Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today, describes a growing cultural drift in his article “Against the Audience Capture of the Church.” He warns of a subtle yet dangerous shift: the abandonment of traditional Christianity in favor of a more palatable, crowd-approved lifestyle. Moore explained, “Once a person offers ‘red meat’ (or vegan soy) to the audience they want to attract, they ultimately end up being captured by that audience,” and “they say what they’re supposed to think- and they do so as radically as the mob demands.” This phenomenon, where popular trends dictate faith and practice, threatens to undermine a scripturally grounded life. Faced with pop culture’s relentless pull, the church risks marching to the beat of the audience rather than the Word of God.
Cultural analysts have labeled “audience capture” a troubling phenomenon. In an age dominated by instant feedback and online validation, the temptation to cater to an audience’s expectations often leads to a loss of authenticity. Moore highlights the dangerous tendency to seek cultural approval, describing it as a “shadow side” that infiltrates both the pulpit and personal lifestyles. This mindset falsely equates consensus with truth and popularity with success, leading to compromise rather than faithfulness. Rather than expressing genuine convictions, individuals risk becoming mere echoes of the crowd’s demands, prioritizing approval over truth. This desire for acceptance, particularly within the church, can cause biblical truths to be reshaped to align with popular consensus—what Russell Moore describes as delivering what “itching ears” want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3).
This increasingly widespread progressive consensus views the Bible as outdated and open to personal interpretation---“my truth”---starkly contrasting the principle of Sola Scriptura—Latin for “Scripture alone.” Once upheld as the supreme and ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice, this foundational truth of the ages is being treated as a matter of preference rather than the divine manual for purity and godliness.
Hardly a new distraction, the allure of comfort often tempts those drawn to the audience-driven demands of progressive Christianity. The authors of much of the New Testament addressed such deception. Peter, Paul, John, and Jude warned against diluting God’s Word for popularity. The divinely inspired Scriptures—authored by God--- stand far above personal preferences (2 Timothy 3:16). Jude urged the church to “contend for the faith,” calling believers to struggle and fight for what is true, warning them not to fall for false teachings that often appear to walk alongside the truth---to a point. Embracing partial truths may make them seem more acceptable, but in the end, they compromise and neglect God’s laws.
In contrast to the wide road leading to destruction, Jesus highlighted the narrow path to heaven, which only a few would take (Matthew 7:13-14). Are we, too, being deceived by the allure of easy living, focusing only on the comfortable commands while reducing Scripture to “what I think is true for me?”
Jesus’ example stands in sharp contrast to progressive ideas of faith. He walked away from audience capture when he resisted the crowd’s demands to become a political king (John 6:15) or to fulfill their expectations of constant miracles (John 6:26). Instead, He called His followers to a life of self-denial, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). This stands in stark contrast to the progressive Christian tendency towards comfort and deconstruction of Scripture’s explicit commands. His teachings were far from easy but commanded forgiveness, honesty, moral purity, and upright living.
Jesus called believers to live in a way that pleases God, imitating His righteousness as a response to His grace and forgiveness. His blood purchased the gift of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our response to this unearned gift (Ephesians 2:8–9) is to love God’s Word, align our daily choices to honor Him, and serve Him wholeheartedly.
Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). While His teachings alienated many, they were Spirit and life, untainted by the pressures of the world’s audience approval. As Jesus and His disciples modeled, true faithfulness does not come from conforming to popular sentiment but from proclaiming the unchanging gospel with unwavering conviction.
Progressive Christianity’s acceptance of cultural relevance can dilute the gospel’s transformative power. True peace and joy come from knowing God’s love and, in return, love and obey Him (John 14:15).
The church cannot fulfill its mission while enslaved to audience expectations, nor can Christians please God while striving to please the world. The good news of Jesus Christ cannot be market-tested or shaped by crowd approval. Only by rejecting the snare of a progressive audience capture can Christians be salt and light in a world longing for truth.
The growing cultural acceptance of gender ideologies, same-sex unions, and disregard for the sanctity of life stand in contrast to God’s design—His creation of humanity in His image and His call to sexual purity. Jesus’ parable of the two roads (Matthew 7:13–14) remains relevant today. He warns that only the narrow road leads to eternal life, while the broad road, though popular and easy, leads to eternal separation from God.
Paul warns against counterfeit faith, which is really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:6–7). Jude echoes this caution, describing false teachers as wolves among sheep who “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4). In a similar vein, progressive Christianity often prioritizes acceptance over obedience, distorting God’s truth to subjective interpretations.
The purpose of these warnings is not condemnation but a loving call to serve the Lord and do His will. They remind us to stay vigilant, walking the narrow road of faithfulness to God’s unchanging truth and grace. God, the Architect of all truth, provides a clear roadmap in Scripture, guiding us to love Him fully (Mark 12:30) and remain free from audience capture.
Even the most intellectual human mind pales compared to God’s omniscience. Yielding to His divinely inspired and eternal truths will safeguard against the progressive trends that distort genuine faith. Counterfeits may appear appealing but cannot replace the depth and power of a life rooted in God’s enduring Word.
