What Do You Say When the World is Watching? Pastoral Wisdom in Crisis | The Church Resource Podcast

In this deeply honest and theologically grounded episode of The Church Resource, hosts Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass tackle one of the most difficult questions facing pastors, church leaders, and believers today:

How should the church respond to major cultural events—especially tragic or polarizing ones like the assassination of Charlie Kirk?

With humility and wisdom drawn from decades of pastoral experience, they explore the spiritual and practical challenges of preaching through moments of national crisis, political upheaval, and cultural division. From shepherding a congregation with diverse perspectives to discerning what belongs in the pulpit versus what’s best left to private counseling or podcast commentary, Lucas and Chris dive into the hard questions—without offering easy answers.

Together, they reflect on three key groups present in every church during cultural moments:

- Those emotionally or politically invested

- Those with opposing views who still grieve as Christians

- And those caught off guard, confused, or unaware 

Their message? Every response must begin not with outrage or opinion, but with humble submission to the Word of God.

Throughout the conversation, they stress a central truth: the gospel must shape how we view culture—not the other way around. Whether you're preaching, counseling, parenting, or mentoring, the goal is the same—proclaim Christ, point to hope, and stand firm in truth while loving the people God has given you to shepherd.

They also unpack the idea that not all events deserve pulpit time, and that pastors are not cowards for focusing on Christ instead of commentary. In fact, courage can look very different depending on the congregation and the context.

Other key themes include:

- Understanding your flock and their expectations

- The dangers of performative preaching

- The pressure to appease versus the call to obey 

How God often aligns scripture with culture through His sovereignty Why it’s okay to leave some people disappointed—if faithfulness to God is the goal Lucas and Chris don’t shy away from the painful side of ministry, either—acknowledging the hurt that can come from being “bitten by the sheep.” But they remind viewers that shepherds are called to love and lead regardless, and to expect hardship while clinging to hope.

Whether you're a lead pastor, a youth leader, a Bible teacher, or a believer trying to make sense of a divided world, this conversation will equip and encourage you to stand firm, stay grounded, and speak truth in love—no matter how loud the culture gets.

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