By Prof Oyewole Sarumi
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a beacon of hope, piercing through the darkest of times and cultural climates. Its power remains undiminished, even in an era marked by political division, moral relativism, and an obsession with self-image.
Today’s society, consumed by social media validation and a fear of standing firm in biblical truth, mirrors the conditions described by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Yet, the Gospel’s transformative power remains as potent as ever. The challenge lies not in the Gospel’s weakness but in the resistance of a self-absorbed world. For the Church to effectively reach this generation, it must return to its biblical foundation, reject a diluted version of Christianity, and boldly proclaim the unchanging truth of God’s Word.
In this piece, we are challenging the church to guard and gird her loins, and return to true biblical Christianity, rather than these nonsense that pervades the world with its chameleonic stances that is even confusing the elect of God.
THE CULTURAL CLIMATE: A MIRROR OF BIBLICAL WARNINGS
Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 paint a vivid picture of a society consumed by self-love, pride, and moral decay. He writes:
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
This passage eerily reflects the modern world’s obsession with popularity, image, and the fear of offending others. The pursuit of self-gratification and the rejection of absolute truth have created a spiritual blindness that hinders the reception of the Gospel. Yet, the Gospel’s power to transform lives remains unchanged. The Church’s task is to break through this darkness by standing firm on the truth of Scripture and refusing to compromise for cultural acceptance.
THE POWER OF TRUTH IN A CULTURE OF RELATIVISM
In our post modern world, one of the greatest barriers to the Gospel today is the pervasive belief that truth is relative. Society teaches that morality is subjective, and individuals are free to define their own truth. This mindset directly contradicts the Gospel’s message, as Jesus declares in John 14:6:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The Gospel is not one truth among many—it is the only truth that leads to salvation. In a world drowning in moral relativism, Christians must boldly proclaim the unchanging nature of God’s Word. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” The Church cannot afford to alter biblical morality to fit cultural and secular trends just because we want to be politically correct. Instead, it must stand firm on the eternal truth of Scripture, trusting that God’s Word has the power to pierce through the fog of relativism and bring clarity to a confused world.
A CHURCH FOCUSED ON HOLINESS, NOT ENTERTAINMENT
In many ways, the modern Church has shifted its focus from discipleship to entertainment. Churches often prioritize branding, stage design, and emotional experiences over sound doctrine and spiritual depth. While these elements may attract crowds, they risk diluting the Gospel’s transformative power. Jesus never intended His message to be a spectacle for entertainment. In Luke 9:23, He calls for true discipleship:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
True Christianity requires self-denial, not self-indulgence. The Church must return to preaching repentance, holiness, and the cost of following Christ, while forsaking all!
A church built on entertainment and organizational growth rather than deep spiritual transformation will crumble under the weight of true persecution. The Gospel is not about making people feel good—it’s about calling them to a life of radical obedience and transformation.
Fearless Christians in an age of compromise
Many Christians today hesitate to take a stand for their faith, fearing social rejection, job loss, or public shaming. This fear of standing out has led to a culture of compromise within the Church. Yet, Jesus warned against this very mindset in Matthew 10:32-33:
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
The early Church thrived in a hostile world because believers were unashamed of Christ, even in the face of death. Today’s Christians must reclaim that boldness, understanding that eternity matters far more than cultural and societal acceptance. The fear of man must be replaced with the fear of God, as Proverbs 29:25 reminds us: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BREAK THROUGH DARKNESS
Let this be clear: There is no amount of human effort or strategy that can change hearts—only the Holy Spirit has the power to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). The Church must return to a posture of dependence on God through prayer, fasting, and reliance on His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 declares:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
The revival needed in today’s world will not come through social media campaigns, polished sermons, or innovative programs. It will come through a movement of the Holy Spirit only in the hearts of the people as wrath by the preaching and teaching of the undiluted Word of God. Period!
The early Church had no modern technology or resources, yet they turned the world upside down because they walked in the power of God as they preached the Word. The same Spirit that empowered the early Church is available to us today. The Church must prioritize spiritual disciplines and seek God’s presence above all else.
A CALL TO A FEARLESS , UN-COMPROMISED GOSPEL
The Gospel’s power to transform lives and break through darkness has not diminished. However, the Church must return to its original calling: preaching Christ crucified, making disciples, standing firm in truth, and relying on the Holy SPIRIT alone. Please note that the world will always resist the Gospel, but the power of Christ is greater than the deception of this age. As Romans 1:16 reminds us:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
The solution is not to make Christianity more acceptable to culture but to boldly proclaim the unchanging Word of God, trusting that He alone will draw people to Himself. The Church must reject the temptation to entertain and instead focus on transformation. It must stand firm in truth, even when it is unpopular, and rely on the Holy Spirit to bring about true revival in the hearts of the people.
In a world lost in darkness, the Gospel remains the only hope. Let us, as the Church, rise to the challenge, unashamed and uncompromised, trusting in the power of Christ to transform hearts and bring light to a broken world.
Are you ready to join this move? Let’s pray
