Wokeness didn’t prevail — it merely occupied the empty space.

Culture’s Vacuum and Vocal Silence

Nature tends to resist vacuums, filled instead by various elements like air, particles, or, say, water. Culturally, this translates to ideologies—when one group withdraws their voice, others fill the silence.

Recently, a trend dubbed the “awakened mind virus” has gained traction, convincing many that removing healthy body parts is somehow an act of compassion, and that having drag queens read to kids is a form of progress. This shift, some argue, stems from a retreat by evangelical Christians who, fearing backlash, have chosen to mute their influence on cultural dialogues.

Steve Deace, a host on Blaze TV, points fingers at a group he describes as “Hawaiian shirt-wearing” and “skinny jean-owning” evangelicals, who stood idly by while progressives dismantled traditional values like marriage and the concept of biological sex. Deace suggests that because of this reticence, there’s now a generation of believers unaware of how to genuinely love their neighbors while also advocating for cultural triumph.

In a recent episode of “The Steve Deace Show,” he discusses the alarming decline in the evangelical voice with Joel Berry, the Editor-in-Chief of Babylon Bee. Together, they examine what Christians might need to do to restore their standing in cultural conversations.

Berry critiques the adoption of Tim Keller’s “Third Way” philosophy among evangelicals, which seeks a non-partisan position, neither left nor right, in favor of appealing to secular audiences. He argues that this approach misguidedly assumes that staying neutral could spur cultural change and spiritual revitalization.

However, he points out that the ongoing issue of higher abortion rates among Black babies in the areas around Keller’s churches contradicts his claims. Berry notes, “[Keller] seldom addressed abortion from the pulpit or discussed pressing cultural matters like same-sex marriage,” a silence that has characterized the church’s approach for years.

While Keller believes avoiding politics can better attract newcomers to Christianity, Berry regards this as mere cowardice. Bringing scriptural truths into real-world situations can be daunting and messy, but necessary, he contends.

Arguing for more courage from church leaders, Berry cites Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the famed dissident who opposed Nazi control over Christianity. He insists that pastors need to address the daily struggles of their congregations more transparently.

The notion that softening or sidestepping Biblical tenets could draw people to faith is, paradoxically, counterproductive. Berry asserts that “God’s Word” is profound and transformative, possessing real potential to initiate change.

He mentions, “The Bible tells us we don’t rely on earthly means; we fight with spiritual tools capable of dismantling strongholds. This message is critical to share. It’s vital for people to see that through scripture and the influence of empowered believers, there’s substantial hope for cultural turnaround.”