Living in a Culture That Silences Biblical Truth

There was a time in this country when a man could open his Bible, speak plain truth, and though folks might not always agree, they at least understood he had a right to say it. But we are living in different days now. We are living in a culture that does not just disagree with biblical truth—it seeks to shame it, silence it, and drive it from the public square.

What many call "cancel culture" is really just the old spirit of rebellion wearing new clothes.

The prophet Isaiah saw such a day and cried out, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 KJV). Brother, if there was ever a verse for this present age, that is one of them.

We are living in a time when wrong is praised as courage, and righteousness is mocked as hatred. Sin is paraded in the streets, while holiness is shoved into the shadows. Truth is treated like a threat, and the one who dares to speak it in love is labeled narrow, dangerous, intolerant, or worse. You may still have freedom of speech on paper, but the spirit of this age says, "Use it, and we will make you pay for it." A person may lose a job, lose friendships, lose standing in the community, or be dragged through the mud simply for saying what God has already said.

But none of this is new.

The world has always tried to cancel the truth. Ahab hated Micaiah because Micaiah would not prophesy smooth things. Jezebel sought to kill Elijah because his message disturbed her wickedness. Jeremiah was cast into the dungeon. John the Baptist lost his head for telling a ruler the truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who never spoke a sinful word, was hated, rejected, slandered, beaten, and crucified. Why should we think the servant will be treated better than his Master?

Peter wrote to believers living under pressure, suspicion, and persecution. His words still speak with power today: "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled" (1 Peter 3:13–14 KJV).

That is not the language of panic. That is not the language of retreat. That is the language of settled faith.

The child of God must not live in fear of the crowd. We must not tremble every time the world raises its voice. Peter said, "Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." The world may threaten. It may mock. It may reveal. It may shut doors in your face. But no mob, no government, no employer, no internet crowd, and no cultural movement can overturn the throne of God. The Lord is still God, His Word is still true, and the Gospel is still "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16 KJV).

Now let me say something plain. Christians must be careful not to answer carnality with carnality. We are not called to fight flesh with flesh—some believers, when opposed, become angry, sharp, and vengeful. But Peter had already said, "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing" (1 Peter 3:9 KJV). That cuts against the grain of human nature. The flesh wants to strike back. Pride wants the last Word. But Christ has called us to a better way.

Our Lord said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" (Matthew 5:44 KJV). That does not mean we water down the truth. It does not mean we apologize for righteousness. It does not mean we bow to lies for the sake of peace. But it does mean that the spirit in which we speak must be governed by Christ and not by bitterness.

If the world curses, we do not need to curse back. If they slander, we do not need to lie in return. If they shout, we do not need to lose our Christian temper. There is more strength in holy calmness than in fleshly outrage. There is more power in a clean conscience than in a cutting insult.

Peter went on and said, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15 KJV). In other words, do not just react—be ready.

A Christian ought to know what he believes and why he believes it. We are not helped by shallow religion in an age of deep confusion. If someone asks why we believe marriage is sacred, why life is holy, why sin is still sin, why Christ is the only way, why the Bible is true, we ought not stand there speechless. The hour has come when God's people must do more than repeat phrases. We must know the Word. We must hide it in our hearts. We must think through the faith once delivered unto the saints.

There are moments in life when you have only a few words and a few minutes. In that little window, you may either strengthen a testimony or weaken it. Peter said to be "ready always." That means settled before the trial comes. It means you have already made up your mind that God is right, even if the whole world says He is wrong.

But Peter does not stop with clarity. He says we are to answer "with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15 KJV). There is the balance we need so badly today. Speak the truth, yes. Speak it plainly, yes. Speak it boldly, yes. But speak it with meekness. Speak it under the fear of God. Speak it as one who knows he is a sinner saved by grace, not as one merely trying to win an argument.

I fear that sometimes the church has been tempted in two directions. One side wants to avoid conflict so badly that it says nothing meaningful at all. The other side enjoys the fight so much that it forgets the spirit of Christ. One side hides the truth to keep peace. The other side wields the truth like a hammer, bruising people. Neither spirit is right.