What safeguards align with God’s favor and protect against cultural audience capture? The authority of Scripture, the deity of Jesus, salvation by faith, and obedience out of love for God will avoid the pitfalls of progressive Christianity.
Photo Credit: ©Lauren Bryan/Unsplash
The Authority of Scripture
A hiker in an unfamiliar wilderness trusts the map for a detailed overview of the terrain, showing the best routes, potential hazards, and arriving at the destination. His compass ensures the right direction, keeping the hiker on course when the path is unclear. Similarly, the Bible is the believer’s map and compass for life. It reveals the path of salvation, principles for godly living, and the character of God. As trusting and following the map and compass leads a hiker to safety, trusting God’s authority and aligning one’s choices with its teachings leads to a life that honors God and fulfills His purpose, avoiding confusion, misdirection, and potential harm or loss. God’s ultimate authority, as detailed in the Bible, God’s Word, navigates life with confidence, clarity, and peace.
Peter warns against diminishing God’s inspired Word (2 Peter 1:20–21) to mere human reasoning, a dangerous and prideful act that elevates personal judgment above God’s authority. Scripture clearly commands that no one should add to or take away from His Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19).
Scripture is timeless, addressing every question of gender, morality, integrity, character, and righteous living. God’s way brings new life—not through gender transition as the world suggests, but through the understanding that each person is made in His image, born of the Spirit (John 3:5–7), and remade by the Author of Life (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation, the old life passes away, and the new person emerges by God’s power and His word.
Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, describes the authority of Scripture as a majestic lion: “The word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.”
The second safeguard from deception is understanding Jesus in God.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/PaulMaguire
Jesus Is God, Come in the Flesh
The term Incarnation is a profound concept that describes Jesus leaving the glory of heaven to take on human flesh. He humbled Himself, fully submitting to the Father’s plan of salvation. Jesus, perfect and without sin, willingly sacrificed His life, shedding His blood to atone for the sins of humanity (John 3:16). His resurrection not only affirmed His deity, but it also secured our redemption by taking the punishment we deserved. As Scripture declared, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). What an incredible gift! Though we are sinful, God now sees us as sinless because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
According to human reasoning, many believe being “good enough” suffices to attain salvation. People often view acts of kindness, moral living, church membership, communion, or serving the poor as pathways to heaven. While these are noble and valuable actions, they are not the qualification for eternal life. Instead, they become a response to salvation, not its cause. Scripture is clear: salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn through our efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus illustrated this truth in the story of a rich man who asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17-31). Though this man claimed to have kept all the commandments since his youth, he lacked one crucial thing: a heart fully surrendered to God. When Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and store treasure in heaven, the rich man walked away sorrowfully, unwilling to let go of his earthly wealth to prioritize God’s kingdom.
This man’s mistake lay in thinking he could “do” enough to earn salvation. He believed his outward obedience to the commandments was sufficient but failed in the greatest command: to love the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30-31).
Salvation isn’t about doing—it’s receiving God’s gift of grace through faith.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/David Dibert
Salvation by Grace
Through His blood, we have the grace of God, which redeems us from sin and forgives our sin (Ephesians 1:7). Belief that Jesus spilled His blood to cover all sin is the only way to receive God’s gracious gift of eternal life; it cannot be bought, earned, inherited, or attained in any other way. Because He is God, who came in the flesh and lived among us to reconcile us with God, makes it possible to live with Him forever. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross “(Colossians 1:19-20).
It’s not through religious ceremonies, baptism, or even prayer, but through Jesus’ being God, who took our place of punishment and paid our debt of sin to give us right standing with God the Father. “And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3: 24). God made believers “alive together with Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). There is only one response to this marvelous gift of salvation–--obedience in doing what God says.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Eva Blanco
Obedience to God
The call to self-denial is noticeably absent from the ethos of progressive Christianity. If we say we love God but don’t keep His moral commands, is that love? Loving Him means living a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing Him in every way (Colossians 1:10).
The redwood trees along the United States Pacific Coast are renowned for their immense height, age, and majestic beauty. Known for their resistance to termites, these trees can thrive for centuries. But, termite damage ultimately causes destruction. Similarly, spiritual decay can infiltrate the church when it strays from obedience to God. Aligning with the world’s values more than God’s commands is incompatible.
Redwoods grow in groves in thriving forests, interlocking their roots to offer mutual support, enabling them to withstand external threats and remain standing. Likewise, the church flourishes when believers bond between God’s Word and fellowship, strengthening and encouraging one another. Without vigilance and a firm foundation in Christ, the church risks losing its purpose and collapsing under the weight of compromise.
In conclusion, the allure of comfort and ease often tempts those drawn to the audience-driven demands of progressive Christianity. Yet, the solid foundation of Scripture’s authority, Jesus’ deity, salvation by faith, and obedience to God are safeguards against deception. Fostering a Christlike character protects believers from the pitfalls of cultural approval that diminish God’s truth. True followers of Christ will stand firm, reflecting His character and resisting the pull to conform to the shifting values of a culture that seeks audience capture.
Photo Credit: J Waye Covington/Unsplash
Originally published Monday, 20 January 2025.