At MO Youth Convention 2025, Bro. Stanley Gleason asked a question that hit deeper than any hype, music, or emotional moment could:“Is the church going to impact the culture, or is the culture going to impact the church?”
That’s more than a catchy quote. It’s a spiritual mirror—and it demands an honest look.
In every generation, the church has stood at this same crossroad: Do we remain faithful to God and His Word, or do we slowly shift to accommodate the rising tides of culture?
Culture is persuasive.
It speaks in trends, emotions, and feelings.
It packages rebellion as liberation. It markets sin as self-expression.
And if the church isn’t careful, that spirit starts to bleed into our pulpits, our music, our lifestyles—until the gospel gets drowned in a sea of relevance.
But Jesus had no interest in blending in. He said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–14, NKJV).
Salt prevents decay.
Light exposes what’s been hidden in darkness.
These are active roles, not passive ones. Salt and light don’t conform—they confront.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) reminds us,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
That word transformed means something radical.
Something visible.
Something undeniable.
It’s not about behavior modification—it’s about holy renovation.
The early church didn’t survive because it was relatable.
It thrived because it was righteous.
It didn’t change the world by adapting to it—it changed it by standing apart, no matter the cost.
And the truth is, what we heard from Bro. Gleason wasn’t just a message for a convention full of young people—it was a trumpet blast for every believer. A call to wake up. A challenge to examine our own lives and ask: Are we transforming culture, or being transformed by it?
Let’s not water down our witness. Let’s not silence the Spirit’s conviction to make room for cultural comfort. The world doesn’t need a more relevant church. It needs a more righteous one.
Reflection Questions:
Where have I allowed cultural compromise to creep into my faith?
Am I willing to be salt that stings or light that exposes, even when it’s uncomfortable?
What would true transformation look like in my daily life?
Let’s be honest—and then let’s be bold. The world is watching. But more importantly, the Lord is.
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