November 11, 2025

What does it mean to stand on Scripture?

Joshua Tufte

I want to have a heart-to-heart conversation today — not a sermon, not a debate — just an honest talk about what it really means to stand on Scripture.

For many of us, that phrase carries a lot of weight. We’ve heard it since childhood — “We stand on the Word!” or “Because the Bible says so!” But the world has changed since the days when that statement was enough to settle every argument or define what was right and wrong.

The cultural backdrop: “Because the Bible says so” doesn’t land like it used to

When I was growing up, “Because the Bible says so” carried authority. If you quoted Scripture, most people respected it — even if they didn’t fully agree. The cultural current, at least in much of America, still ran in the direction of believing the Bible mattered.

But that’s no longer the world we live in.

Recent surveys show that only about 20% of Americans believe the Bible is the literal Word of God — down from nearly 40% a few decades ago. About half of Americans now say the Bible is inspired by God but not to be taken literally, and another 30% see it as simply a collection of ancient stories and moral lessons with no divine authority. (Gallup 2025; Lifeway Research 2025).

So what does that mean?

It means that the assumption many churches still operate under — that people “should” believe in the Bible’s authority just because it is the Bible — is no longer true. We can’t just say, “The Bible says it, so that settles it.”

People don’t see Scripture as a default authority anymore. And shouting the truth louder doesn’t make people more likely to listen.

But here’s what hasn’t changed: God’s Word is still true. It’s still alive, powerful, and relevant. What’s changed is how we must communicate it.

Living the Word Before Talking the Word

So what does it mean to “stand on Scripture” in this culture?

It means we don’t start by arguing the Bible’s authority — we start by living its truth.

If someone doesn’t believe the Bible is true, no amount of quoting verses will change their mind. But living those verses out might.

The credibility of our message is built on the authenticity of our lives. People don’t need us to tell them what Jesus said before they see how Jesus lived through us.

When they see that our love is real, our joy is unshakable, and our compassion goes further than judgment ever could — that’s when the door to truth begins to open.

That’s when they’ll begin to ask questions like, “What makes you different?”
And that’s when the answer — “Jesus” — actually means something.

Credibility Precedes Clarity: Start With Grace, Lead to Truth

This is where we have to be very intentional.

Before we speak truth, we must start with grace.

We can’t expect non-Christians to act like Christians. Honestly — some days, it’s hard to expect Christians to act like Christians!

Grace is where it begins. We build relationships, earn trust, and live with compassion. We let people know they are seen, valued, and loved — long before they understand why.

But grace isn’t the end of the story — it’s the road that leads to truth.

When we’ve earned the credibility to speak truth into someone’s life, then the Word of God begins to find its way into their heart. That’s when transformation happens — not through confrontation, but through connection.

Grace opens the door. Truth sets people free.

That’s what Jesus did. When He met the woman at the well (John 4), He didn’t start by condemning her choices — He started by offering her living water. When He met Zacchaeus, He didn’t shout about his corruption — He invited Himself to dinner.

Grace first. Truth next.
That’s what standing on Scripture looks like in real life.

Standing on Truth Doesn’t Mean Isolating People

Standing on the truth of God’s Word doesn’t mean isolating ourselves from people who don’t share it.

It means stepping toward them — just like Jesus did.

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus said:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is our mission. It’s not optional.

If we’re going to obey Jesus’ command to go and make disciples, it means we have to go where people actually are — not just where we’re comfortable.

We’ll be around lifestyles, actions, language, and values that may look nothing like ours. And that’s okay. That’s part of the calling.

If we refuse to engage people because they live differently than us, we’re not protecting truth — we’re abandoning mission.

We can’t reach people we’re unwilling to be around.

We Will Fail If We Don’t Learn to Love First

Here’s the hard truth:
If we don’t take time to know people — to understand their story, to love them first — we will fail to reach them.

You can’t reach who you refuse to know.
You can’t influence who you refuse to understand.

If all people hear from the Church is what we’re against, they’ll never get close enough to discover Who we’re for.

The Gospel is not about proving people wrong; it’s about helping people find life.

An Honest Example: Learning to Love Before We Correct

Let’s talk plainly.

One of the clearest examples of this tension in our culture is how the Church has often responded to people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Now, Scripture is clear — God’s design for sexuality and marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s His plan. That’s His best. But when we start conversations by pointing out what’s “wrong” before we’ve shown love, we lose the chance to reach the person behind the label.

If I meet someone living in a homosexual lifestyle, I don’t start by saying, “You’re living in sin.” I start by saying, “You’re loved. Tell me your story.”

Because if I don’t take time to know them — to understand their pain, their background, their experiences — then I’ll never earn the right to speak truth in love.

It’s easy to call out sin when it’s visible and public. It’s harder to deal with the sins that are private and hidden.

We readily condemn the person whose lifestyle is visibly different, yet often ignore the reality that many Christians are battling secret sin — like pornography, pride, gossip, greed, or bitterness.

One lifestyle is simply easier to point out. But sin is sin. The only difference is whether it’s visible or invisible.

That’s why we must approach every person — inside or outside the church — with the same grace and the same truth.

Jesus didn’t die for “types of sin.” He died for sinners.
That includes all of us.

The Balance: Truth Without Love Is Harsh; Love Without Truth Is Hollow

If we have truth without love, we become harsh, judgmental, and self-righteous.
If we have love without truth, we become sentimental, spineless, and spiritually useless.

The power of standing on Scripture is when both meet — grace and truth, hand in hand.

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus didn’t pick one over the other. He lived both. And He’s our example.

So we don’t compromise truth to be accepted, but we also don’t weaponize truth to be right.
We embody it — with compassion, conviction, and courage.

Living the Mission

Standing on Scripture means we believe it’s more than a book. It’s the living Word of God. But it also means that we become living proof that it works.

At Passion Church, that’s what we want to be known for — not just quoting verses, but living them.

When we feed the hungry, serve our community, or sit down with someone far from God — we’re standing on Scripture.
When we forgive when it’s hard, love when it’s inconvenient, and speak truth when it’s unpopular — we’re standing on Scripture.
When we walk into broken spaces and say, “I’ll stay with you until Jesus changes everything” — that’s standing on Scripture.

We are not called to win debates. We are called to win hearts.

Why This Matters Now

Our culture doesn’t need a louder church; it needs a more loving, more authentic, more faithful one.

If people can see what the Bible looks like lived out — not just quoted — they might start to believe it again.

Our calling isn’t to drag people to conviction; it’s to draw them to Christ.

And when they meet Him, Scripture will take care of itself — because the Author of the Word will speak to their hearts in ways we never could.

Standing on Scripture, Still

Standing on Scripture doesn’t mean shouting louder about what’s wrong with the world.
It means living so faithfully that the world can’t help but notice what’s right about Jesus.

We don’t isolate; we engage.
We don’t condemn; we care.
We don’t hide truth; we embody it.

And we remember that even when the world no longer believes the Bible, the Word of God still has the power to change lives — one relationship, one act of love, one step of faith at a time.

Because the Bible isn’t fragile. It’s not losing power. It’s just waiting for people like us to live it again.

Final Encouragement

So, church — let’s be people who start with grace and lead to truth.

Let’s stop expecting non-Christians to act like Christians and start modeling what it means to follow Christ.

Let’s take our mission seriously — to go, to make disciples, to love deeply, and to live boldly.

Because standing on Scripture doesn’t just mean believing it’s true. It means becoming the evidence that it is.

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How do we affect real change?

By Joshua Tufte • March 11, 2026
How Do We Fix Anything? In a world full of war, politics, injustice, inequality, and beyond, how do we fix anything? Over the years, as a pastor, I’ve heard this question asked numerous times in various ways. It usually boils down to a deep sense that we can’t really affect anything. The world’s problems are overwhelming, and they always will be. With the advent of social media and global news at our fingertips, and every other media outlet constantly forcing headlines down our throats, it’s easy to feel helpless. How do we do anything about it? Eventually, many people land in a place of inevitability. The world is going to hell in a handbasket, and there’s nothing we can do about it. That mentality leads us to blame others, develop a defeatist outlook, become jaded and negative, and ultimately lose sight of what is actually important. One of the more recent conversations I had about this was with a very sharp, very driven young man in our church. He genuinely wanted to help. He wanted to make the world a better place. But he didn’t know where to start or how to make a difference. He had recently taken on a leadership role in his neighborhood and was already discouraged by the resistance he was facing. He worked hard, applied creativity to solving problems, and kept running into wall after wall. I’ve heard story after story like this. And over time, I’ve come to believe that generally speaking, people do want to help. They just don’t know how, and eventually they feel defeated. So the question becomes: Why worry about other people’s problems at all, right? While that mentality is understandable, it can lead us into some dangerous places as a society. It can also lead us somewhere very different than what Jesus talked about. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God’s Word repeatedly reminds us that true religion includes caring for the vulnerable, widows, orphans, and those in need. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” — James 1:27 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” — Psalm 82:3 So how do we care without becoming overwhelmed? Over the years, I’ve developed a simple framework that has helped me tremendously. These are three questions I ask when deciding where to focus my energy. First: Is this important to my family and me? Second: Does this affect my immediate community? Third: Is there anything I can actually do about it? If the answer is no to two out of those three questions , I leave it alone. Often, I add it to my prayer list, which is powerful, but beyond that, I let it go. Many times, that means intentionally avoiding conversations, news cycles, arguments, and debates surrounding it. This allows me to focus on what is important , immediate, and doable , while giving to God the things I cannot control. Let me give you an example. Currently, the U.S. military has commenced major operations in Iran. Reactions to this have been wildly different depending on political alliances, media outlets, and personal perspectives. Is that important? Absolutely. Does it affect my immediate community, my church, my family, my business, or my town, in a way I can directly influence? Not really. Can I fix it? Not even close. And honestly, I’m not even sure I would want to. Decisions like that involve layers of information, intelligence, and strategy that most of us simply don’t have access to. So what can I do? I add our troops and our country to my prayer list, and I move on. That may sound harsh, but here’s the reality: You and I only have so much influence and so much capacity. That capacity looks different for everyone, but one thing we all share is that both our influence and our capacity are limited. If I spend all my energy worrying about things I can’t directly affect, then I’ll miss the thousands of people I can affect who are right in front of me. By serving in the church, engaging personally in the community, exerting social influence, praying, and building everyday relationships, I can focus my attention where it can actually make a difference. And when we do that, we become far more effective. Does this mean we don’t care about war or larger global issues? Not at all. Those things should affect us deeply. The loss of life is heartbreaking and tragic. And lives will be lost. That should absolutely weigh on our hearts. But we cannot allow ourselves to drown under the weight of the entire world’s problems. God, and only God, has the capacity to carry the sins of the world on His shoulders. We are not Him. In fact, at its core, believing we can or need to fix everything can become somewhat egotistical. Scripture reminds us clearly of the limits of our role: “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 God calls us to be faithful where we are, with what we have, among the people He has placed around us. When we focus there, on what is important, immediate, and doable, we can actually begin to change the world around us. And sometimes, that’s exactly how God changes the world.

Grace and Truth... Which one actually matters more?

By Joshua Tufte • February 10, 2026
Grace and Truth… which one actually matters more? I think this question might be at the root of a lot of the tension and disunity we’re seeing among Christians right now—especially in how we respond to the culture around us. And I think some of it comes down to misunderstanding how grace and truth are supposed to work together. Hear me out. All throughout Scripture, we see two big themes in how God interacts with people: grace and truth. Even in the garden, this shows up. It was pure grace that God created us in His image and wanted a relationship with us. But there was also truth—His law. And when that law was broken, separation followed. Grace and truth, together. When Jesus shows up, He doesn’t throw out the law. He fulfills it. He teaches Scripture with wisdom that leaves people stunned. And yet… He eats with sinners. He walks patiently with imperfect disciples. He washes the feet of the man who would betray Him. That tension is everywhere. Grace and truth. Fast forward to today, and it feels like we keep picking one side or the other. Some people go all in on truth. Call everything out. Shout it down. Cancel it. If culture violates God’s design, it needs to be exposed loudly and publicly. Truth matters, period. Others swing the opposite way. “Just love people.” “Don’t worry about sin.” “Jesus forgives, so none of this really matters.” Grace becomes the whole message. The problem is… both of those miss something important. Truth by itself doesn’t save people who don’t believe. Scripture even warns us about this. Jesus talks about not throwing pearls before pigs—not as an insult, but as a way of saying you can’t expect people who don’t share your worldview to value Scripture the way you do. Why are we surprised when sinners act like sinners? Truth is mainly for the family of God. We hold Christians accountable to live like Christians. When we try to force biblical standards on people who don’t believe, it usually just pushes them further away. But grace without truth isn’t love either. Jesus didn’t come with one or the other. He came full of both. As Craig Groeschel puts it: “Truth without grace leads to hell. Grace without truth doesn’t exist.” If we judge anyone—including ourselves—by the law alone, we’re all done. Romans makes that pretty clear. None of us measure up. Not one. At the same time, agreeing with everything someone does just to keep the peace isn’t loving. If my one-year-old reaches for a hot stove, I don’t say, “Go for it, that’s your truth.” I stop her and tell her the truth—because I love her. So maybe the better question is: what if we started with grace? What if we led with love, patience, and relationship—and then spoke truth inside that relationship? Not as a weapon, but because we actually care. And if someone still chooses a path we believe is harmful, we don’t abandon them. We keep loving them. Because grace saves. Our fight isn’t against people. Scripture says it’s against unseen forces. And yet we often end up hating the very people we’re called to reach—over politics, music, or a halftime show no one will remember in a year. Is that really worth losing the chance to share the gospel? Nothing is worth souls. Jesus told us to go and make disciples, not win arguments. The people who vote differently, live differently, love differently, or believe differently are still God’s children. Yes, truth matters—but grace has to lead. Grace and truth. Not one. Both. So what does this look like in real life? It looks like this: we keep loving them. We keep praying for them. We keep showing up. We keep building the relationship. And we keep gently, faithfully leading them toward Christ—slowly, lovingly, with grace and truth working together. Jesus was perfect—the most right person to ever walk the earth. And yet sinners didn’t run from Him. They flocked to Him. Why? Because He embodied the perfect balance of grace and truth. He didn’t water down truth, and He didn’t weaponize it either. He showed us the mark to aim for. Living that way is hard. It will draw fire from both sides. You’ll be “too soft” for some and “too rigid” for others. But it’s worth it. I’ve had the privilege of walking with people who came from very dark places and watching them find salvation in Jesus Christ—seeing lives saved, changed, healed, and restored. There is nothing like it. And that only happens when we love people long enough, patiently enough, and faithfully enough to walk with them toward truth instead of trying to shout them into it. So I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts. Where do we draw lines? How do we actually live this out day to day? Do you even agree with this? Please be kind to one another. We’re here to talk, learn, and sharpen—not fight.

Commitment Sunday, Project OIKOS, Church Partnership

By Joshua Tufte • January 27, 2026
Passion Family, Over the last few weeks in The Playbook series, we haven’t just been talking about vision — we’ve been talking about formation . About who God is shaping us to be as His people in this season. At Passion Church, we believe the Kingdom of God moves forward through partnership, not pressure. Through people who say, “God, You can count on me.” That’s why we’re stepping into Commitment Sunday and a Month of Partnership together. Below you’ll find links to our website with more information about Commitment Sunday, what it means to partner with Passion Church, how to get involved, and a deeper look at Project OIKOS. Please take time to read through this and follow the links. We are prayerfully inviting our church family to seek what God is calling them to do. Our next steps are significant, and this is where you can begin partnering with us. What does it mean to partner with Passion Church? On Commitment Sunday, we’re inviting our church family to prayerfully step into four commitments — not as boxes to check, but as a way of life: GROW Choosing to go deeper in your walk with Jesus — being rooted in Him, authentic before Him, and intentional about spiritual growth. SERVE Using your gifts to love people well — stepping into compassion, meeting real needs, and helping carry the mission of the church forward. GIVE Living generously — not out of guilt or obligation, but as an act of worship and a reflection of God’s heart in a broken and divided world. ATTEND Showing up consistently — building your life around worship, community, and the work God is doing through this house. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about faithfulness . It’s about alignment. It’s about saying yes to what God is doing here. A Word to Those Already Partnered With Passion Church If you are already partnered with Passion Church, I want to say thank you . Your faithfulness, generosity, and willingness to show up have helped shape this church into what it is today. Because of your commitment, lives are being changed and the Kingdom of God is moving forward through this house. During this season, we’re inviting our existing partners to renew their partnerships —not because anything was lacking, but because God is leading us into a new chapter. Renewal is a way of saying, “God, I’m still in. I’m still aligned. And I’m ready for what You’re doing next.” This season is an opportunity to recommit with fresh faith, fresh vision, and a renewed sense of purpose as we move boldly into the future together. Commitment Sunday & the Month of Partnership Commitment Sunday is the starting point — and our largest moment — where we commit together as a church family. Through this Sunday, it will not only unite us in purpose but also allow leadership, myself, staff members, the advisors, and our external oversight team (Elders) to gauge where we are in the process of launching our new campus, both with volunteers and finances. It launches a full Month of Partnership throughout February, giving everyone the opportunity to take their next step in partnership with Passion Church. Beginning February 1 and continuing through the end of the month : Partnership and commitment forms will be available at the Connection Desk each Sunday Online commitment forms will remain open on our website Upfront gifts for Project OIKOS can be given at any time Long-term giving commitments can be submitted throughout the month While Commitment Sunday is our primary push — the moment we believe God will unite us most powerfully — we also want to create space for those who are traveling, sick, new to Passion Church, or simply need more time to pray. Our prayer is that this month will align our hearts, unify our faith, and allow us to move boldly into our next season together . Learn More About Partnership Here Project OIKOS Out of this posture of partnership, we are stepping into Project OIKOS. OIKOS is a biblical word meaning household, family, and those entrusted to our care. Project OIKOS is about building a spiritual home — a place where people can belong, grow, heal, and encounter Jesus for generations to come. Our overall goal is to raise $285,000 over the next 24 months . As part of that, we are prayerfully asking God to provide $120,000 in upfront gifts by the end of April , leaving $165,000 to be fulfilled through long-term giving commitments over the remaining 24 months. I want to say this clearly and pastorally: Project OIKOS is not about money first. It’s about mission. It’s about stewardship. It’s about obedience. Giving is simply one way we participate in what God is doing — alongside growing, serving, and showing up. Learn More About Project OIKOS Here How to Make a Commitment If you’re able to be with us in person on Commitment Sunday, we would love for you to participate together as a church family. If you can’t be there in person, you can still partner with us. Our Commitment Sunday page on the website will be live starting today, and you’ll be able to submit your commitment online. Additionally, commitment cards will be available at the Connection Desk throughout February for anyone who wants to commit in person after Commitment Sunday. Throughout this series, we’ve been reminded that: God is generous, and He forms generous people The world is divided, and the Church must look different Love becomes visible through sacrifice When God’s people commit together, God moves powerfully So here’s my pastoral invitation to you: Pray. Seek the Lord. Talk as a family. Ask not, “What’s expected?” but “What is God inviting us into?” And whether you are partnering for the first time or renewing your partnership , this Month of Partnership is your opportunity to say yes. We are not trying to build something flashy or glamorous. We are building something faithful. Something rooted. Something that will impact lives for generations. I am honored to walk into this next season with you. With gratitude and excitement, Pastor Josh Passion Church 
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