With the definition of the word “truth” being hotly debated in these times of turbulent political division and ideological and battlefield clashes, two well-known evangelical Christian ministries have produced a documentary that examines what they view as a crisis facing Western civilization and argues that Christians can stop its decline.

“Truth Rising,” by Focus on the Family and the Colson Center, both based in Colorado Springs, premieres at 10 a.m. Friday on YouTube and will be available to stream for free indefinitely on TruthRising.com. It also will air on Trinity Broadcasting Network on television at 6 p.m. Friday.

The documentary presents “a bold call to live with clarity, confidence and conviction in a culture where truth is often under fire,” according to promotional materials.

Looking at civilizations that failed and advancing through time, the 96-minute film proposes that the more society moves from Christian values, the more chaos and discord ensue. And a return to Judeo-Christian morals and principles is the only way to right today’s course.

“For us, this is in our DNA,” said John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, which encourages Christians to incorporate their beliefs into daily life. “It’s also being released at the right time. A little bit of clarity goes a long way in knowing how we live out our faith.”

Personal stories from contemporary Christians who have been in the public spotlight as they “chose faith over fear in the face of intense opposition” are meant to serve as models of how others can do the same in their lives, creators said.

“Truth doesn’t change, but a cultural ability to understand the truth does,” Stonestreet said in an interview.“Truth is a fixed reference point that’s fundamental. When you don’t have that fixed reference point, you get lost.”

Stonestreet believes that’s why there are high levels of anxiety and younger generations thinking that life has no meaning.

“It doesn’t give them a strong sense of who they are or why they matter, which is the message of the gospel,” he said.

People who tell their journeys in the documentary include:

• Chloe Cole, a 21-year-old ex-trans male from California who was born female, medically transitioned to male between ages 12-16, then de-transitioned back to female after being diagnosed with autism and having a revelation. She speaks on gender issues, including testifying this year in favor of a failed bill in Kansas to restrict state funding to promote gender transitioning and prohibit such treatment for minor children.

• Seth Dillon, CEO of the Babylon Bee, a satirical, conservative-leaning news site, objected to his company’s suspension from Twitter in March 2022 for being accused of misgendering former U.S. Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine. His account was reinstated in November 2022 under new ownership, and Dillon continues to speak in favor of free speech rights.

• Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, who cited religious reasons for declining to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple and prevailed at the U.S. Supreme Court in his fight between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws.

• Katy Faust, founder and president of international child-rights group Them Before Us. She publishes and speaks on why traditional marriage and family are matters of justice for children.

• Winston Marshall, former lead guitarist of the band Mumford & Sons, who quit in 2021 after public backlash to a tweet in which he called conservative journalist Andy Ngo “brave” for his book that says far-left activists have “radical plans to destroy democracy.”

Phillips said in a phone interview that he decided to be included in the film because he believes in its message of “people standing up for the truth.”

He said he wouldn’t change anything about a decision he made in his cake shop one day in 2012 about a wedding cake request from a same-sex couple, which led to a lengthy and landmark legal battle.

An administrative judge for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled in 2013 that Phillips had discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation, and the Colorado Court of Appeals also ruled against Phillips in 2015. The Colorado Supreme Court declined to take the case, and it went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 2018 ruled in Phillips’ favor.

Phillips said he and his wife had decided when they started their small business that they would not provide cakes that had messages that included profanity, Halloween themes, insults, denigration or that went against their core Christian beliefs.

“We drew our line in the sand on which cakes we would or would not create, if they went against what we believed in,” he said. “It wasn’t ever about the person but the cake itself.”

That’s his main advice to Christians: Draw your line, stand by it, and if you fail ask for God’s forgiveness and work harder to remain faithful to your beliefs.

When committed Christians live out their faith, blessings that were unimaginable follow, said Jim Daly, who since 2005 has been president of Focus on the Family. The organization produces books, podcasts, radio shows and other materials to help strengthen marriages, families and pastors.

“Their marriages are stronger, their children are successful and faithful,” he said in an interview before a recent preview of the film in Colorado Springs. “So many of us read the word (Bible) and go to church on Sunday, but we’re not really displaying our faith in the world. The message is, ‘Be bold about your faith. Don’t be embarrassed. Be strong.’”

For creators, the documentary examines a pivotal moment in civilization that they claim is threatening societal foundations and issues a call-to-action for Christians to defend religious rights and freedoms and traditional morals and values.

Critics see the film as mirroring President Donald Trump’s conservative policies that advocate for returning the nation to its Christian roots.

In February, Focus promoted the film at a London gathering of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, which seeks to dismantle the European Commission and the European Court of Justice. “Focus on the Family and the Colson Center share the same commitment as ARC 2025 to address the issues facing Western civilization,” according to Focus’ film promotion website.

“We make the case that Western civilization is at a critical civilizational moment,” Jim Fitzgerald of the production company Coldwater Media told the Daily Signal, a conservative online news and commentary website. “We have three choices, renew, replacement or continue to decline. Reasserting the Christian identity of the West is the only path to preserving the civilization we have.”

Historically, Christians have had to defend their faith and stand confidently in the face of scrutiny and opposition, Stonestreet said during The Gazette interview.

“Now is not the time to shy away, it’s time to show what’s true,” he said. “We need more Christians engaged today. The culture needs Christians to show up.”

Daly said he hopes today’s Christians take cues from the past.

“The Romans naturally knew there are things that are self-evident, with culture discerning those things, such as gender,” Daly said.

“God created male and female; we think that’s the blueprint. We don’t not have compassion for gender dysphoria. We don’t believe in giving false identity.”

Focus on the Family and the Colson Center collaborate on ongoing projects, including a speaker series. Focus had the idea for the documentary, Daly said, and the Colson Center, which conducts research and promotes growing a Christian worldview, worked on the cultural elements.

A four-part video study guide from the Colson Center for small groups, home use and pastors will be available following the film’s launch, for reflection, dissection and discussion of its key messages.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.