A Culture At War With God
A CULTURE AT WAR WITH GOD
Notice their ages. A 22-year-old climbed onto a school roof and killed 31-year-old Charlie Kirk. That same day, September 10, 16-year-old Desmond Holly brought a handgun to Evergreen High School, injured several people, and took his own life. Just weeks earlier, a 23-year-old transgender individual connected to Annunciation Catholic School killed several people, including 10-year-old Harper Moisky and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkle. On April 11, Adam Raine, another 16-year-old, committed suicide after being encouraged and instructed to do so by ChatGPT.
These tragedies involving young people are not isolated incidents. They reveal a larger, deeply troubling pattern in our society.
WHY ARE THE YOUNG THE TARGET?
Why is this happening to the young? The answer is sobering: we live in a culture that is at war with God. This isn’t new—it has been happening since the beginning of human history.
In Genesis 4, we see the story of Cain and Abel. Cain became angry when God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected his. In his rage against God, Cain couldn’t strike at God directly, so he killed Abel instead. That pattern has repeated throughout history: those angry with God attack His followers.
But why the young?
Genesis 3 gives us insight. After Adam and Eve sinned, God told the serpent (Satan), “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” From this first prophecy of a child, the enemy has been relentless in going after the children of God’s people.
From that moment on, the front line of spiritual war has been our children, teenagers, and young adults. The Bible confirms this pattern:
Pharaoh killing Israelite babies in Egypt
The child sacrifices of Israel’s enemies
Herod killing babies in his attempt to eliminate Jesus
I’ve long viewed these biblical accounts of baby-killings as parallels to modern-day abortion. Nearly 70 million children have been aborted since Roe v. Wade. Yet the enemy doesn’t stop there—he targets the young of every age. Certainly, he opposes all people, but he seems to have a special focus on children, teenagers, and young adults.
HOW THE CULTURE WAGES WAR AGAINST GOD
Paul, writing to the Roman Christians, highlights two tactics of the enemy: truth is suppressed, and self is worshiped.
Truth is Suppressed
Romans 1:18 tells us that the ungodly “suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.”
We live in the information age with unprecedented access to knowledge, yet truth is constantly suppressed. Sometimes it’s obvious—like removing the Ten Commandments from public buildings. Other times it’s subtle—like controlling narratives around tragedies involving young people. It’s also seen in how gender and the sanctity of life are redefined.
Truth is blurred when lines are erased. For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, transgenderism was virtually nonexistent in mainstream culture. In 2010, it was first measured at 0.0003% of the population. Today, more than 3% identify as transgender—a thousand-fold increase in just over a decade.
Terms like “transgender” and “cisgender” have only appeared in dictionaries within the past decade. This rapid shift shows just how quickly culture’s war against God advances.
Self is Worshiped
Romans 1 also says people “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” and “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” In short, they became self-focused.
Cain’s anger toward God was rooted in self-focus. Likewise, our culture wages war against God because the cross demands self-denial—and people don’t want to give that up.
HOW WE FIGHT BACK
For parents and grandparents: Recognize that this is a war, and your children and grandchildren are on the front lines. Don’t shy away from hard conversations. They’re already having challenging discussions with their peers—let them hear truth from you.
For teenagers and young adults: Know that you are in a war. Because culture cannot strike at God directly, it will strike at you. But you don’t need to live in fear. Like Charlie Kirk, you can live in confidence—because Jesus Christ is on the throne.
In all this, remember God loves the children. Despite the enemy’s attacks, God’s love for children and young people is woven throughout Scripture:
Many Psalms open by addressing young men
The entire book of Proverbs is written to the young
Paul wrote to young men like Timothy and Titus
John’s first letter identifies its recipients as young men
And, of course, Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me.” God’s love for children, teens, and young adults is clear. Throughout the Bible, parents are instructed to train their children in His ways.
It’s no surprise, then, that since culture cannot strike God directly, it strikes at the young ones whom God loves so much.
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH
There’s an African proverb that says, “When you pray, move your feet.” In other words, don’t just say you believe—live it out. James reminds us: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).
Jesus calls us to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5). Our light must shine through good works so that others glorify God.
How do we do this? By recognizing we’re at war for the souls of our children, teens, and young adults—and by engaging in that battle. That means serving on the front lines: teaching Sunday School, mentoring students, feeding the hungry, or helping the underprivileged.
Jesus promised in John 16:33: “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Yes, the culture wars against God—but we can live in peace, because we know who wins in the end.
LIFE APPLICATION
This week, consider your response to the cultural war against God:
Parents and grandparents: Is your home filled with faith? Do your children see you pray and read your Bible?
Teenagers and young adults: Have you made a clear decision about which side you’re on? Are you boldly identifying as a follower of Jesus?
Everyone: Are you hiding your faith, or letting your light shine through good works others can see?
Action step: What specific thing can you do this week to invest in the next generation? Volunteer in children’s ministry, mentor a teenager, or support a young adult in your church.
Remember this: when we win the children, teens, and young adults, we weaken the culture that wars against God. The enemy wants the young—but so does God. And His love is stronger than any attack the enemy can launch.