Jesus was full of grace and truth. Not grace without truth. Not truth without grace. Grace and truth.

The goal of the Christian is not merely to survive the hatred of the age. It is to bear faithful witness in the midst of it. People are not finally wrestling with us. They are wrestling with the God whose image they bear and whose Word confronts them. When the world rejects biblical truth, it is not diminishing God—it is revealing the darkness of the human heart.

Still, we must remember that the lost are not our enemy. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). The sinner who mocks truth is still a soul for whom Christ died. The person shouting against righteousness today may yet be gloriously converted tomorrow. Saul of Tarsus breathed out threatenings and slaughter, but the grace of God stopped him in the road and made him Paul the apostle.

So we do not give up on people.

We do not surrender truth, but neither do we surrender compassion. We do not bend the knee to a corrupt culture, but neither do we forget that Christ came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10 KJV).

Let the world rage if it must. Let it sneer at the old paths. Let it call darkness light and light darkness. Let it tell the church to keep quiet, keep religion private, and keep Scripture out of sight. We have heard all that before. The devil has always hated the truth, and this world system has never been friendly toward the claims of Christ.

But the church must not go silent now.

This is not the hour for timid preaching, soft conviction, or uncertain trumpets. This is the hour for saints to stand with Bibles open, hearts clean, knees bent, and voices unashamed. Not rude. Not reckless. Not self-righteous. But firm. Gracious. Courageous. Faithful.

If suffering comes for righteousness' sake, then let it come. Peter said, "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing" (1 Peter 3:17 KJV). Better to lose the applause of men than the smile of God. Better to be rejected by a godless culture than to betray the truth of Christ. Better to be counted old-fashioned, narrow, and out of step with the times than to stand before the Lord ashamed that we kept silent when we should have spoken.

The world may try to cancel the witness of the believer, but thank God, it cannot cancel the truth. It cannot cancel the Word of God. It cannot cancel the blood of Christ. It cannot cancel the empty tomb. And it cannot cancel the saving grace that still reaches down to sinners and lifts them out of darkness into marvelous light.

So let us stand.

Let us speak.

Let us love.

Let us answer with meekness and fear.

And let us remember that our hope is not in winning the culture war, but in being faithful to the Christ who washed away our sins. This world may silence many voices, but it will never silence the voice of God. "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8 KJV).

That is enough to steady any heart. 

When Princes Fail: A Christian Response to War and Power

There comes a time in every nation when the people begin to look at their leaders and wonder, “What has gone wrong?” Not because we expected perfection—but because we hoped for restraint… for wisdom… for a measure of righteousness in high places.

But Scripture has already warned us:

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” — Psalm 146:3 (KJV)

We forget that too easily.

The Illusion of Righteous Power

Nations speak of justice. Leaders speak of peace. Yet history teaches us that power often walks hand in hand with pride. Wars are justified. Actions are defended. And the commoner is left to sort through truth and propaganda, wondering where righteousness truly stands.

The prophet Isaiah spoke plainly:

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed.” — Isaiah 10:1 (KJV)

When governments act without moral clarity—when decisions bring suffering upon the innocent—we are right to feel troubled in spirit. That uneasiness is not weakness. It is conscience.

When War Loses Its Boundaries

War has always been a harsh reality of a fallen world. Yet even in war, some lines should not be crossed. When destruction reaches beyond the battlefield… when it touches the weak, the sick, and the defenseless… something deeper is broken.

Proverbs reminds us:

“These six things doth the Lord hate… A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” — Proverbs 6:16–17 (KJV)

Notice that—hands that shed innocent blood. Not political blood. Not strategic blood. Innocent blood.

No flag, no nation, no leader stands above that warning.

The Danger of Blind Loyalty

One of the greatest dangers in any generation is not wicked leadership alone, but people who refuse to question it.

It is easy to condemn wrongdoing in our enemies. It is much harder to recognize it when it comes from those we once trusted.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

That includes the hearts of kings, presidents, and rulers.

And if we are honest, it includes us.

Unquestioning loyalty is not faithfulness. It is a surrender of discernment.

