As followers of Jesus, we will inevitably feel the pressure of the culture around us. We'll be put in difficult spots when we don't know what to say or how to respond. Rather than responding with the weapons of this world--defensiveness, outrage, or distance--our response should be characterized by prayer, and the wisdom that flows from it. Only then will we be effective at pointing to God, even in the pressure moments we face.

Because of the unseen forces within our world, culture is not a neutral or passive influence. It is constantly applying pressure to move away from God. In order to be faithful, we must acknowledge, identify, and overcome the cultural influences that move us away from God.