Too many voices within Orthodoxy tie the defense of traditional Orthodox morality to the “culture war” in an attempt to delegitimize opposition to blatantly harmful social policies as merely a political ploy to get votes. In reality, the Church’s teaching on sexuality, the nature of humanity, the sanctity of life and other moral issues transcends politics and is universal. Therefore, the “culture war” is not something the Church can avoid. That fight with darkness is essential to the Church’s very mission of transforming the world. Whether you call it “Woke” or “Globalism” or “Progressivism” or “Transgenderism / Transhumanism” – the ideology of the Modern Age is not a political movement(s), but rather a competing religion full of lies and heresy. This is a battle for souls, not votes. We cannot let charges of participating in a “culture war” deter our efforts to speak the Truth of Christ in love.