J.D. Greear on Resisting Polarization while Remaining Rooted in Christ
Pastor J.D. Greear sat down with Michael Foust to talk about his new book, “Everyday Revolutionary,” and what it means to stay faithful when everything around us wants to push us apart. He lays out a vision for Christians who refuse to let politics swallow their faith. In plain terms he says the church must be more Jesus-focused than party-focused.
Greear warns against political captivity, urging believers to resist binary thinking and hold to convictions without hatred. He argues that polarization often masks deeper spiritual issues and that winning an argument is not the same as advancing the gospel. The goal is a witness that wins hearts, not a victory that feeds division.
A central theme is Daniel, a model of courage and clarity in exile. Greear draws lessons about identity, prayer, and principled living under pressure. These are not abstract ideals but practical habits for daily faith.
He uses the phrase “negative world.” to describe our cultural noise and explains how Daniel’s posture can keep Christians grounded. That posture combines steady conviction with winsome presence. It’s about staying faithful when public opinion shifts.
Where to start
Start small: put habits in place that change you, not just your feed. Cut the time you spend on outrage, double the time you spend in Scripture and prayer. Invite someone to honest conversation rather than a debate.
At the community level, train leaders to shepherd with clarity and courage, and prioritize teaching that ties public life to biblical fidelity. Encourage churches to be places where nuance is taught and mercy is modeled. That combination builds durable influence over time.
Greear presses pastors and people alike to choose how they speak and where they stand. That means refusing the shout-first reflex and instead practicing humble truth-telling. The aim is a gospel-shaped presence that wins attention for the right reasons.
Practical steps Greear recommends include regular Bible discipline, prayer that seeks clarity, and communities that model mercy and accountability. He says leadership must train people to apply Scripture, not political slogans, to complex issues. Churches that do this build resilience against cultural tides.
On tone he is blunt: avoid caricature and refuse to reduce neighbors to issues. Truth without love damages witness, and love without truth loses the plot. Greear’s posture is to speak plainly while showing the compassion of Christ.
He also points to early signs of revival among younger people, especially Gen Z, noting renewed interest in church and spiritual formation. That observation is not a prediction so much as an invitation to prepare faithful soil. If churches respond with clarity and charity, a generation could be won to lasting faith.
For everyday Christians Greear offers a simple rule of thumb: be more committed to Christ than to any political tribe. That loyalty reshapes conversations, priorities, and public life. It frees believers to act as reconcilers and witnesses, not as members of a culture war squad.
This message is as strategic as it is spiritual; it asks believers to insist on truth and practice grace in equal measure. The result is a distinct, attractive witness that cannot be explained by partisanship alone. Greear’s call is a reminder that the church’s primary political act is to live like Jesus.
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Originally published September 18, 2025.