"Preaching in a New Key" (Mark R. Glanville)

TITLE: Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities
AUTHOR: Mark R. Glanville
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2025, (240 pages)
 

Our audiences are changing. Culture is shifting. So too are people's expectations. While we should not follow worldly ways, preachers must be aware of new cultural attitudes and changing paradigms. Expository preaching is needed but it needs to be adjusted in a manner that connects with modern listeners. Australian-Canadian pastor and author Mark Glanville helps us contextualize our message sensitively to changing cultural movements. Trained in Haddon Robinson's Big-Idea Preaching and updated with Graham Johnson and Tim Keller's apologetic approaches, Glanville feels that expository preaching needs to move with changing times. A paradigm shift is needed for a post-Christian culture. Our preaching strategies need to change simply because our audiences are changing. This itself is not a new idea. This book casts fresh light on expository preaching for a new post-Christian generation. Glanville intends this book to be an introductory textbook for new preachers and a "recalibration" for experienced ones. His thesis is this: Expository preaching needs to form communities that will participate in God's big redemption plan to bring healing and hope to the communities we are in.

"Next Sunday" (Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley)

TITLE: Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church
AUTHOR: Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (192 pages).
 

Even as the Church in the West continues its gradual decline, there are many who continue to be faithful not only in attendance but also in service. In the midst of change, as different age groups grapple with issues unique to their generation, regardless of affiliation, there are many who care deeply about the state of the church. They want change for the better. They desire the wonderful community they dream of. They want a positive future for the Church. Spanning two generations, a mother-and-daughter team has come together to dialogue about the current state of the church and what is needed to change for the better. They share everything, their emotions about the past such as their assumptions, observations about apathy, disappointments, histories, suspicions, memories, and histories they experienced. They also express their hopes for the future of the Church. They ask the key question: "What will be most important for local churches going forward if they hope to thrive and not merely survive?" Through their family discussions, they manage to crystallize their thoughts into seven pertinent subjects. Both of them speak from their perspectives about how the future would be if they concentrate on strategies to deal with the following "distinctiveness."

"When Everything's On Fire" (Brian Zahnd)

TITLE: When Everything's on Fire: Faith Forged from the Ashes
AUTHOR: Brian Zahnd
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2021, (192 pages).
 

When the dark leads to emotional gloom and thoughts of doom, any light helps. For author and pastor Brian Zahnd, he notices how the pandemic has turned the world upside down. The economy is in upheaval. People's lives are uncomfortably rocked. Christians struggle with political views. Churches are mired in scandals. In times like these, it is easy to become discouraged amid the challenges of theological deconstruction. Yet, even when everything seems to be on fire, BZ reminds us that fire has one more quality: The purification of our faith. How do we recover from the ashes and be renewed in the Truth of living in the hope of the Resurrected Christ? Is Christian faith still viable in a secular age? BZ affirms that it is not only possible to survive, one can also flourish. Acknowledging the reality of skepticism, the challenges of cynicism, and the opposition of secularism is the first step to making sense of faith. Not only that, BZ identifies with the critics of past philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche, and in an imaginary conversation with the late German philosopher, BZ agrees with Nietzsche's sentiments but not necessarily the conclusions. BZ appreciates the struggles of life but not the dumbing down of faith. When everything is on fire for Nietzsche, the famed atheist declares that God is dead. BZ shows us that many critiques of Christendom while valid do not mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, Christians ought to learn how to critique so as to refine the faith, just like how fire refines. Otherwise, one might end up like a pastor who turned to atheism when he could not distinguish the historic Christianity faith from modern fundamentalist beliefs. One of BZ's key convictions is to nurture a culture of sustained belief for his grandchildren and their generation. Reasons to believe are not enough. The beauty of the gospel is better. BZ shares about an experience in Paris talking with a young man who had lost his faith, only to be renewed once he is able to see the beauty of Christ. 

"Christians in a Cancel Culture" (Joe Dallas)

TITLE: Christians in a Cancel Culture: Speaking with Truth and Grace in a Hostile World
AUTHOR: Joe Dallas
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2021, (208 pages).

