Stewarding the Moment

The headlines this week have been a dark reminder of the sinfulness and misery of our fallen world. Among the seven things that are an abomination to the Lord are “hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil.” These are things that the Lord hates — utterly contrary to his character and will. Yet tragically, they have dominated the news, and in our digitally saturated culture many of us have even watched the horror unfold before our eyes, as wicked plans gave way to the spilling of innocent blood.

The murder of Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte has seared itself into our collective memory. The still frame of her terrified face in the moment she was stabbed, while her assailant mumbled “I got that white girl.” For many of us — especially fathers and husbands — her innocent blood provoked a defensive instinct. Our daughters should not live in a society where a simple commute home from work can become their final moment.

As if this were not enough, only days later came the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie was one of the most influential voices to a younger generation, unafraid to step into the indoctrination zones of higher education to dialogue on the most important topics of our society. His death is felt not merely as an attack on free speech but as a blow against Christian conviction itself. He had political opinions, but he also proclaimed biblical truth to the crises of our day and bore witness to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. It's not inappropriate to recognize his death as both political assassination and Christian martyrdom. That many have chosen to celebrate the shedding of his blood is a grim reminder that leftist ideology promotes the destruction of human nature from womb to tomb.

For many of us, the events of this past week have struck a nerve and left us overwhelmed with sadness and anger. Rightly so. There’s a growing sense that this might prove to be a turning point — a cultural moment that could shape the next generation. And I think it should. We must not allow the cacophony of society to silence us, nor intimidation to push us into retreat. Instead, we — especially Christian men — must lean into this moment. This is the time in which King Jesus has placed us, and we must receive it as a providential stewardship.

Stewardship is a helpful paradigm for this moment. A steward is one who manages what belongs to another, entrusted with responsibility by his master. The Bible uses this framework for our lives. Stewards have a single responsibility, as Paul wrote, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). What is needed now are faithful men — men who will engage, confront, and lead with courage — so that our culture may yet be influenced by steady, God-honoring faithfulness.

Faithful stewardship will take different forms depending on the arena in which God has placed us. Yet there are certain principles that must always mark the one who would be found faithful. As I’ve thought about this cultural moment and what it means to move forward, several marks of faithful stewardship stand out as especially relevant.

Don’t be taken captive by worldly thinking. Paul writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). The evils we have witnessed this week are the consequence of a society whose culture, public policies, and most educational institutions are in the stranglehold of hollow and deceptive systems of thought — BLM, Marxism, socialism, progressivism, trans-ideology, etc. But in opposing these things we must be careful, as the Apostle says, that we not be taken captive by other empty philosophies. Any system of thought that does not proceed from and terminate in the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ, is a diabolical deception.

Be angry but do not sin. Paul said, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and given no opportunity to the devil” (Eph 4:26-27). It’s striking that the Apostle doesn’t say “Don’t be angry.” He says, “Be angry.” There is an anger that reflects the righteousness of God, and it’s an appropriate response to the evils perpetrated this week. It’s not God-like to sense no indignation in the sight of those things he hates. Quite the contrary. It is God-likeness to hate the things he hates, and share in his anger. It’s God-honoring to pray with the Bible, “Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none” (Ps. 10:15), and to wait expectantly for his vengeance to shine forth (Ps. 94:1). But in our anger we cannot sin, because sinful anger will never bring about the righteousness of God (Jas. 1:20).

Speak the truth but do it in love. Truth and love are not opposed to one another; the Bible joins them together (Eph. 4:15). Yes, the truth must be spoken (loudly!). That means we cannot speak with flattery, unconditional affirmation, or appeasement. These things aren’t according to the truth. But we must speak all things in love. To love is to be concerned with the good and the welfare of the one who is loved. To speak in love, is to speak the truth with the aim of doing good to the one who hears and to let the truth be spoken without arrogance, rudeness, impatience, or irritability. That doesn’t mean loving words don’t hurt. Sometimes they do, and they cut like the surgeon’s scalpel (see Prov. 17:10, 27:6, and Ps. 141:5).

Be prepared to be hated. Jesus said it plainly, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18). We need those words to strike a fatal blow to the man-fearing in our hearts. Stop chasing after the approval and approbation of those who hate him, and cozying up to the world, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Matt. 10:22). You cannot be aligned with Jesus and not find yourself at odds with this world (see Jas. 4:4 and 1 Jn 2:15-17). If you’re the kind of Christian the world gets along with it’s very likely you’re a compromised Christian. But if you're following Jesus you will be hated by the world, but take heart because he has overcome the world (Jn. 16:33).

More could be added — overcome evil with good, help the defenseless, pursue justice, act like men and be strong, and on and on. I don’t know what every skirmish in the battle is going to look like. But, to use another biblical metaphor, we’re soldiers enlisted in the ranks of the King. We fight the King’s battle for the King’s cause by the King’s standards. And the men he is most interested in having at the front lines, are those who will be faithful unto death.