A Higher Standard Than Politics

As Christians, our allegiance is not to a party, a nation, or a leader—it is to Christ.

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29 (KJV)

That means we must measure every action—every war, every policy, every decision—against the character of God.

• Is it just?
• Is it truthful?
• Does it protect life, or destroy it without cause?

If it fails that test, we cannot defend it simply because it comes from “our side.”

God Still Rules Above It All

Now here is where the child of God must stand firm.

Even when leaders fail… even when nations rage… even when the world seems to be unraveling—God has not stepped down from His throne.

“The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” — Psalm 103:19 (KJV)

Scripture shows us again and again that God allows rulers to rise and fall. He used Pharaoh. He used Babylon. He used kings, both righteous and wicked, to accomplish His purposes.

But hear this clearly:

God uses them—but He also judges them.

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” — Isaiah 60:12 (KJV)

No nation is exempt. Not then. Not now.

How Then Shall We Live?

So what is a Christian to do in times like these?

1. Stay awake spiritually

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV)

2. Speak truth without hatred

Truth does not require rage to be powerful.

3. Refuse to justify evil

Even when it is politically inconvenient.

4. Pray for those in authority

“I exhort therefore… that supplications, prayers… be made for kings, and for all that are in authority.” — 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (KJV)

5. Keep your trust in God—not in men

Because princes will fail. They always have.

A Final Word from an Old Country Preacher

I’ve lived long enough to see leaders rise with great promise—and fall under the weight of their own pride. I’ve watched wars begin with bold declarations and end with quiet regret.

And through it all, one truth has never changed:

God is righteous—even when men are not.

So do not let disappointment harden your heart. Let it sharpen your discernment.

Do not let anger consume your spirit. Let it drive you to prayer.

And do not place your hope in princes… because sooner or later, they will fail.

But the Lord never will.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)

And that, dear reader, is where our hope must remain.

Just an Old Shepherd Thinking out Loud

 Ramblings of a Country Preacher

Next year, I will be retiring as a pastor at Sugar Plain Friends Church. I have served as a pastor for over forty years. My health has slowed me down, and it is time to step back and let the younger generation take charge.

Now and then, a man ought to stop and take a look at the road behind him—not to dwell there, but to understand how the Lord has led him step by step. I’ve been doing a little of that lately, and I reckon if I had to put it into plain words, I’d say this: I never set out to be anything more than a simple preacher of the Gospel, but the Lord had a way of adding a few burdens to my shoulders along the way.

First and foremost, I’ve always been a shepherd at heart. Not the kind that stands in a pulpit on Sunday morning, but the kind that watches for wolves, listens for trouble in the flock, and tries to keep folks pointed toward the Good Shepherd. There’s something in me that won’t let things slide when truth is at stake. Maybe that’s why I’ve spent so much time warning, teaching, and sometimes stepping on a few toes. A shepherd who never warns isn’t much of a shepherd at all.

But somewhere along the journey, I found myself becoming a keeper of stories too. Not just any stories—but the kind that matter. The kind that reminds us who we are and where we came from. Church history, family lines, old meeting minutes, fading photographs—those things aren’t just relics, they’re testimonies. They tell of faithfulness, sacrifice, and the quiet work of God through ordinary people. I suppose that’s why I’ve felt such a strong pull to write things down and preserve them. If we don’t, the next generation will forget—and forgetting is dangerous.

Then there’s this other burden I’ve carried, whether I asked for it or not—the burden of a watchman. The Bible speaks of men who stood on the wall and sounded the alarm when danger approached. I don’t claim any title, but I understand the weight of that calling. I look out at this world—its confusion, its pride, its drift away from God—and something in my spirit says, “Speak. Warn. Don’t stay silent.”

Not everyone likes that kind of preaching. Folks would rather hear smooth things, comfortable things. But truth has never been comfortable when hearts are drifting. If a storm is coming, it does no good to whisper about it—you sound the trumpet.

Now, I’ve never been one for fancy words or polished speeches. I’ve always believed that if a thing is true, it ought to be said plain enough that a farmer, a factory worker, or a schoolteacher can understand it. The Gospel wasn’t given to scholars alone—it was given to common people. So I try to speak in a way that folks can take it home with them, chew on it a while, and live it out come Monday morning.