Opposition to the gospel is nothing new. It could be direct persecution, like in the Early Church. It could also be indirect insinuation in the form of cynical comments or sarcasm. Both forms of hostility are alive and well today. While physical persecution happens mostly in closed countries like North Korea, open criticism and condemnation occur daily whenever Christians attempt to speak against worldly values. In the 60s, when Christians speak about a Christian perspective of a particular issue, it was generally accepted in a "business as usual" manner. Then comes the 90s culture of cynicism, where the same issues in the past need to be defended. Apologists grew in number as more people attempted to engage a generation of cynicism. Today, the tide has been turned completely around that Christians no longer can speak about such issues freely. Their rights to expressing the same views of the past are increasingly being "canceled." Author Joe Dallas has been observing such a "cancel culture" trend. He sees how Big Tech is playing the role of censorship to "streamline" views they deem unsuitable. At the same time, they are lenient toward those who mirror their views and "cancel" those who don't. While the natural instinct is to fight back forcefully, Dallas gently guides us toward a loving rational response. Convicted that the Bible today is alive, relevant, and potent, the primary purpose of this book is to equip Christians with skills to respond with grace in a hostile climate. The first five chapters provide some background on the formidable challenges of today that tend to blackmail Christians into silence. The second part of the book focuses on the knowledge of biblical truths and wisdom about rules of engagement. For thirty years, the author had encountered countless opposition and he shares from his wealth of real-world experience. 

"The Bible in a Disenchanted Age" (R.W.L. Moberly)

TITLE: The Bible in a Disenchanted Age: The Enduring Possibility of Christian Faith (Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic)
AUTHOR: R. W. L. Moberly
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018, (240 pages).

This book is based on a series of Earle lectures on Biblical Literature at the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, held on November 16-17, 2015. It is a theological exploration by the scholars and researchers on current issues and Christian thought, shared to the larger Church for their edification. Society is becoming  more secularized. Bible is perceived as less relevant than before. Faith is increasingly under attack by atheists and non-believers. As a result, some Christians are backpedaling on their fundamentals just to appease the modern hostile climate. Unfortunately, for the ardent skeptic, no arguments are sufficient if they do not wish to believe in the first place. Author Moberly tries to defend the Bible not by way of historical evidence or persuasive rhetoric, but by walking with the company of trustworthy people both past and present. He argues that there it is not clear that historical evidence should lead to faith. Moreover, the words "history" and "historical reliability" could mean so many different things to different people.

"Saving Truth" (Abdu Murray)

TITLE: Saving Truth: Finding Meaning and Clarity in a Post-Truth World
AUTHOR: Abdu Murray
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018, (256 pages).

The Renaissance gives rise to a new age of confidence in humanism. Modernism ups the bar to through science, technology, and all manner of human advancement. Postmodernism introduces an era of skepticism and relativism. As the age of Christendom diminishes, the age of atheism and secularism emerges with greater boldness and confidence. Some calls the present a Post-Christian world. Others deem it a Post-Postmodernism society. For author and North American director of RZIM, it is simply a "Post-Truth world," which he defines it as a "Culture of Confusion." In a culture of relativity, without an absolute to anchor oneself upon, we risk losing clarity. We lose a sense of purpose. We lose ourselves. Incidentally, those who declare that there are no absolutes are guilty of making their theory of relativity as an absolute in themselves. For if relativism is not an absolute, it is but a flaky philosophy. Truth is about fixed points of reference; about solid ground; about objectivity; and about the clarity of thought and life. From a big picture view, Murray moves to deal with the seductions of a "Post-Truth Mindset." Surprisingly, this mindset is not just non-Christians, but involves Christians as well. Things such as a wrong understanding of "judge not let ye be judged." Truth is, Jesus is not forbidding any forms of judging but reminding us about the purpose and motive of judgment. Other ways in which Christians are not helping clarity is when they overcorrect in their desire to defend the truth. Be calm, caring, and clear. Following the chapters on Post-Truth world and Post-Truth mindset, Murray goes into various specifics such as the proper understanding of freedom; about human dignity that does not elevate itself above God nor dumbs us down. Gospel clarity will help resolve true workmanship and worthiness.

"The Way to Brave" (Andy McQuitty)

TITLE: The Way to Brave: Shaping a David Faith for a Goliath World
AUTHOR: Andy McQuitty
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2018, (224 pages).

