A Call to Wisdom in the Tempest of Living

Author: John Stonestreet and Andrew Carico

Rodney King’s famous question, “Can we all get along?” is never easily answered, especially in an age of such deep ideological, political, and cultural divisions. Christians should constantly strive to engage friends and family with what is true, at home, in the workplace, on social media, and especially in person. The issues at stake are many, and many of the issues are incredibly consequential.  

But what tenor and tone is the “Christian” one? Part of the conflict today is within different camps promoting contrasting strategies. Some call for a more aggressive approach, justifying harsh, personal attacks. Others call for Christians to be winsome and nuanced. And there are plenty of us somewhere between these two options. 

On its own, the call for mere civility is important but falls short. The word “civility” shares a Latin root with the words “civilization” and “citizen.” So, to be “civil’ is to point to something beyond our disagreements that connect us as citizens and within a larger civilizational cause.  

However, we have lost so much ground on what our shared citizenship means and what our civilization entails. Finding common ground often means abandoning essential, non-negotiable truths. That realization has led so many Christians to respond to the downward spiral in the culture regarding human sexuality, marriage, life, and other issues with a call for a more offensive, bold posture. Too often, winsomeness has meant compromise, as if loving our enemies meant never getting around to the truth part. 

A helpful framing for how to think about the challenge of this moment can be found in the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the twentieth century Christian who stood with conviction and courage in Nazi Germany in response to the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich. In his book Ethics, he called on Christians to be faithful in the here and now, writing,  

Do and dare what is right, not swayed by the whim of the moment. Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of living. 

For Bonhoeffer, the Christian faith had to be lived in whatever time and place God places us. To be human is to be in a “tempest of the living.” Christians, Bonhoeffer believed, belong in the fray. We cannot be paralyzed by fear of what others think, nor should constant concern over how we will be heard and interpreted be what keeps us silent and inactive. The Christian voice is needed. Even more, the Christian is needed. This is no justification for gratuitous coarse language, bombastic attitudes, or simply being a jerk. As a Colson Center colleague often says, “a jerk for Jesus is still a jerk.”  

This is where the wisdom promised by God is essential. Different moments require different responses. Different opponents will interpret our actions with different degrees of good faith and understanding. We need the wisdom of when to speak, how to speak, and why to speak.  

Sometimes a mild voice of reason is best, as Paul demonstrated in the book of Acts when he “reasoned” with the pagans in Athens. Other times, correction and confrontation provide necessary contrast and clarity. That can look like, as Proverbs states, providing a “word fitly spoken,” or, as with Paul boldly confronting Peter to his face.  

We should know that any approach to communicate truth today will likely be called offensive, unloving, and even un-Christian. Yet, the fact that someone is offended by the truth of Christ does not mean we’ve done anything wrong. The “truth” by its nature is arresting and will offend those who have no tolerance for it.  

Though different moments require different responses, every moment requires the commitment to truth, ultimate loyalty to Christ, and the willingness to go where the battle is the hottest. The “wisdom” Christ provides will overcome the world, and that is what Christians must pray for and cultivate in shifting and changing circumstances. The truth does not change, but the circumstances of a fallen world do, and Christians must exercise wisdom and display what the Bible also calls “sober mindedness” to best respond in each situation.  

If you want to grow in your understanding of biblical wisdom, make plans now to attend the 2027 Colson Center National Conference. The theme is “Pursue Wisdom.” You’ll hear from world-renowned speakers and engage with other faithful Christians who are pursuing the kind of wisdom only found in Christ to live wisely in this time and place where God has put us. For more information, visit colsonconference.org.