Re‑Christianizing Culture: Exposing the Myth of “My Truth”
Recently, I watched an interview with Dr. Gavin Ortlund (Hosted by Matt Fradd). During the conversation, Ortlund mentioned his devotion to the “Re-Christianization of our culture.” That phrase resonated deeply with me. I believe that should be the ultimate goal of everyone who engages in apologetics.
The Myth of “My Truth”
Many argue that we live in a post-Christian society. Recently, I discussed this with a fellow believer from a completely different tradition than my own, and we found ourselves in total agreement. While many factors contribute to the “spirit of this age,” we agreed that the root is the belief that truth is subjective.
The spirit of this age has a prevailing mantra from which its worldview outpours: “That is not my truth.” The idea that all truth, in a manner of speaking, is subjective is spurious, but not harmlessly so. It’s an epistemology (a way of knowing things) that’s a byproduct of a completely secular society.
Only in a godless society can one elevate one's own intellect to such a pinnacle that one's own recognition of a fact determines its existence. In all honesty, it’s incredibly reminiscent of the serpent’s words in the garden.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1–5, ESV)
In this very well-known text, the serpent deceives Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The temptation that was so tantalizing to Eve was to “be like God, knowing good and evil.” The immediate irony, apparent to anyone who has read the complete creation account, is that Adam and Eve were already like God; they were created in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Furthermore, they already knew good and evil. Good was obeying God, and evil was disobedience. This is clear from Eve’s original response. So, let’s look a bit deeper.
Autonomy: Knowing Good and Evil
What Eve—and later Adam—pursued was not the image of God or mere knowledge of good and evil, but the power to define good and evil for themselves, apart from God. Their desire was autonomy, and that same impulse defines the spirit of our age. Our culture exalts the idea that truth becomes “true” only when we affirm it, as if reality itself must bow to human preference. This is the foundational corruption beneath so many of the fractures and confusions that mark our secular society.
The Work of All Believers
Our job as believers in the face of these facts is to combat this in several ways. In a recent post, I expressed the importance of faithfully passing on the faith. Ensuring that we are not only introducing the next generation to Christ, and faithfully teaching them about Him and the gospel accurately, but also equipping them with the tools to defend the faith for themselves. See Guard the Good Deposit: Faith, Fatherhood, and the Next Generation.
Still, our job as believers is to influence culture through our daily engagement with it positively. This is done through things like evangelization, but also simply by living a life that is pleasing to God and that models a biblically accurate worldview. To use the metaphors that the Savior used, we are to be salt and light in this world. (Mathew 5:13-16)
The Work of the Apologist
One part of being salt within the culture, i.e., changing the culture, is in challenging the falsehoods and inconsistencies within the aforementioned spirit of the age. I would also argue that this is the task of all believers, but I recognize that everyone is at a different place in their walk with the Lord. One may not be as comfortable defending their faith, but helping to equip the body of Christ to do just that is why I write these, so stick around.
I have covered 1 Peter 3:15 in greater depth in the past, for a more thorough treatment of its message, check out Apologetics: A Biblical Mandate for a Compassionate Defense
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)
1 Peter 3:15 says that we should all be ready to provide a defense to anyone who asks us. The critical concept here is to provide a defense when asked. When challenged, we should be ready to defend our worldview and the source of truth from which it’s derived.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3, ESV)
The text in Jude feels much more offensive than Peter’s text. We are to contend for the faith earnestly. As I stated in a recent post, and as is clear from the context, Jude wished to write about other things, namely the “common salvation” between him and his audience. Still, Jude was compelled to contend against falsehoods arising in their midst.
Of course, we must remember the commission of the Savior to all of us through the apostles.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV)
We are commanded, we have been commissioned by Jesus, to “Go and make disciples.” This is not just the commission to the apostles, but to all of us. Evangelizing is the job of all who bow the knee to Christ.
Takeaways: Two Ways to Engage
Challenge the Assumptions
The worldview described above is filled with false assumptions. Ensure that when you encounter it in your interactions, you expose the inconsistencies and hold to reason. There is objective truth, like there is an objective standard.
Remember 1 Peter 3:15, though, do this with gentleness and respect.
2. Let Your Life Preach
Suppose you never verbally engage or challenge anyone on their worldview. Your life, your walk with Christ, should be able to preach the loudest sermon. Remember, living a life that honors Christ is the most powerful argument for the truth of His word. Live in a way that both honors Christ and is reflective of the truth of His word, and teach others to do the same.
My pastor is in the middle of a six-week sermon series about being an apologist. He's focused on 1 Peter 3:15 but I appreciate the Jude reference you also give. Thank you for being obedient to God's call.