It is no secret that Christians nowadays live in a hostile world. As society becomes more secular and religions being seen as nothing more than simply motivation for good works, it is harder for Christians to live in this pluralistic culture. If we are content to just get-along with anything and everything in our culture, we would be left alone. What if we decide to stand up for our historical faith, the biblical principles and truth of Jesus? It would be an uphill task, given the way atheism and secularism had taken hold of all parts of society. Public schools forbid any talk about religion. Businesses generally discourage any discussions about faith matters. Any hint of religion in the public square would trigger push-backs from skeptics and secularists everywhere. The example of Russ Vought being ridiculed before the US Senate Committee for his Christian position is a case in point. On the other hand, violent programming and the sexually charged entertainment options continue to go unabated. Will Christians have courage to stand up against the tide of hostility? What can believers do in the midst of many obstacles that seemed so insurmountable? What does it take to shape a "David faith for today's Goliath World?" That is the crux of the book, which begins with a paraphrase of the biblical story of David vs Goliath in 1 Sam 17. The author writes this book hoping to encourage Christians not only to be courageous in a big way, but to do it in the right way and for the right reason. Courage don't just happen. They are strengthened with challenges. They go through a period of preparation. They stem from the conviction that God is love and God's love overcomes all.

"Strange Days" (Mark Sayers)

TITLE: Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval
AUTHOR: Mark Sayers
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2017, (192 pages).

This world is changing faster than anyone could possibly imagine. What makes it more disconcerting is the weird events happening around us that make it challenging to understand. Anyone who hears people saying this world is becoming a better place ought to seek out a second opinion. There are security fears over terrorism. Economic turmoil seems to be the norm. The role of media has changed from factual reporting to public opinions. The more sensational it is, the better. With the improvements in transportation technology and communications advancements come the increased global movement and immigration. The previously despised Hitler regime is slowly rearing its ugly head through radical groups. How do we find our spiritual bearings during such tumultuous times? Mark Sayers, cultural observer and critic helps us with this helpful road map to understanding and engaging the complex culture we live in. In a three part manner, he leads us through the biblical, the historical, and the alternative paths on what we can do in this time of upheaval.

"The Old Testament is Dying" (Brent A. Strawn)

TITLE: The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic)
AUTHOR: Brent A. Strawn
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017, (336 pages).

It all began at a Bible class the author was teaching. When asked about Old Testament references to Jesus' words, his class responded with a blank. People might have claimed to believe the Old Testament as canonical scriptures. Unfortunately, their lack of knowledge and interest are disconcerting. For some, they would even say that "Old Testament is dead." Author Brent Strawn lists four 'hard data' reasons why it is not dead but dying. First, many are increasingly religious, yet religiously illiterate. Using a Pew Research Center data, evangelicals and mainline Christians score poorly in their religious knowledge. They are not even familiar with the big stories or details of fundamental truths of the Bible or their historic faith. A majority (over 80%) do not even know about the Reformation! This is disconcerting because such basic things are not even recalled correctly. Not only that, in a secular age where it is becoming unpopular to talk about religion in public circles, even religious people hardly talk about their faith. The second concern is about sermons. Based on collections of best sermons, there is a trend that shows us most preaching focus on the New Testament (four out of five). Not only that, whatever Old Testament texts quoted are not dealt in much detail relative to the New Testament passages. Among Old Testament passages, most popular are the Psalms, Genesis, and Isaiah. There is a general preference for familiar passages too. It comes as no surprise that unfamiliar passages from the Old Testament are taken up by professors or scholars of Old Testament, so-called experts. Strawn has high praise for preachers like Walter Brueggemann who preaches often and brings to life OT passages. Third, the use of hymnody based on Psalms may look encouraging at first. On closer look, the way many hymns had been phrased is a misrepresentation of what the psalms mean in their original contexts. Some writers pick and choose the types of Psalms used and are not familiar with what the Psalms actually mean when taken as a whole. According to research from W. Sibley Towner, contemporary use of the Psalms in hymns tend to be selective and functional. It is more about what works rather than what the Psalms are saying to us today. Being selective of some also means being neglectful of others. Indeed, it is worrying when man tries to take God's Word and manipulates it to mean more of what man wants rather than what God means. Misrepresentation leads to misinterpretation, which in turn will lead to misapplication. Fourth, Strawn examines the Revised Common Lectionary, the supposedly last bastion of hope for a more even coverage of both the Old and New Testaments. He also finds several things wanting and imbalanced in what is supposed to be a balanced work. Some readings are easily omitted by users. Certain weeks are focused on New Testament readings and preachers often for various reasons choose New Testament passages from the lectionary.

"Winsome Persuasion" (Tim Muehlhoff & Richard Langer)

TITLE: Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post-Christian World
AUTHOR: Tim Muehlhoff & Richard Langer
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017, (219 pages).

