Jesus And Culture Wars: Lessons for Today
Intersection of Faith And Politics – Part 5
How should Christians navigate today’s culture wars? Jesus shows us the way—through compassion, impartiality, and practical wisdom.
Culture Wars Are Nothing New
Culture wars have been around for a long time. Generations of people have fought them. As the Bible says:
“Sometimes people say, ‘Here is something new!’ But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new.”
— Ecclesiastes 1:10 (NLT)
Culture wars aren’t new—they’ve existed as long as societies have debated values and norms. Jesus faced the culture wars of His time—from theological disputes to social and political controversies—and left us a model for navigating them.
A Word on This Post
This post, Part 5, was originally meant to be the final entry in the series. But once I finished writing it, it felt too long, so I decided to break it into two parts.
In Part 4: Are You American First and Christian Second?, I described how conversations around culture wars can become toxic, and how there’s a general lack of common sense in the way those conversations are often carried out. The question I want to begin to answer in this post is: how did Jesus handle the culture wars of His time?
Jesus is our ultimate example, and if you’re serious about navigating the culture war of our moment, you need to pay attention. As with so many things, Jesus left us an example to follow. It’s like what He said to the Twelve after He washed their feet:
“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
— John 13:14
When Jesus came to be baptized and John the Baptist thought it was beneath Him for John to do so, Jesus said:
“Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
— Matthew 3:15
Jesus often modeled behaviors and practices that we are meant to follow. He didn’t need to do many of the things He did, but He did them to show us how we should live.
So how did our Lord Jesus navigate the culture wars of His time? I believe there are three principles He demonstrated for us: compassion, impartiality, and pragmatism—what we might simply call common sense. Let’s explore them.
1. Jesus Practiced Compassion
One of the major disagreements the religious establishment had with Jesus was what they saw as His violation of the Sabbath. They could not abide this. They were especially offended whenever He healed or performed miracles on the Sabbath.
One example is when they were angry because His disciples picked and ate grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–8). Jesus reminded them of how David ate the holy bread, and then, quoting Hosea 6:6, He told them to go learn what this means:
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”
First, their interpretation of the Sabbath laws was wrong—the law forbade commercial work, not doing good. Second, Jesus was telling them that they were fixated on legalism and orthodoxy rather than real human needs. This dynamic shows up in many culture war debates today.
Some Republicans accuse liberals of weaponizing the word “compassion” in immigration enforcement and other policies, arguing that it’s merely an excuse or virtue signaling. Sometimes that may be true. But compassion is godliness, and Jesus calls us to be compassionate.
The second part of Hosea 6:6 says:
“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
When people speak or behave in ways that are insensitive to human suffering and pain, it’s often because they are merely religious—because their faith is superficial and mechanical. Anyone who truly knows God understands that mercy, kindness, and compassion matter more than rituals.
Another example is when Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery from being stoned by saying:
“He who among you is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
— John 8:5
By saying this, Jesus challenged the conscience of the mob, reminding them that they too were sinners. He did not side with her would-be killers, but He also did not condone her lifestyle. He told her to:
“Go and stop sinning.” — v.11
Jesus frequently called Himself the “Son of Man” not just to highlight His messianic role but, I believe, to remind us to treat others with true humanity and humility, living the Golden Rule.
Jesus requires us to be compassionate in all situations, even when moral issues are at stake. He treated people with grace, compassion, and humanity—and He calls us to do the same.
In the final part, I’ll take a closer look at the remaining two principles—impartiality and pragmatism—that I believe Jesus modeled for us. Stay tuned, you don’t want to miss it.
Series: Intersection of Faith And Politics
Jesus And Culture Wars: Lessons for Today