Should the Church Engage in Cultural Warfare? A Biblical Examination of Eric Metaxas' Letter to the American Church and Its Implications
Eric Metaxas’ Letter to the American Church delivers a passionate plea for the modern church to take a stand against cultural and political decline. Drawing parallels between the American church today and the German church of the 1930s, Metaxas argues that silence in the face of evil is complicity. His thesis is simple: just as the German church failed to resist Hitler and suffered the consequences, the American church must not repeat the same mistake by remaining passive in the face of moral and ideological shifts.
At first glance, Metaxas’ call seems compelling—who wouldn’t agree that Christians should stand for truth? But a deeper question arises: Is his vision of the church’s role actually biblical? Should the church engage in culture wars, seeking to preserve Christian values in society, or is its mission something altogether different?
This article will examine Metaxas’ argument through the lens of Scripture, explore the potential dangers of a culture-focused Christianity, and provide a biblically grounded perspective on the church’s true mission.
I. The Core Argument of Letter to the American Church
Metaxas sees a direct correlation between the German church’s silence during the rise of Nazism and the modern American church’s hesitance to address moral and political issues. He believes that many churches today, out of fear of controversy, have abandoned their prophetic role. His argument rests on three main pillars:
The Church’s Failure in Germany Led to Disaster
The German church remained silent as Hitler rose to power, fearing state persecution and desiring to avoid controversy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the few German pastors who resisted, serves as a model of courage and moral responsibility.
Metaxas sees a direct analogy in the modern church’s reluctance to engage in cultural battles.
Cultural Decay Demands the Church’s Action
Metaxas argues that progressive ideologies (such as secularism, Marxism, abortion rights, and gender ideology) are overtaking America.
He believes that if Christians remain silent, the country will fall into moral chaos, much like Germany did.
He calls for churches to actively resist these ideologies, using their influence to shape political and social policies.
Faith Without Cultural Engagement is Dead
Metaxas believes that many churches have adopted a passive or pietistic faith that avoids engaging with real-world issues.
He argues that Christians must be bold, proclaiming truth fearlessly, even if it leads to persecution.
The church must influence politics, education, and law in order to prevent America’s moral collapse.
These ideas resonate with many believers who are troubled by the moral changes they see in the culture. But before embracing this framework, we must ask: Is this what Jesus and the apostles taught about the role of the church?
II. The Church’s True Mission: What Did Jesus and the Apostles Teach?
When we examine Jesus’ ministry and the early church, we see a strikingly different approach than the one Metaxas advocates. The Bible teaches that the kingdom of God is not advanced through political engagement, but through the transformation of individual hearts by the gospel.
1. Jesus Rejected Political Power as a Means of Transformation
Many in Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to lead a political revolution, overthrowing Rome and establishing a theocratic Jewish kingdom. However, Jesus repeatedly rejected this expectation:
John 18:36 – “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Luke 17:20-21 – “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Matthew 22:15-22 – When asked whether Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus did not call for political resistance but simply said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Jesus focused not on reforming the Roman Empire but on transforming hearts. His emphasis was on calling people into a personal relationship with God, not on reshaping governmental policies.
2. The Early Church Thrived Without Political Influence
If political activism were central to the Christian mission, we would expect to see the apostles heavily engaged in shaping Roman policies. Instead, the opposite is true:
Paul, Peter, and the other apostles never called for political revolution or attempts to Christianize Roman society.
Instead, they taught believers to live peacefully, pray for authorities, and be faithful witnesses.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The early church changed the world not by seizing political power, but by embodying Christ’s love, enduring persecution, and faithfully proclaiming the gospel.
3. The Danger of Misplacing the Church’s Focus
When the church shifts its focus from gospel proclamation to cultural warfare, several dangers emerge:
It promotes legalism rather than transformation.
Enforcing Christian morals through law does not change hearts; only the gospel does.
It compromises the church’s witness.
Aligning too closely with political movements can make Christianity seem like just another political ideology rather than a life-changing relationship with Christ.
It distracts from the church’s primary mission.
If the church spends its energy on fighting cultural battles, it risks neglecting discipleship, evangelism, and true spiritual growth.
Jesus did not call us to fight a culture war—He called us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
III. Should the Church Ever Speak Out on Moral Issues?
While the church’s primary mission is spiritual, this does not mean it should remain silent on moral issues. The Bible does call believers to stand for truth in ways that honor God:
The Church Must Proclaim Biblical Truth Boldly
The apostles did not shy away from condemning sin, but they always did so with the goal of leading people to repentance.
Ephesians 4:15 – “Speak the truth in love.”
The key is to address moral issues as an extension of gospel proclamation, not as political activism.
The Church Must Care for the Oppressed
Christians throughout history have played key roles in fighting injustice (e.g., William Wilberforce’s abolition movement, Christian resistance to Nazi Germany).
However, the church’s power lies in acting as the body of Christ, not as a political institution.
The Church Must Remain Independent from Political Allegiances
When the church becomes too aligned with political parties, it risks losing credibility and dividing the body of Christ.
A Balanced Approach
The church should boldly preach truth, stand against injustice, and call sinners to repentance. But it must never substitute political activism for gospel transformation.
IV. Conclusion: The Church’s True Calling
Eric Metaxas is right that silence in the face of evil is dangerous. However, his emphasis on cultural warfare as the church’s primary duty misplaces the biblical focus. The New Testament shows that the true power of the church is not in shaping laws, but in transforming lives.
If the church remains faithful to its mission—preaching the gospel, discipling believers, and living as Christ’s body—it will influence culture naturally, without needing to fight a political battle. Our allegiance is not to earthly nations but to the kingdom of God. Let us trust in Christ, not in political strategies, to accomplish His work in the world.