Many of us who lived through the LA riots back in the 80s would remember the late Rodney King, the cab driver who was infamously beaten by some officers from the Los Angeles Police Department. In a plea for civil behaviour to all, he famously said: "Can we all get along?" This phrase has been paraphrased in other ways like "Can't we all just get along?" or "Can't we all just learn to live together?" The need for cool heads and warm hearts is still there today, even as we see people continue to be split in the middle across many areas. From racial discrimination to the gender inequality; from generational differences to cultural distinctivenesses; from language diversity to the rich-poor society divide; broken people continue to scatter broken pieces. The public arena is increasingly fragmented. In the political scene, people continue to be split across party lines. The election of President Trump has also become a major source of verbal spat across the country. Those who support Trump are aggressively pushed back by those screaming out #NotMyPresident. On the economic front, the rich and the poor are getting further and further apart. Quentin Schultze in the foreword says it very well: "We all are born into a broken world of sin. Nothing and no one is unblemished. We cannot simply look outside of ourselves for sin. We have to look inside as well." That is the crux of the matter. The source of divisions stems from the root of sin. If we can address this well, we would be better able to get along. Biblically, the way forward is to approach the matter of public dialogue or debate with Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." The authors then try to persuade us that Christians are called to protect the weak; to speak up for the voiceless; to represent the unrepresented; to stand up for the marginalized and alienated; and to be peacemakers through it all. They highlight the three types of voices commonly used in public squares. The first is the PROPHETIC voice which appeals to the Word of God as the final authority; which basically demands people change their direction to align with this; that this is essentially the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. The second is the PASTORAL voice which extends care as the first response; offering healing to those in need; and ministers to people where they are. This voice is essentially an outpouring of the gift of comfort and care from the Holy Spirit. The third voice is the PERSUASIVE voice, which appeals to the common good; the gentle strength of effective dialogue; and the power of restraint from flipping to extreme views. While there are pros and cons in all of them, the authors believe that the PERSUASIVE voice is the most needful for our times. They coin the term 'counterpublic' as such a voice. A counterpublic has three characteristics: opposition; withdrawal; engagement. In opposition, it refers to those who perceive themselves being excluded or marginalized. In withdrawal, it refers to such people consolidating and forming an identity for themeslves in the midst of being ostracized. In engagement, this people attempt to engage the dominant view clearly and constructively. The Christian counterpublic does exactly the same but from a Christian viewpoint, on how to be "gracious communicators in an argument culture."

"Meet Generation Z" (James Emery White)

TITLE: Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World
AUTHOR: James Emery White
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2017, (224 pages).

We have heard of the various terms to describe the various generations. The Baby Boomers are those born between the years 1940s-1960s; the Generation X (born in the 70s-80s); and Millennials (born in the 80s-90s). Generation Z are the newest and youngest group, which is the focus of the latest book from prolific writer and pastor, James Emery White. He calls this generation the "First truly post-Christian Generation." They will make up to 25% of the entire US population and will play a major role in shaping the culture that is to come. This book focuses on what this generation is, its origins, its characteristics, and the need for the Church to re-think her approaches to engaging and interacting with this rising generation. This generation comprises a rising number of formerly churched people, aka, post-Christian. The key thesis of this book is that we need to understand the upcoming culture and its trend in order to reach them meaningfully. It is meant to complement White's two earlier books, Serious Times and The Rise of the Nones. The former is a wake-up call to the Church to rethink more seriously its approaches to an increasingly pluralistic, secular, privatized, relativistic, hedonistic, and narcissistic culture. The latter focuses more on the post-Christians group of people. This book continues the path of helping Church think more effectively about reaching this post-Christian culture and people. White describes some of the signs of this 'seventh age.'

"Jesus Among Secular Gods" (Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale)

TITLE: Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ
AUTHOR: Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Faithwords, 2017, (256 pages).

What comes to mind when we think about idols? In the Old Testament, it was about graven images or some physical artifact. In the New Testament, we read about false teachings and deceptive ideologies. One common theme among these idols and false teachings is the way it tries to unravel God's intended purposes, to suggest other ways instead of God's way. This trend continues today under the guise of secular gods. Modern society in the West has become more secular than ever.  The altars are everywhere and comprise both religious as well as non-religious idols. The claims of Christ are not only opposed by the traditional mainstream religions and cults, they are also aggressively pushed back by the secular forces of today. Famous apologist Ravi Zacharias knows it full well, having received a hostile reception on the basis of his stand for Jesus. He shares: "I was a nominal Christian but never gave that much thought, either. Most of my friends were either Hindu or Muslim or Sikh, with a few others of different faiths. I never recall feeling any anger or hostility toward those who believed differently than me, no matter how ludicrous their beliefs may have seemed to me. Nor do I remember ever being on the receiving end of such anger and hostility because I did not have the same belief."

