Contending for the faith has never been easy – and it is rarely comfortable. The pressure facing the Church today is not only “out there” in society, but increasingly “in here,” as believers wrestle with whether Scripture or culture will set the direction.
Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people “will not put up with sound doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). That is not alarmism; it is pastoral realism.
At the centre of our present conflict sits a deceptively simple question: what is marriage, and who has the authority to define it? Historic Christian teaching has consistently affirmed marriage as a covenantal union between one man and one woman – not because of habit or prejudice, but because of the Bible’s storyline.
From creation, God made humanity “male and female” (Genesis 1:27), and established the one-flesh union of husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). Jesus reaffirmed this creational pattern and its permanence: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:6).
In recent decades, however, the debate has shifted from behaviour to identity. The popular “born this way” narrative has made disagreement feel like personal rejection. But Christian discipleship cannot be built on slogans. Human dignity does not rest on sexual identity; it rests on being made in the image of God. Every person deserves love, respect, and protection from injustice – while the Church remains accountable to God’s Word for what it blesses, teaches, and models.
This is why the deeper issue is authority. Does the Church derive doctrine from Scripture as historically understood, or from modern cultural frameworks through which Scripture is reinterpreted? Inclusion is a precious biblical theme, but in Scripture it is always inclusion into grace and transformation, not affirmation of every desire as morally normative. Jesus’ mercy was radical – and yet His call was clear: “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11).
None of this removes the pastoral weight. For many, this issue touches sons and daughters, lifelong friends, mentors, and beloved church members. The temptation is either to surrender conviction for relational peace, or to defend truth with a harshness that contradicts Christ. We must refuse both extremes. Grace without truth becomes sentimentality; truth without grace becomes severity. Jesus is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and His Church must learn to hold both together.
Faithfulness in this moment will require steadiness: clarity without contempt, courage without cruelty, conviction without pride. The calling is not to win a culture war, but to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15), to honour every person, and to keep the Church’s teaching anchored to Christ and His Word.
If you are walking this road personally, do not do it alone – seek prayer, wise pastoral counsel, and a church family committed to both grace and truth.
If you would like to read the full, expanded paper I have written on this issue, you can access it here: https://robertgriffith.net/holding-fast-standing-firm