The Church Must Stand: Christianity and the Future of Society

The Church Must Stand: Christianity and the Future of Society

I was listening to a debate on LBC while driving from London to Yorkshire this morning. The discussion revolved around comments made by JD Vance, the Vice President of the USA, who spoke about Britain and other European nations eroding free speech and the values that once defined them. His words clearly struck a chord with callers as the debate was passionate. You can listen to the debate on Global Player.

The reality is that we are living in dangerous times. I don’t say this lightly. Geopolitically, morally, and spiritually, the world is shifting in ways that threaten the very fabric of our societies and our country as we know it. We are debating assisted suicide in England, Wales, and Scotland. We see wars continuing in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. We witness the rise of far-right political parties in the West and, in response, an increasingly authoritarian progressivism that silences opposition rather than engaging with it. Inclusive ideologies, rather than fostering genuine unity, are deepening division. The very concept of free speech—once a cornerstone of democracy and civil discourse—is under serious threat. It is hard to even list what British values are, that’s how eroded society has become, but I suggest values of tolerance, welcome, acceptance, hope, and freedom should form part of life in Britain. 

More than anything, we seem to have lost the ability to debate, disagree, explore, and wrestle with opposing views. The space for dialogue is disappearing. We are developing a culture where all must agree, where there is zero tolerance to views we don’t accept. 

I am interested in politics, but I am not party-political.

I am interested in justice, but not the justice dictated by fleeting cultural trends—I seek the justice found in the upside-down, counter-cultural Kingdom of God.

I am interested in inclusion, but not the superficial kind that demands conformity and excludes those who don’t agree. I believe in the inclusion that offers everyone the opportunity to repent, have faith in Jesus, and be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

When the Church tries to mirror society, disaster awaits.

The crisis we face today is not simply political or ideological—it is spiritual. The West is unmoored, drifting further and further from the foundational truths that once held it together. Britain, and perhaps the Western world as a whole, feels lost. We are on the edge of something that could be catastrophic to society as we know it.

At the heart of this crisis is the erosion of Christian values—values that have underpinned law, education, healthcare, and social order for centuries. When those values disappear, what replaces them? A culture of self-indulgence without accountability? A society that values feelings over truth? A system that punishes those who speak up for what they believe?

The Church must reclaim its voice. It must stand firm on the Word of God. It must be unequivocal in its belief in the Bible, in the power of Jesus to erase all sin, and in the ability of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and society.

Interestingly, my 15-year-old son, who has not attended church regularly since COVID, is now seriously exploring Catholicism. Why? Because, in his words, he is fed up with the Church not taking Christianity seriously. He is fed up with the Church trying to be attractive rather than being faithful. He wants a Church that takes its doctrine seriously, without compromise.

This is deeply revealing. He is not looking for a watered-down, seeker-sensitive, feel-good religion. He is looking for Christ crucified. He wants a faith that demands something of him—a faith that stands for something, that shapes society, that calls people to live differently, that requires sacrifice. And he is not alone. His friends of a similar age feel the same way.

The next generation is not looking for a Church that imitates the world. They are looking for a Church that changes the world.

The answer to our dilemma is Christ.

Christianity has so much to offer society. It teaches the importance of relationships, community, and family. It upholds values that seek to love God and love others. It emphasises the significance of education, health, and wellbeing, through a lens that requires sacrifice and repentance. It is the foundation of freedom, justice, liberty, and hope.

Yet, these truths are being cast aside. In the name of progress, we are dismantling the very principles that built our civilisation. In the name of tolerance, we are silencing voices that challenge the status quo.

But there is still time.

Christian values, Christian norms, Christian ethics, and Christian justice must be reestablished and promoted once again.

The Church must stand. It must be bold. It must be unapologetic in its commitment to truth.

Repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary for salvation. This is not just a doctrinal statement—it is the key to the transformation our world so desperately needs.

If the Church compromises, it will become irrelevant. But if the Church stands firm, it will once again become the beacon of repentance and restoration that society so desperately needs.

Now is the time for courage. Now is the time for boldness. Now is the time for faithfulness. Now is the time to emphasise Christ crucified. Now is the time for repentance and restoration. Now is the time for the Church to be the Church.