"From Nature to Creation" (Norman Wirzba)

TITLE: From Nature to Creation: A Christian Vision for Understanding and Loving Our World (The Church and Postmodern Culture)
AUTHOR: Norman Wirzba
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015, (176 pages).

Should Christians live more for the future and less for the present? Is God's gift of salvation mainly a ticket to some heavenly future without earthly responsibility? Absolutely not. If our Christian living is merely preparing ourselves for the heavenly realm, our Christianity is a "theological disaster." So begins author and professor Norman Wirzba in this book that aims to bring back the integrity and value of the world we live in. Our salvation is important. How we live is also important. The world we live in is a gift for us to cherish and to care for. If God had created the world and called it good, how can we say otherwise? Wirzba is Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School. A keen scholar of the doctrine of creation, he has written this book with chapters based on his 2013 Jellema lectures at various locations as well as a 2012 biannual meeting of the Society of Continental Philosophy and Theology. This book is a call for Christians to take the environment and the ecological concerns seriously. Develop an imagination of a world loved and sustained by God. Treasure the earth resources as a gift. This book is an attempt to help us cast and sustain a vision of care for nature and creation.

"The Practice of Pastoral Care" (Carrie Doehring)

TITLE: The Practice of Pastoral Care, Revised and Expanded Edition
AUTHOR: Carrie Doehring
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015, (232 pages).

Pastoral care is a critical part of any Church ministry. The word "pastor" is synonymous with "shepherd." Unlike some places that sees the pastor as the leader-CEO, the true biblical basis of a pastor is to shepherd the flock. How we practice pastoral care however have changed, partly because of changing needs. In this book, the way is to adopt a "postmodern approach" toward the practice of pastoral care. Calling it an "intercultural approach," pastoral care in this book means not just listening to the stories of the people but also to create meaning of them. It means learning to piece together the broken pieces of life. It means learning to help people tell their stories. It means cultivating trust. For Carrie Doehring, it is the heart of pastoral care where people are willing to open up their lives to caregivers. It is about creating opportunities for "care conversations" and relating real-life to theological truths and biblical principles. Doehring goes a step further to advocate for a care that brings back individuals from a de-centered sacred bearings due to suffering and painful circumstances. How can one show compassion and understanding toward those questioning their faith and religious values? This calls for a "theological, cultural, and psychological expertise" that can help care for parishioners and people in such need, what Doehring refers to as "the compassionate art of intercultural care." Carers essentially enter into the lives of others, sharing in their pain, walking with them in the valley of questions and celebrating with them in the answers of joy. It is about intermingling one's lives with another so as to build a bridge that aids integrative moments and shared stories. It is collaborative exploration of new and strange emotional territories. The author attempts to use a "trifocal lens" which comprises of a precritical, a modern, and a postmodern approach.  As a first-order language, a precritical lens looks at the world from a divine perspective. The modern lens is a second-order language that adopts "text critical methods" and social sciences to include empirical analysis and rational judgment of knowledge. The postmodern approach is the third-order language that nuances all of these in the light of present contexts. This approach involves the meaning making and the response of individuals to the earlier two orders of language. She summarizes the book's structure in six parts.

"The End of Apologetics" (Myron Bradley Penner)

TITLE: End of Apologetics, The: Christian Witness in a Postmodern Context
AUTHOR: Myron Bradley Penner
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013, (192 pages).

What is wrong with current models of Apologetics? Is it the method? Is it the technique? No. It is the underlying set of assumptions that has been outdated and irrelevant to the postmodern mindset.  This provocative work is not against the Apologetics that we have come to be familiar with. It is re-describing the postmodern culture so that Christians can speak within its context. It is realigning strategies toward an environment that is less Enlightenment but Postmodern. It is a humble acknowledgement that we need to learn what postmodern cultural paradigms are, and to speak in a way that people steep in postmodernism can understand and appreciate.

