The Overton Window

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 “When the Window Moves, but the Word Stands”

Understanding Culture, Conviction, and the Overton Window

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TEXT:

Psalm 119:89 – “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

Jeremiah 6:16 – “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein…”

Romans 12:2 – “Be not conformed to this world…”

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INTRODUCTION

The world around us is shifting. Culture is changing. Values are drifting. Things that were once unthinkable have become normal.

Not because truth changed…

but because the cultural window moved.

Sociologists call it the Overton Window—the range of ideas that society sees as acceptable at any given time.

But the church doesn’t live by a window.

The Overton Window moves through stages:

We live by the Word.

When the Overton window moves, but the Word stands.

“The world is always shifting its standards.”

1. Unthinkable

2. Radical

3. Acceptable

4. Sensible

5. Popular

6. Policy

What was once shocking becomes normalized.

What was once sin becomes celebrated.

What was once holy becomes mocked.

But don’t mistake social acceptance for spiritual righteousness.

Isaiah 5:20

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…”

Culture moves.

Trends move.

Beliefs move.

But God says, “I change not.” (Malachi 3:6)

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II. THE CHURCH MUST RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CULTURE AND DOCTRINE

Culture can shift. Doctrine cannot.

Some things are cultural:

• Music styles

• Service length

• Technology

• Dress fashions

• Architecture

• Program formats

The window moves on these things. That’s normal. It’s fine.

But some things are biblical, eternal, unchanging:

• Holiness

• Repentance

• The Oneness of God

• Jesus’ name baptism

• Infill­ing of the Holy Ghost

• Separation from the world

• Righteous living

• Moral purity

• Apostolic worship

These do not move with the window.

They are fixed by the Word.

We do not let culture determine our convictions.

We let Scripture determine our stance.

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III. WHEN THE WINDOW MOVES, THE CHURCH MUST STAND IN THE OLD PATHS

Jeremiah 6:16 tells us to seek “the old paths.”

Not old clothes.

Not old songs.

Not old traditions for tradition’s sake.

But the old paths of truth:

• The Gospel

• Prayer

• Consecration

• Worship

• Holiness

• Apostolic identity

Those paths never go out of style.

Culture may shift, but conviction must stand.

When the world says, “Loosen up,”

the church says, “Hold the line.”

When society says, “It’s not a big deal anymore,”

the church says, “If God said it, it is still a big deal.”

When the window moves,

the Word stays where it’s always been.

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IV. THE DANGER OF A MOVING WINDOW: DRIFT

Hebrews 2:1 warns us:

“…lest at any time we should let them slip.”

If you aren’t anchored, you drift.

If you don’t hold the line, the line moves.

If you don’t know the Word, you follow the window.

**Samson didn’t lose his strength in one moment—

he lost it in stages.**

Step by step…

Compromise by compromise…

As the window moved in his life,

his conviction weakened.

**Lot didn’t jump to Sodom—

he inched toward it, step by step.**

He moved his tent “toward Sodom,”

and eventually he was living in the city.

Culture pulls.

The enemy pushes.

The window shifts.

If we are not anchored, we drift.

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V. WHEN THE WINDOW MOVES, THE CHURCH HAS A CHOICE

Choice 1 — Follow culture.

This leads to compromise, confusion, and coldness.

Choice 2 — Follow Christ.

This leads to revival, authority, and anointing.

You cannot keep both:

• The favor of the world

• And the fire of the Spirit

You choose one.

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VI. THE CHURCH CAN SHIFT CULTURE WITHOUT LETTING CULTURE SHIFT THE CHURCH

The Overton Window does not just move us—

the church can move it.

Every revival moves the window of what people think is possible.

In Acts:

• They prayed until the Spirit fell.

• They preached until hearts were pricked.

• They worshiped until jail doors opened.

• They lived holy until the city took notice.

Revival moved the window.

If the church will:

• Pray boldly

• Worship passionately

• Preach truthfully

• Love deeply

• Live holy

• Stand firm

…we will shift the culture around us.

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VII. THE CALL: FIX YOUR LIFE TO THE WORD, NOT THE WINDOW

Ask yourself:

“What has moved in me that God never told me to move?”

“What have I accepted just because society accepted it?”

“What convictions have softened?”

“What disciplines have drifted?”

“What holiness line have I allowed to shift?”

It’s time to:

• Rebuild the altar

• Return to prayer

• Reclaim holiness

• Rededicate ourselves

• Realign with the Word

• Reject cultural compromise

• Re-anchor our identity in Jesus

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CONCLUSION

Culture has a window.

The church has a Word.

Culture shifts.

Truth stands.

Trends come and go.

Holiness does not.

The world changes its mind every decade.

God’s Word has not changed in eternity.

Stand with the Word.

Live above the window.

Anchor your life to the truth.

And let God use you to shift the culture around you.

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