Over the years, I’ve learned this much: you can’t please everybody, and you shouldn’t try. If you stand for truth, you’ll stand alone sometimes. If you speak plainly, you’ll be misunderstood. And if you refuse to follow the crowd, you’ll be called stubborn. But I’d rather answer to God for being faithful than answer to men for being agreeable.

So what does all that make me?

Just a country preacher.

A shepherd trying to guard the flock.

A historian trying to remember the works of God.

A watchman trying to warn of what he sees coming.

And a man who still believes that truth matters—now more than ever.

And if the Lord gives me a few more days, I reckon I’ll keep right on doing the same thing:

Preaching the Word, telling the story, and sounding the alarm when it needs to be sounded.

Because in the end, that’s my reasonable service.

Here is a carefully structured set of discernment questions you can use personally.

 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1, KJV). Discernment is not suspicion for its own sake, but a Spirit-led testing against the life and teaching of Christ.

Questions for Discernment: Is This Truly Based on the Teachings of Christ?

1. Christ-Centered Doctrine

• Does this teaching clearly affirm that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
• Does it affirm that Christ came in the flesh? (1 John 4:2–3)
• Does it uphold Christ’s death, resurrection, and lordship?
• Is salvation presented as coming through Christ alone, not through works, systems, or men?

2. Authority of Scripture

• Is the Bible (rightly interpreted) the final authority?
• Are Scriptures used in context, or twisted to support an agenda?
• Does the teaching harmonize with the whole counsel of God, not just isolated verses?

3. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)

• Does this produce love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance?
• Or does it stir up fear, hatred, division, pride, or anger?

4. Attitude Toward Sin

• Does it call sin what it is, according to Scripture?
• Does it promote repentance and transformation, not excuse or redefine sin?
• Does it distinguish between the sin nature and sinful actions, while pointing to victory in Christ?

5. Holiness and Obedience

• Does this teaching call believers to take up their cross and follow Christ? (Luke 9:23)
• Does it encourage a life of obedience, purity, and separation from the world?
• Or does it lower the standard of holiness?

6. View of Christ’s Character

• Does it reflect the true character of Jesus—holy, just, merciful, and truthful?
• Does it emphasize both grace AND truth? (John 1:14)
• Or does it distort Christ into something culturally acceptable but not biblical?

7. Motivation and Spirit Behind It

• Is the spirit behind the message humble and Christ-honoring?
• Or is it marked by pride, control, manipulation, or self-exaltation?
• Does it draw attention to Christ, or to a personality, movement, or ideology?

8. Gospel Clarity

• Is the Gospel clearly presented (repentance, faith, new birth)?
• Or is it replaced with:
  • political ideology
  • social activism alone
  • prosperity or self-help teaching

9. Treatment of Others

• Does it teach us to love even our enemies? (Matthew 5:44)
• Does it encourage forgiveness and reconciliation?
• Or does it promote division, hostility, or dehumanization?

10. Consistency with the Early Church

• Does this align with what the apostles taught?
• Would this teaching be recognized by the early church as sound doctrine?
• Or is it a new or novel idea with no historical grounding?

11. Freedom vs. Bondage

• Does it lead to spiritual freedom in Christ?
• Or does it place people into fear, control, or legalistic systems?

12. The Cross at the Center

• Is the cross of Christ central, or merely mentioned?
• Does it emphasize dying to self?
• Or does it promote self-fulfillment without surrender?

13. The Role of the Holy Spirit

• Does it honor the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction, guidance, and sanctification?
• Or does it replace the Spirit’s work with human control or emotionalism?

14. End Result

• If followed, will this teaching produce people who:
  • look more like Christ?
  • live holy lives?
  • love truth?
• Or will it produce:
  • confusion?
  • compromise?
  • spiritual pride?

Closing Discernment Principle

At the end of the day, every teaching must pass this simple test:

Does this lead me closer to Jesus Christ, or further away from Him?

As Paul said:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV)