Secrets to THRIVING in a Hostile Culture
By Bunni Pounds
Recently, I had the distinct honor to speak to a room of “on-fire” high school students at a youth worship night. These kids reminded me of myself at their age – passionate for Jesus, looking for truth, and searching for friends who understood them.
Before the meeting, I prayed in a back room with the youth worship team. A young woman named Mattea said while praying for me that she saw me handing out pieces of paper with secrets on them to the kids and when they received the papers that their lives went from black and white to full color instantly. I was overwhelmed and humbled by that - because I had written down for my message’s title on a piece of paper in my Bible – “Secrets on how to walk with Jesus in a hostile culture.”
Once I finished the message, I prayed for many of the young people and went home with greater hope for America’s future.
I know there are others who might benefit from these SECRETS, so I wanted to share them with you. Maybe they will bring a little more color to your life.
I HAVE ALWAYS GONE AGAINST THE GRAIN
From the time I was a young person and came to faith at the age of 13 – I have been pushing against the grain of the culture. I was in the Bible Club in my high school who spent our lunch hour in prayer and worship. I also would intentionally try to get to know my fellow classmates just for the opportunity to share Jesus with them.
When I went to Bible College – I signed up for the Moral Issues ministry and went to an abortion clinic to pray for the ending of abortion and went to New Orleans during Mardi Gras to preach on the street with fellow students.
Getting into politics as a young mom did not seem to make sense to the people closest to me because they expected me to focus on ministry and business, but for me it made all the sense in the world. My answer: I was pushing against a hostile culture with light, and I wanted to prove that I could walk with Jesus and live with integrity in a very combative field.
Here are the SECRETS I have learned to keep me steadily walking with Jesus in the middle of a hostile culture. I have not always walked perfectly, but I have walked consistently by the grace of God.
Silence the Noise and Quiet our Souls
The world is very noisy – music, movies, TV, radio, podcasts, emails, text messages, social media – multiple voices are clamoring for our attention. With an increase of “noise” comes an increase of “soul clutter.”
It is difficult to hear the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit because we aren’t STILL. We don’t know how to listen. We are consumed with every voice, but God’s.
Now more than ever we must from time to time shut off every voice and listen.
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
“A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;” Ecclesiastes 3:7
These exhortations are the opposite of what we follow in our culture. Many have ceased to practice the simple things, such as sitting and contemplatively reading our Bibles, walking through the woods and listening to the birds sing, or journaling our prayers to God.
There is a dependence on God that we demonstrate when we are still.
When we purposely silence our phones for a day and turn off external stimulation to seek God - it moves His heart, and He will meet us.
“But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20
If we think modern America is hostile – consider ancient Rome where the Romans controlled Israel in Jesus’ day. All eras in history have their difficulties, but we, as believers, must find peace in the midst of it, whatever our place in history.
Peace is only found in the Father’s presence, and we must be intentional to find that stillness.
Jesus demonstrated that for us through the way He lived His life during a very volatile time in history. After He ministered, taught, or healed – He was intentional to make time to be alone. He wanted to be still, pray, and seek the Father. He knew where His strength came from.
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” Matthew 14:23
Surround Yourself with Likeminded People
We all know this scripture – but the question is – do we apply it to our lives?
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26
The worst thing we can do in a hostile culture is associate with the wrong people. It can be devastating to our souls, worldview, and destiny in God.
A long time ago – I discovered the art of making friends with people I wanted to emulate. Associating with people who are running hard after God’s heart, who are working to influence culture – either in ministry, business or politics, and are consistent in their life and purpose – challenges me. If I walk with these people and listen to them, I am a better leader and a better follower of Christ. They push me to run after God harder.
I don’t want to be around the person who is just living a mediocre lifestyle and barely getting by. I want to be friends with leaders who are pursuing all that God has for them.
Years ago, our family went to a church, and I heard one of the elders’ wives share a testimony during a service. This woman, Helen, was powerful in the way she delivered God’s Word, connected with people, and showed the love of God. I remember thinking that day – “I really want to know her and be one of her best friends.”
I found out that she used to live in the nation of Israel and knew how to cook Mediterranean food (which I love!). I will never forget asking her if I could come to her house to learn from her how to cook all these distinct recipes. She said, “Sure!” That was my in.
A few weeks and eight hours later after sharing and working together – we were close friends. Years later, we traveled to Romania together to minister, our families started a church together, and we blended our lives because we knew we encouraged and challenged each other. I would not be who I am today if I didn’t have my friend Helen in my life. I am so thankful that I tracked her down.
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Choose friends wisely and strategically and it will help you not only endure but THRIVE in the middle of a hostile world. When we leave this earth – we cannot take our possessions with us, but we can take our family and friends into eternity.
One of my life mottos is, “It doesn’t matter where in the world I go as long as I am with the right people.”
Run, pray, and do life with people who want to know God more and who want to change the world.
If we do that – we will become those people too.
Always be Transparent and Genuine
Being fake won’t cut it. People, especially Millennials and GenXers want to talk and hear from people who are genuine. They want to walk with people they know understand struggles and will talk about them. We need to be one of those people who is not afraid to talk about our weaknesses as long as we are giving solutions and the Word of God with those stories.
I am not saying that we air our dirty laundry – but we also don’t need to pretend we have it all together all the time. We need to acknowledge where we are weak, where we struggle, and how disciplines in life might not be as easy for us as we make it appear. Leaders lead – by being transparent and discipling people with our lives.
This prayer of David from Psalm 51:6 has been one I have prayed over my life for years.
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”
God knows every hidden part of us, period, so why in the world do we try to hide things from Him?
He knows every hair on our heads and even knows us better than we know ourselves. I am constantly asking God to show me things about who I am, who He made me to be, aspects of my calling or talents that I might not be aware of – so I can be more effective. I want Him to give me wisdom through every turn of my life.
Becoming Christlike means that we give God control over every aspect of our lives – our thoughts, money, time, entertainment, work, ministry – EVERYTHING.
Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart – but it is the most rewarding thing we can ever do.
When we live for Him – He lives through us and changes the world around us.
“Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-4
Legacy is a big deal to me. I don’t want to just endure through life or barely make it – I want to THRIVE and impact change in the culture around me.
To thrive, we have to walk with God every day. That is the key to life.
For me, the practice of quieting my soul, running with “on fire” people, and asking God to help me to be transparent before Him and others has helped me to not only survive, but thrive in our hostile culture.
When our Biblical principles are under attack, our families and friends need to be strengthened every day, and the world needs more light and salt to preserve the land we love – it is imperative that we run this race well.
I know this – Jesus is ready to strength us, give us wisdom, and walk with us every step of the way. He has proved Himself faithful to me and I know He will be faithful to you as a leader.
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