August 13, 2025
Raising Sons Who Will Not Bow to the Culture
Christian fathers — discover how to raise sons who love God, reject compromise, and lead with conviction in a hostile culture.
By Pastor Danny Lee
The Culture’s Goal is Compliance
Every day, your son is being discipled — by someone. If you don’t intentionally shape his heart and mind, the culture will. And this culture has one goal: to get the next generation to bow.
We are warned in Isaiah 5:20:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
If we want sons who will stand, we must train them to reject the pressure to compromise and instead fear God above all else.
Fatherhood is Discipleship
Fathers are not called to be mere providers or occasional encouragers. Deuteronomy 6:7 is clear:
“Impress them [God’s commands] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”
In other words — discipleship is daily, not occasional.
As I shared in Biblical Manhood in a Culture of Confusion, a man’s leadership starts in his home. You cannot outsource your son’s discipleship to the school, youth pastor, or culture — God gave that assignment to you.
Equipping for the Battle
Your son is not growing up in neutral territory — he’s growing up on a battlefield. This means you must prepare him with:
Biblical Literacy — He must know what the Word says. (Psalm 119:9)
Moral Courage — He must be willing to stand for truth even when unpopular.
Spiritual Discernment — He must be able to recognize deception.
Practical Skills — He must know how to work hard, protect the vulnerable, and lead.
Rejecting the Passive Male
Our culture celebrates “safe” men — not men who take risks for righteousness, but men who stay silent to avoid conflict. Passivity is the enemy’s ally.
As I explained in Why “Toxic Masculinity” is a Lie from the Pit of Hell, real toxicity is not strength — it’s silence when truth must be spoken.
Using the Church as a Training Ground
If you want your son to grow into a godly man, plant him in a strong, biblical church. A church that calls him into mission, holds him accountable, and surrounds him with other men of conviction.
For what to look for, read our post: 5 Things to Look for in a Church (And How Church of the Heartland Measures Up).
Raising a Son Who Will Not Bow
We’re not raising boys to be liked by everyone — we’re raising men who will please God, even if it costs them friends, promotions, or comfort.
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood when everyone else bowed. They were young, but they had been trained in the ways of God. That’s your mission as a father — to raise sons who will stand, no matter the pressure.
Conclusion
If you want a son who will not bow to the culture, you must be a father who will not bow either. Model it. Teach it. Expect it.
For how this impacts the nation, The Christian Father’s Role in Rebuilding a Nation.
The Culture’s Goal is Compliance
Every day, your son is being discipled — by someone. If you don’t intentionally shape his heart and mind, the culture will. And this culture has one goal: to get the next generation to bow.
We are warned in Isaiah 5:20:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
If we want sons who will stand, we must train them to reject the pressure to compromise and instead fear God above all else.
Fatherhood is Discipleship
Fathers are not called to be mere providers or occasional encouragers. Deuteronomy 6:7 is clear:
“Impress them [God’s commands] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”
In other words — discipleship is daily, not occasional.
As I shared in Biblical Manhood in a Culture of Confusion, a man’s leadership starts in his home. You cannot outsource your son’s discipleship to the school, youth pastor, or culture — God gave that assignment to you.
Equipping for the Battle
Your son is not growing up in neutral territory — he’s growing up on a battlefield. This means you must prepare him with:
Biblical Literacy — He must know what the Word says. (Psalm 119:9)
Moral Courage — He must be willing to stand for truth even when unpopular.
Spiritual Discernment — He must be able to recognize deception.
Practical Skills — He must know how to work hard, protect the vulnerable, and lead.
Rejecting the Passive Male
Our culture celebrates “safe” men — not men who take risks for righteousness, but men who stay silent to avoid conflict. Passivity is the enemy’s ally.
As I explained in Why “Toxic Masculinity” is a Lie from the Pit of Hell, real toxicity is not strength — it’s silence when truth must be spoken.
Using the Church as a Training Ground
If you want your son to grow into a godly man, plant him in a strong, biblical church. A church that calls him into mission, holds him accountable, and surrounds him with other men of conviction.
For what to look for, read our post: 5 Things to Look for in a Church (And How Church of the Heartland Measures Up).
Raising a Son Who Will Not Bow
We’re not raising boys to be liked by everyone — we’re raising men who will please God, even if it costs them friends, promotions, or comfort.
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood when everyone else bowed. They were young, but they had been trained in the ways of God. That’s your mission as a father — to raise sons who will stand, no matter the pressure.
Conclusion
If you want a son who will not bow to the culture, you must be a father who will not bow either. Model it. Teach it. Expect it.
For how this impacts the nation, The Christian Father’s Role in Rebuilding a Nation.
