Navigating the Tension Between Culture and the Kingdom

Recently, I developed (and have since continuously refined) a workshop on gender identity, sexuality, and relationships. I desired to provide a Gospel-centered framework for our ministry leaders to support and serve children and youth struggling with these issues. Early on, I felt a conviction to hear the stories of individuals and families who had walked this path—understanding their experience, hearing where the Church had helped or hurt them, and trying to find the right balance of spine and heart for these conversations.

In one conversation, I spoke to a young woman who said, “I’m trying to follow Jesus, but everywhere I turn—online, at school, even in my friend group—I feel like I’m being told to choose between being true to myself or being faithful to God.” She paused, looked down, and added, “What if I don’t know who I am anymore?”

Her words reflect a crisis facing many believers today—not just teenagers, but adults, pastors, and even ministry leaders. In a world that encourages self-definition above all else, many are left asking, “Who am I, really? How does that identity hold up when cultural norms shift and truth feels negotiable?”

This tension between cultural values and kingdom values is not new, but it feels more pronounced in our time. Our culture prizes authenticity and self-expression, often at the expense of biblical truth. However, the Christian faith offers not a suppression of identity but redemption. It offers not confusion, but clarity—not shame, but purpose.

The Crisis of Identity

Culture today insists that identity is a personal project. It is to be discovered, curated, and often performed. From social media bios to self-help books, we are encouraged to invent ourselves and live out whatever feels most authentic at the moment. However, this pursuit of self-definition often leads not to confidence, but confusion.

Philosopher Charles Taylor (2007) notes that modern individuals live in what he calls the “age of authenticity,” where people seek to live out their “own definition of fulfillment.” However, such a framework assumes that the self is not shaped by divine design or moral order but by personal feeling. As a result, any outside claim—especially religious or biblically-based ones—can feel like a threat to one’s individuality.

This ideology seeps into the Church in subtle ways. We may start to frame faith as a personal lifestyle choice rather than a transformative relationship. We emphasize self-fulfillment over self-sacrifice. But Scripture provides a radically different view.

A Kingdom Vision of Identity

At the foundation of the biblical worldview is this truth that our identity is not something we construct but rather it is something we receive. Genesis 1:27 affirms that every person is made in the image of God: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (NKJV). Our worth, value, and purpose are rooted in our Creator, not in our capacity for self-expression.

This theme is echoed throughout Scripture. In Christ, we are not just created—we are recreated. Paul proclaims in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Our truest identity is not found in our preferences, our pain, or even our past—it is found in being united with Christ.

Moreover, identity in the kingdom is communal, not just individual. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds believers that we are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” We are part of a people, called out not to follow our own truth, but to proclaim His.

Truth vs. Self-Expression

One of the defining marks of secular culture is the rejection of objective truth. Phrases like “live your truth” suggest that reality is self-defined and subject to change. But the gospel confronts this relativism head-on. Jesus didn’t say He had the truth—He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Truth is not merely propositional. It is personal. It is embodied in the person of Christ.

This has implications for how we approach topics like gender, sexuality, justice, and morality. Christians do not base their identity on changing feelings but on the unchanging Word of God. As Isaiah 40:8 reminds us, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Discipleship in a Confused Age

The Church must equip believers not just to reject lies but to live in truth with grace. We cannot assume people understand what it means to be human from a biblical standpoint. Discipleship must start with theological identity.

1. Teach the Image of God. People need to know they are created on purpose, with purpose. Use teaching series, small groups, and personal mentorship to unpack what it means to bear God’s image. Teaching the Imago Dei (Image of God) is one of the most powerful ways to restore dignity, purpose, and identity in a world that often leaves people disoriented about who they are. Start in Genesis, which is the original blueprint in Genesis 1:26-27. Trace this theme throughout scripture in passages such as Genesis 9:6, James 3:9, Colossians 1:15, 3:10. Once people grasp the doctrine, apply it practically by asking how this fits into our daily lives, speech, relationships, and power.
2. Re-center Everything on Christ. Galatians 2:20 teaches that “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Identity in Christ is not an accessory—it’s an exchange. Preach the gospel in a way that reshapes how people see themselves. How do we do this? Instead of beginning sermons or messages with “Who are you?” start with “Who is God?” The gospel reshapes identity not by introspection, but by reorienting us to the character of God. Also, help people identify the lies they’ve believed about their worth, and replace those lies with biblical truth. Culture tells people they must earn love, maintain a certain image, or discover meaning within. The gospel says, “You are already loved. You have already been chosen. You are already known.” When people see the holiness, grace, and love of God, they begin to understand themselves in relation to Him, not in isolation.
3. Create safe, truthful spaces. Our churches must be places where hard questions can be asked without fear, but also where clear answers are given. Speak with compassion, but also with conviction. Leaders must model vulnerability by admitting they don’t have all the answers while remaining committed to exploring God’s Word together. When someone asks a question about sexuality, doubt, suffering, or identity, our response should be rooted in both grace and truth (John 1:14). Compassion invites people in, but conviction keeps us grounded. Equip your congregation to listen well, respond without condemnation, and create rhythms—like Q&A nights, forums, or mentoring—where honest dialogue is encouraged. This is how we disciple people not just into right beliefs, but into spiritually resilient lives.
4. Model the difference. Pastors and leaders must embody the distinctiveness of kingdom living. Identity rooted in Christ looks like humility, stability, and joy, not performance or popularity. This begins with leaders living out of their identity in Christ, not their title, platform, or public approval. In a culture that rewards performance, charisma, and image, pastors and ministry leaders must reflect a deeper kind of leadership—one marked by humility, authenticity, and quiet strength. When our confidence flows from being children of God rather than achievers for God, it creates stability in our leadership and integrity in our witness. People are watching not just what we preach, but how we live, especially in how we handle criticism, success, failure, and unseen faithfulness. When we lead from a place of joy in Christ rather than striving for relevance or applause, we show others that kingdom identity is not something you earn—it’s something you receive and live out daily.

Walking Faithfully in Exile

We are not the first believers to find ourselves living in cultural exile. The early Church thrived in the midst of a Roman Empire that celebrated relativism, pluralism, and decadence. Yet, the gospel spread—not because it was palatable, but because it was powerful.

Today, we must respond not with fear or compromise, but with courage and clarity. Christian identity is not a restrictive label—it’s a liberating call. As James K. A. Smith (2016) observes, “You are what you love.” And when we love Christ, our identity becomes rooted in something unshakable.

Conclusion

In a world where identity feels fluid and truth is treated as optional, the Church must stand as a faithful witness to another way. We are not the authors of our own stories. We are beloved characters in a divine narrative that is unfolding by the hand of a loving God.

Let us walk this cultural tension with bold humility, grounded in truth, clothed in grace, and confident that the One who defines us will not forsake us. Let’s teach our people to stop chasing shadows and stand in the light of truth. Let’s offer the next generation more than slogans—let’s offer them the gospel. Because in Christ, we don’t have to find ourselves—we are found.

References
Smith, J. K. A. (2016). You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. Brazos Press.
Taylor, C. (2007). A Secular Age. Harvard University Press.
Wilkins, M. J. (1997). Following the Master: A Biblical Theology of Discipleship. Zondervan.
Wright, N. T. (2010). After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters. HarperOne.