The Apologetics of today do not work anymore, says Anglican priest and academic Dr Myron Penner, because of different aims. For instance, Conventional Apologetics are based on an understanding that if truth is presented as it is, people will be convinced, if not, a step closer to be convinced. No. Truth must be presented in a way that a postmodern mind can understand, not in a way that assumes a postmodern person having a 17th Century Enlightenment mindset. Penner weaves in the perspectives of Alistair MacIntyre, Soren Kierkergaard, and to some extent, John G Stackhouse, and slowly builds up his case to argue for a new form of Apologetics. This form will be a shift away from epistemological paradigms toward a hermeneutics of faith. It approaches that of Alistair MacIntyre's argument for both "consistency and coherence," that in order for any convincing to be done, parties must all come to a common understanding of the world and themselves. It embraces Kierkegaard's caution that rejecting a particular form of reasoning does not necessarily mean rejecting reason altogether. It supports John Stackhouse's attitude that humility is necessary when doing any Apologetics. Having set the tone, Penner goes on the offensive against conventional Apologetics.

First, Penner takes the underlying beliefs of the popular apologist William Lane Craig to task. There is an overwhelming dependence on reasoning to prove the consistency of Christian claims. Such a belief led to a heavy reliance on reason for faith, to the detriment of other non-rationalizing aspects. In other words, through reasoning and knowledge, people will come to faith. He argues that WLC's normative philosophy errs on the side of wrongful assumptions, that conventional kinds of apologetic arguments and debate are "normative" in a postmodern mind. In fact, Penner warns that Apologetics of old can even hinder the gospel. All because apologists like WLC are "disembedded" from what is meaningful to the postmodern mind. Penner points out the mismatch as follows:

"The task of reason in modernity is principally epistemological: its function is to measure, categorize, and exercise intellectual mastery and control over an otherwise brute and irrational universe that does not necessarily have a purpose, a center, or even a unifying principle. But reason is also the possession of individuals—not the universe—and is something each person has and must exercise." (30)

Having said that, Penner takes a softer stance to acknowledge that there are at least 5 other kinds of apologetic methods, but still asserts that all of them have the same central goal: justify Christianity to the postmodern mind, by assuming they still possess Enlightenment thinking.

In Chapter 2, Penner tackles the popular religious debates, usually between a famous believer and a prominent unbeliever. After that, a general poll is taken to check which debater does best. The problem with such debates is that many in the audience can find it difficult to follow both sides of the debates. Either it is too philosophical or overly academic.  Penner argues that instead of helping, modern apologists could very well be hurting the fragmented environment even further. What then is the best way to deal with postmodern skepticism? How does one speak to the sense of meaninglessness? It is one thing to be an intellectual expert. It is yet another to be understood beyond the mind. In doing good Apologetics, one must move toward a greater emphasis on revelation rather than reason. Following Kierkergaard's way of distinguishing between geniuses and apostles, Penner argues that genuises are born while apostles are called. Moreover, human reason can only scratch the surface of revealing truth. It is only the Holy Spirit who can reveal the whole truth. Point is: Are we establishing the reign of God because of our reasoning and argument? Or are we recognizing the reign of God because of God's revelation and redemption? For Christianity is not about an objective something, but a personal Someone; not about having the truth, but about being IN the truth; to do less of imparting knowledge in order to dominate and control, but understanding in order to care and to reveal the love of God.

Chapter 3 further exposes the vulnerability of modern apologetics in its fruit. Modern apologists seem more concerned with "epistemological justification" instead of people's "edification." Christians need to become more like apostles of exhortation, encouragement, and edification rather than genuises of arguments and reasons. It involves listening, being with, caring, and even living together. For Christianity cannot be reduced to mere arguments. Christianity is about the person of Christ, the confession that we do not know it all. God does. The ethics of belief Penner argues for is one that is more concerned with "how one believes" rather than "what" of belief. He then talks about features of prophetic speech, contrasting them with modern debates, cautioning one that we can win debates but still lose the person. Moreover, if one is not anchored on the gospel proper and depends only on reason, as listeners become unconvinced or remain skeptical, even the apologists can be disillusioned with the gospel.

