Being an Overcomer in a Foreboding New Year

GUEST: GRANT CASTLEBERRY, Senior Pastor, Capital Community Church (Raleigh, NC)

While no one but God knows and determines the events and timing of the future, 2024 portends to be a turbulent year. A presidential election looms in November which will impact to varying degrees whether the United States continues to run full-speed ahead on its God-rejecting, globalist course.

Many other major fissures contribute to the uncertainty: aggressive deconstruction of the Biblical marital, moral and gender norms, unprecedented financial debt, massive illegal immigration, major wars in Israel and Europe, and much, much more.

Before His crucifixion and ascension, Jesus timelessly declared, “in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In other words, if one is “in Christ” (born again), one can have peace and take courage because our Redeemer has overcome the world (“to conquer, prevail”)…and therefore so can the believer with His help.

Comparing with other passages, overcoming the world doesn’t mean that believers and the church literally conquer or take dominion over the world but rather can live faithful, sanctified, and joyful lives in the midst of it.

Grant Castleberry, pastor of Capital Community Church in Raleigh, NC, joins us this weekend on The Christian Worldview to discuss how Christians, pastors, and churches can overcome the world rather than being aligned with and negatively impacted by it. Grant will also analyze how Christian leaders like Tim Keller and organizations like Christianity Today have influenced evangelicals under age 40 to support the political left (read this post by pastor Josh Howerton on “How Misapplying Keller Hijacked US Christianity”).
------------------------------
Thanks to many of you for your encouraging notes and support of The Christian Worldview. We strive to do this radio ministry in order for God to say, “Well done, good and faithful slave…” (Mt. 25:21) but to hear that you are praying for us, being impacted by the programs, and urging us to keep on keeping on, is a shot in the arm to be faithful week after week. We are sobered and grateful.