In a culture of heated debate it's easy for Christians to drift away from the main mission of the the church: to share the good news of forgiveness through Jesus' death on the cross, and to persuade people to consider it. Mission drift can easily happen during certain times, including when in "survival mode," when in great wealth, and when we focus only on doing good works. It's important to acknowledge the tendency to drift, and continually focus on our identity--"in Christ"--and the true mission of sharing Christ with a world in need.

The Bible describes Christians as being God's ambassadors, devoted to God's mission and representing Him to those who don't yet know Him. If we're in tune with the wonderful gift we possess as His children, and grateful for it, we will naturally seek to tell others about the opportunity to receive Christ. We will be most effective at sharing Christ when we cultivate sincere, caring relationships with others, when we cultivate our character, and when we focus on God's love for us, and not the other person's response to this message.

In a culture of outrage, it's tempting to turn away from or even hate people who are on the other side of issues we care about, but the Bible calls on Christians to love "outrageous" people. In the example of Zacchaeus we see Jesus moving toward him in love, even though he was likely a corrupt man. Ultimately Jesus saw Zacchaeus differently than the crowd did, seeing his "lostness"--his inner need to be saved by God. We must see people through the same lens, asking God to enable us to see all people as His image bearers, with empathy, and with humility.

Biblical Christians face many pressures to take their eyes off the primary importance of the Gospel--appreciating and sharing the good news that God offers forgiveness as a free gift. In a culture of people dividing up into "tribes" and causes, it's easy to be sucked into opinions, fears, and forms of manipulation, taking our eyes off God's truth and isolating us from unity with other Christians. There are many ways to resist capture, including being discerning about current culture, remaining unified with other believers, and, through our faith, standing against evil.

Ed Stetzer, an expert in missiology, or the study of the church's mission to share the message of the Gospel, shares three realities of the Covid 19 pandemic that impact the church's work. First, Covid has caused a cultural convulsion that has rocked peoples' trust in institutions, politics, and even one another. Second, Covid is adding fuel to a Great Sort that is happening in society. People, in their disorientation are seeking security in groups who agree with their views, leading to an "us against them" mentality. Third, Covid is revealing layers of disengagement. Churches are finding their members either becoming more committed, or hanging on and waiting to see, or disconnecting altogether.

In an increasingly angry and hostile world, Christians can have the opportunity to shine brightly in contrast. Maturity of faith is evidenced by how you love others. Colossians 3 gives a road map to loving others well: Look like Christ, forebear and forgive, lead with love and be thankful.