BOOK REVIEW - "WHEN CULTURE HATES YOU: PERSEVERING FOR THE COMMON GOOD AS CHRISTIANS IN A HOSTILE PUBLIC SQUARE" BY NATASHA CRAIN

Nobody really wants to be at odds with society. But that's not always possible, especially when those with a differing world view are trying to influence society in a guiding it to lemming cliff, and you opening your mouth about a better alternative is considered a threat. Apologist and podcaster Natasha Crain has written the timely book "When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the common good," which informs us why we're in this situation and guidelines on response.

Part One, consisting of the first five chapters, is titled "Understanding the Hate." In this, Crain reminds us that Jesus and Scripture warn we will be hated by the world. We are introduced to the concept of "the common good," and how that "common good" can be politicized for the purpose of trying to silence those from a traditional Christian worldview. Crain answers five objections to a Christian influence in the public square, as well as giving us the acronym ACT to describe how we should persevere: 

1. Know your (Biblical) Authority, 
2. Strengthen Conviction, and 
3. Maintain Tenacity.

The second part of this book, "Responding to and Persevering Through Today's Most Prominent Charges," gives suggestions on how to deal with antagonists like the mainstream media, secular social justice advocates, and feminist and LGBTQ+ activists. In each of five chapters, dealing with charges of being Dangerous Christian Nationalists, Power-Hungry Oppressors, Controlling Misogynists, Cruel Rights-Deniers, and Hateful Bigots, Crain defines the issues and focuses on the reality as opposed to the subjective, inflammatory name-calling. Each of these chapters include Quick Responses to 5 Popular Challenges and 7 Actions for the Common Good. She closes the book with an admonition to let our light shine in spite of hate, and provides resources.

As I stated at the beginning, this is a timely book, and I recommend it for personal reading and to discuss in small groups.

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BOOK REVIEW - "DANIEL: FAITHFUL IN THE FIRE" (BIBLE STUDY) BY J.D. GREEAR

 

The Sunday after Easter, a newly formed men's Sunday School class at my church went through "Daniel: Faithful in the Fire" by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear While Daniel is known for its spectacular rescues and for the prophetic element, Greear's focus is on the character of Daniel and his friends and how that is a model for our lives.

This book has eight lessons. Each starts with a group discussion. This is followed by a trio of personal studies. There also is an access code that you can use to view the videos.

If you're familiar with Daniel, you're probably aware that it consists of 12 chapters, with the first six looking more at the historical events in Daniel's life, and the latter focusing more on what many (including me) consider to be end times prophecy. You'll then ask what he does to trim 12 chapters to 8 lessons. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, that's because seven of the lessons deal with the first six chapters (two on chapter 1), and the only chapter in the latter six chapters deals not with prophecy but with (absolutely not surprisingly nor disappointingly) Daniel's intercessory prayer in chapter 9. 

I will admit - I do want to deal with the whole book. But again, the book's theme is on us being faithful in a culture that is opposed to everything we affirm and glorify what we consider wickedness. That's definitely a needed theme today.

I highly recomme1d this series for either personal study or for a group.

By the way, isn't the cover art wonderful?

ARE CHRISTIANS TREATING THEIR CULTURE AS A SUB-CULTURE?

 

 

 In a Facebook Group I'm a member of, I created a poll on favorite Christian novelists, including my favorites as well as those that are well known (Jerry Jenkins of Left Behind, Frank Peretti, Janette Oke). I set it so others could add to the list.

Additions to the list included usual suspects. I forgot C. S. Lewis, but his space trilogy and Narnia Chronicles qualify him. J. R. Tolkien and John Grisham also were inserted - their work is mainstream even though both authors were Christian, but both authors consistently have a mindset compatible with Chrisitianity.

But then, someone added a name that made me blink, and I asked about him. Turns out that the added author was an Anglican priest. I never had known that about Lewis Carroll, author of Alice In Wonderland. 

The person who added Carroll to the list and I then discussed what was meant by a Christian novelist - was it a novelist who wrote Christian fiction (which is where I was coming from when I started the poll) or a novelist who was a Christian. But then, he said I should be sure to read outside the Christian subculture.

That led me to think. Is Christianity a sub-culture? Or should it be our real culture, and seeing our involvement with the world as the subculture?

I'll admit -  Christianity is not known for original thinking. There are Christian novels and Christian music in most genres, but in each case the Christian artists adapt their art to a genre already created by the world. In fact, I believe it was David Hunt (though it might have been Martin and Deidre Bobgans of Psychoheresy Ministries) who said there's no such thing as Christian psychology, but Christian psychologists co-opt the approach of a secular psychiatrist.

On the other hand, what is the purpose of emulating another established genre? In art, it can be simply the Christian artist fitting into a particular box. Other times, the goal is evangelism. I remember interviewing a musician who said his band was debating on going hard rock or alternative/new wave, and when they saw another area artist effectively witnessing in the former market, that band then set their sights on those needing to hear the Gospel on the other side.

But this still doesn't solve the problem. Does our Christianity fit into our culture? Or is Christianity our culture and the world the sub-culture?

Some will say a hearty amen and get ready to Christianize the culture. That's not what I'm talking about. Unbelievers don't have the Christian culture nor should they be expected to. God's message to them is not to conform but to repent from their sins.

The other extreme - retreating from the world - is likewise an unacceptable option. I have a friend who suggested developing a Christian calendar. No, we are in the world to reach the lost.

However, the issue is who our identity is. Should my identity be based on my nationality, my race, my sexual preference, my taste in music, or even being an artist? Or should my identity be that I'm a Christian? And shouldn't my Christianity be the core where everything else fits, rather than trying to adapt my Christianity to a certain box?

In what ways would you say Christianity influences everything else? What are competing kings that tempt you to adapt to those lesser kings instead of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?