What does a 19th-century Dutch theologian have to do with our fractured, polarized times? Herman Bavinck lived in an age of rapid social, political, and intellectual upheaval. He wrestled with the same question we face now: how can Christians faithfully engage a shifting culture without retreating into isolation or being swept away by the spirit of the age?
That spirit is alive today in the culture wars waged by both the right and the left. It’s worth remembering that even the categories of “right” and “left” don’t come from Scripture or theology but from the French Revolution in 1789. Members of the French National Assembly sat according to their ideological loyalties. Those who supported the monarchy sat to the right of the President of the Assembly. Those who supported revolution and democracy sat to his left. In other words, the very framework that dominates our political imagination today was born out of Enlightenment-era conflicts, not the Kingdom of God.
Bavinck’s balanced approach, rooted in the neo-Calvinist tradition, feels prophetic in an America where polarization between left and right leaves little room for genuine dialogue, sympathy, or truth-telling:
“While conservatism closes its eyes to changes in society, and [progressivism] fails to have a solid standpoint in the streams of events, a reformation that proceeds from a Christian principle combines both.” –Herman Bavinck1
In other words, the Kingdom of God doesn’t fit neatly into cultural or political frameworks; it both affirms and challenges every human ideology. And what should stand out most to a skeptical world is love—love for enemies and love for marginalized neighbors. That call cuts across every divisive narrative and frees us to embody Christ’s way even in moments of deep disagreement.
A Stream of Lament
I first wrote these reflections as a kind of lament, not a comprehensive essay or manifesto. There’s a whole ocean of nuance beneath the surface. But in the swirl of news cycles, shouting influencers and algorithm-fed outrage, this stream of consciousness poured out of me. And maybe you’ve felt the same ache:
I wish there was a way to acknowledge truth anywhere we find it without being pigeonholed into a tribe or being accused of “whataboutisms” or playing the “both sides” card.
I wish we could acknowledge that the complete loss of Western values is truly detrimental to global peace without being called a Christian nationalist.
I wish we could acknowledge that some Western values do need to be interrogated without being told to “go back to where you came from.”
I wish we could acknowledge Black Lives Matter without being accused of hating White people.
I wish we could acknowledge that all lives do truly matter (as a matter of fact, not as the slogan) without being accused of hating Black people.
I wish we could acknowledge that White Supremacy is a two-winged devil (with conservative and progressive wings) and its violent ideology can manifest as mass shootings across its entire wingspan.
I wish we could acknowledge that Palestinians are suffering genocide at the hands of modern-day Israel without being called an anti-Semite.
I wish we could acknowledge that Hamas shouldn’t have brutally attacked and kidnapped Israelis without being called a colonizer.
I wish we could acknowledge and uphold the humanity of our LGBTQ neighbors without being called a heretic.
I wish we could acknowledge the unchanged apostolic standard of sexuality within the church while not judging or being judged by those outside the church.
I wish we could acknowledge that masculinity can be toxic in some situations without being told we hate men.
I wish we could acknowledge that masculinity can be redeemed, good, and righteous without being called patriarchal.
I wish we could acknowledge that immigrants should integrate to their new home nation to some degree for social cohesion without being called oppressive.
I wish we could acknowledge that immigrants don’t have to give up their identity to be accepted in their new nation and be told, “You can always go back to where you came from.”
I wish we could acknowledge that affirmative action has helped marginalized people get equal footing in their education and work while some have unfairly abused the system for personal gain. In that sense, I wish we could work to improve affirmative action policies instead of getting rid of it entirely without being called a Marxist.
I wish we could encourage hard work and merit-based promotions without being accused of supporting systemic racism.
I wish we could acknowledge that capitalism has historically done more to raise people out of poverty than any economic system in human history without being labeled a greedy, right-wing corporatist.
I wish we could acknowledge that the rise of socialism in societies has historically indicated a growing dissatisfaction among the working class due to low wages, working and living conditions, and extreme income disparity—issues that should concern everyone.
I wish we stopped believing ideological and political narratives that pit us against each other by making the vast majority of us seem more extreme than we actually are.
I wish we stopped participating in the oppression Olympics by competing for who’s the most oppressed or being the most neglected/erased and instead participated in the hospitality Olympics by competing for who’s the most neighborly.
I wish we leaned into the Christian Scriptures for our moral compass by seeking to be peacemakers and not culture warriors.
I wish we looked to Jesus instead of our social media algorithms during moments of crises so that we become more like the Suffering Servant instead of falling prey to rage-bait.
Wrestling with Hard Truths
This list isn’t complete, and it was never meant to be. You may disagree with parts of it, but that’s sort of the point. We have to recover the ability to wrestle with hard truths without collapsing into tribes or demonizing one another. For me, naming these wishes has been a way of resisting the narratives spoon-fed to us by social media. It’s my way of saying, I refuse to play the game the world is playing.
We live in confusing, divided, and often brutal times. Conservatism can close its eyes to change, while progressivism can lose its footing without truth. But Bavinck was right: the path forward is not loyalty to either side, nor a nostalgic attempt to resurrect the past, but a continual re-formation by the gospel itself.
A Prayer for Our Times
Our Father in heaven,
We confess how often we filter your truth through the lens of what feels ideologically comfortable. We confess how easily we let influencers and algorithms disciple us more than Christ. We grieve when your image in others is diminished or defaced. Teach us that it is always more important to win the soul than the argument. Give us courage to resist tribalism, patience to listen, and compassion to love our neighbors—no matter how much we may disagree.
Jesus, we need a better way. We need you. Amen.
Header photo credit: Alice Yamamura