Southern Baptists have lingered at a critical intersection for the past several years, and the ultimate choice of which road we take will shape our identity. Essentially, who will we most resemble — Saul or Paul?
Both have a bearing on how effectively we fulfill our Great Commission responsibility. We need to decide quickly because the secular world increasingly perceives us as Saul rather than Paul.
Why should we care what the world thinks? Because it is deeply misguided to expect people we alienate to also be open to the gospel message we proclaim.
Various studies from Barna Group, Pew Research Center and Public Religion Research Institute find that conservative evangelical Christians are viewed as too stridently political, judgmental on cultural issues, and morally hypocritical. The studies also indicate that the issue is not with our theology as much as with the disconnect the world sees between what we say we believe and how we exercise those beliefs.
Americans have generally lost the capacity to hear, think, process and delineate ideas. Rather than being challenged by perspectives we do not agree with, we bypass thoughtfulness and get defensive when criticized. Discussion — if you can even call it that — on virtually every issue is now divisive rather than unifying.
Research published last year found that only 10% of American friendships cross party lines. One political scientist observed, “Part of what is destroying our social fabric is that we have set an expectation that to be a good Democrat or Republican, you have to unconditionally hate the other party.”
Chris Turner
We cannot simultaneously hate spiritually lost people with whom we disagree on virtually every issue and love them to Christ. Jesus will not become the object of their affection through the legalistic rantings of a Saul.
From biblical accounts, an unregenerate Saul was a rigidly legalistic religious zealot fueled by a determination to punish and eradicate those who did not conform to Judaism. This is sometimes how conservative Christians are perceived. We expect spiritually lost people to convert to Christianity through our strident efforts to “morally correct” their perspectives on politics, human sexuality, immigration, abortion, gun rights, religious liberty and a host of other issues.
The Apostle Paul did not — and would not — do that. Paul did not condone sin, but throughout 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul set aside his rights, not his theology, to “become all things to all people, so that [he] may by every possible means save some.” He chose the greater purpose.
So where is the balance? Christians must engage the marketplace, political and cultural arenas and be a voice for righteousness. However, we must guard against weaponizing moral truth or exchanging evangelism for activism. Like Paul, we must build bridges and earn the right to be heard. Here are four ways Christians can live with biblical conviction while being effective witnesses in a divided culture:
- Prioritize relationships over cultural combat. Pew Research shows that personal familiarity reduces stereotypes and builds understanding. Relationships defuse the intensity of disagreements and create space for dialogue. Trust grows when people do not feel like projects.
- Listen to learn, not to correct. People rarely change their views because of an argument, especially those online through social media. However, psychology research demonstrates there is greater openness when people believe they have been heard and feel respected.
- Service opens the door to engagement. Actions truly do speak louder than words. We live among broken people who need mercy. People see alignment between our theology and our actions when we go from shouting to serving. Thousands of gospel conversations have happened through the years through volunteer ministries like Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief that build relationships and earn trust.
- Be the church people expect. Sociologists estimate that about 66 million Americans — one-fifth of the population — struggle with feeling isolated and lonely. They long for a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves, connection and shared experience. Healthy churches offer an impactful witness to their communities.
To rephrase Mark 8:36, what does it profit us as Christians if we win all the cultural and political arguments but forfeit our opportunity to “save some”? The most persuasive witness in a divided culture is not louder conviction; it is embodied conviction with relational warmth.
In a world full of Sauls, strive to be a Paul. B&R
