Know the Truth, Share it Well: Why Cultural Theology Matters for Women in Leadership

There’s a verse that’s been pressing on me lately, especially as I think about the role of women leading in the church and in their communities in the midst of hard topics like war, politics, gender identity, and other cultural events:

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect.” — 1 Peter 3:15 (CSB)

This verse isn’t just a call to study theology. It’s a charge to live it. In a world saturated with opinions, headlines, and TikTok theologians, our ability to give a defense for our hope isn’t optional. It’s essential. And we can’t do that well if we don’t know the truth or the counterfeit ideas that threaten to take its place.

1. Ideas Matter

We don’t live in a vacuum. Every one of us is shaped by ideas—some we’ve inherited, some we’ve chosen, and some we’ve unknowingly absorbed. Social media scrolls, streaming content, advertising, education, and even conversations around the dinner table are forming us. They’re shaping how we see the world, what we think about God, about ourselves, about justice, sexuality, identity, success, and suffering.

That’s why worldview matters. A worldview is simply the lens through which we see and interpret reality. It’s the mental framework that helps us answer the big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What’s wrong with the world, and how do we fix it? Whether we’re aware of it or not, we all have one—and so do the people we’re leading.

2. What is Cultural Theology?

Cultural theology is the intentional practice of thinking biblically about the world we live in. It’s where theology intersects with culture—where the unchanging Word of God speaks into an ever-shifting world. As leaders, we don’t have the luxury of looking away or pretending that cultural conversations are irrelevant. We are called to be faithful not only in doctrine but also in discernment.

This means we must learn to recognize the worldview messages being marketed to us and to those we disciple. Books, influencers, and social media reels rarely come with warning labels, but they often carry subtle ideologies. Phrases like “You are enough” or “Live your truth” may seem harmless or even inspiring, but when unpacked, they are often rooted in postmodern or humanistic thinking. Daily, we are immersed in a sea of messages that shape hearts and minds, messages that may sound right but are not rooted in biblical Truth.

Among the dominant worldviews shaping our culture are naturalism, which says we are merely matter in motion; new spirituality, which mixes mysticism with self-focused empowerment; and postmodernism, which denies objective truth and elevates personal feeling as ultimate. These ideas don’t usually shout—they whisper. They come softly, sounding plausible and even comforting. That’s why we need to be discerning and deeply grounded in Scripture—to distinguish what is truly true from what only sounds true.

3. Truth and Tact: A Church That Speaks With Conviction and Compassion

And this brings us back to 1 Peter 3:15. The verse doesn’t stop at “give a defense.” It continues with “yet do this with gentleness and respect.” We aren’t called to win arguments. We’re called to bear witness. That doesn’t mean we shrink back from hard conversations or soften truth to make it more palatable. But it does mean we carry ourselves with the same grace and compassion that Jesus modeled. We speak truth—but we do it in love.

The Church must lead the way, not just in what we say but in how we say it. We need to equip our people to discern truth, not as a weapon to wield but as the foundation we build our lives on. Truth is not a harsh restriction. It is God’s provision for our good, our protection, and our flourishing. Too often, the Church has been known more for what it stands against than for what we are created for. Take the conversation around homosexuality, for example. Instead of beginning with what is broken, we should start with God’s good design and how He made us and what He made us for.

We also need to be willing to speak truth to falsehood, even when it costs us. Conviction will require courage. But we don’t stand alone. We stand on the shoulders of those who have faithfully preserved the truth through the centuries. And more than that, we stand with Christ, who is Truth Himself.

So to the women leading in ministry, teaching Scripture, discipling younger believers, or raising kids who will one day go toe to toe with these ideas: let’s be found faithful. Let’s be women who know the truth, love the truth, and share the truth with gentleness, with respect, and with boldness. Our moment needs it. Our people need it. And our God is worthy of it.

Further Resources

For those looking to better understand cultural theology and the worldviews shaping our generation, here are a few helpful books: