Are you running from the battles you're meant to fight? David Barton's compelling presentation "Running to the Roar" challenges believers to reconsider their approach to cultural engagement through powerful biblical imagery.
When a male lion roars on the African savannah, animals instinctively flee—directly into the waiting teeth of female lions who do the actual hunting. This natural phenomenon reveals a counterintuitive truth: sometimes safety lies in running toward the very thing that frightens us, not away from it. Barton skillfully applies this principle to spiritual warfare, showing how Satan operates as a "roaring lion" precisely to make believers retreat when they should advance.
Barton draws from fascinating passages throughout Scripture, including God's description of the war horse in Job 39 that "laughs at fear" and "cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds." This divinely designed creature exemplifies the temperament believers should cultivate—eager for righteous engagement rather than fearful of conflict. Most provocatively, Barton highlights Revelation 21's sobering revelation that the list of those destined for judgment begins with "the cowardly and fearful"—suggesting that inaction and silence represent serious spiritual failures.
The practical applications are immediately relevant to today's challenges, from social media censorship of faith-based content to the alarming removal of foundational American history from educational curricula. Rather than viewing these as insurmountable obstacles, Barton reminds us that "a wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust."
As we pray for revival in America, Barton offers wisdom on recognizing when those prayers are being answered and how to break free from the paralysis that comes from focusing exclusively on national issues while neglecting local engagement. This message will equip you with biblical courage to stand firm when others retreat, speak truth when others are silent, and advance God's kingdom when the cultural roars grow loudest.