’ type debates on important moral issues, let’s represent our views clearly and well, speaking for truth without shame and without compromising. But let us also do so in language which respects and loves others, and be happy to agree to disagree with mutual respect. Let’s never attempt to use the law to criminalise and shut down the free expression of views we disagree with, and resist pressure from others who attempt to do so. The free speech of all to engage in discussion and debate (even of views that some might find offensive) is OK and must be protected, but threats of violence, lies and slander are not OK, and should be prosecuted.
In our world at this time, as we navigate the issues of the ‘culture wars’, we must retain the ability to discuss ideas freely and openly, have those conversations with respect and love, and accept that others might disagree with us. That is OK. We can agree to disagree whilst still respecting and loving each other and living together in peace. Christians have a crucial role to play in modelling this amongst ourselves within the church, and to the whole world. We can be the peacemakers in the culture wars.
Find out more
Find out more about how God is at work in the world, and the role we all have to play in that work, in the Arise Manifesto. This report is Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. It looks at what the Bible says, and what we can learn from the best data and the world’s leading experts on the five major areas of evangelism, discipleship, social justice, development and the environment. It then draws these lessons together into a practical road map for the changes we need to see in our world, which the Arise movement campaigns to achieve.
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[1] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, UN, (1966), Article 19, www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/ccpr.pdf
[2] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, UN, (1966), Article 19, www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/ccpr.pdf