Thankfully, Penner moves toward constructing a proper response in the light of his dismantling of modern Apologetics. This is done with an eye on eschatological aspect and the revelation of God through the gospel. God is not represented through arguments. God is presented in Christ. Two key things are said. First, we cannot presume to argue in a manner that seems to communicate we have all the truth. Only God has all truth. Second, becoming too objective in our pursuit of truth can do injustice to us being created as persons, and as creatures of subjective understanding. Truth must move from "correspondence" theories of facts toward "edification" of persons. Only edification can help bring people together. It can be humbling for apologists to acknowledge that there are many ways to understand truth, not necessarily the way advocated by the apologists. It takes humility to accept that people are free to look at truth a different way than suggested. At the same time, it takes good language that reflects truth-telling that seeks to understand rather than to be understood. Build more bridges instead of depending on arguments and debate to build bridges. Learn to use Luther's way of attesting to the truth to "belief in" rather than to "belief that."  Not all truths need to be proven. One can testify to the truth, and then let the Holy Spirit convicts the listeners.Truth-telling is not just about transferring knowledge. It is about edification of all. Penner asserts once again that there is no need to dichotimize objectivity from subjectivity, for truth embraces both of them!

In the final chapter, Penner moves away from Western based theologians and philosophy toward African style cultural symbols and how the Africans have exemplified a nice balance of objectivity and subjectivity. Western civilization tends to adopt a colonizing mindset, and then impart them to the Africans. In that manner, the biggest problem with modern Apologetics is that it resembles the colonizing activities of the Imperial West over the rest of the world. Telling the truth cannot be simply reduced to bullets of scattered arguments or the cannons of great intellectual apologists trained in Ivy League schools or famous institutions. For truth edifies. We need to make sure that we love our neighbour as ourselves, to not only talk about truth, but to LIVE in the truth. Gradually, Penner warns about how our "ethics of witness" (through over emphasis on reasoning) can lead to a "politics of witness" (through dismembering thoughts of others).

So What?

Is this then the end of the Apologetics that many of us have come to embrace? Are apologists really being less helpful than before? I think Penner is not saying that. While the language and criticisms he uses tend to be controversial, even confrontational, I perceive that he is not arguing for an abandonment of Apologetics altogether, but a realignment with the postmodern mindset, so that any arguments will not just convince the head, but care for the heart. What is needed is a bridge that modern apologists need to construct with much love and compassion. Personally, I believe the title of the book is a challenging invitation to talk about how to improve on the way we do Apologetics, and not meant to declare the death of Apologetics altogether. Apologetics is still alive and well. In fact, it cannot be abandoned altogether for three reasons. First, it is too early to say "the end." There are many people still familiar with the modernist mindset and the enlightenment thinking of the 17th Century. Just because we live in a postmodern world does not necessarily mean everyone is postmodern. That is why existing models of Apologetics still have its place. This is even more so because many modern educational systems and structures are still based on an Enlightenment foundation of truth seeking. Apologetics is here to stay for quite a while. Second, Penner's argument for a more edifying way to do Apologetics is to challenge any arrogance or overemphasis on knowledge over faith. In other words, do not see Penner as directly opposing what WLC or other apologists are doing. Penner is actually helping them to see that there are important changes happening in the world we live in now, and our Apologetics must speak not only intelligently to them, but be edifying.

Third, we need to adapt toward a more audience sensitive format. Key to understanding Penner's argument is to accept that the postmodern philosophical context and cultural climate have changed from a well-ordered ideal to a disordered reality. It has moved away from a world of harmonized and meaningful garden to a warring and increasingly meaningless world. It has become very individualistic, with communities increasingly more and more fragmented. Pluralism is not the hallmark of society. Fragmentation is. It is to this environment that Penner argues all believers and apologists speak meaningfully with. Just because one can put forth reasons for belief is not sufficient for faith. This is especially when the audience's very fundamental need is not even scratched at all. 

Still, I find three flaws in the book. First and foremost, the chief flaw to me in this book is this. As Penner tries to direct the focus of apologetics from an Enlightenment mindset to a more Postmodern sensitive mindset, the vehicle to do that is still very much the same rationalizing mindset that reasons and thinks like conventional apologists. In other words, Penner is essentially using the same kind of reasoning language! Granted that the book's audience is most likely people who come with that background. That said, will it not be more effective for the book to do what it says? That is, argue in a manner that is more postmodern sensitive. Second, postmodernism is a culture that is very hard to tie down because it is too diverse, too relative, and too slippery. Try as one may, eventually, one will have to realize that Penner's assertions work only for a particular group of Apologists who are overly focused on rationalization as a vehicle of faith. Anyone can dispute the definition of postmodernism. If Penner is right about society being fragmented, then there are more than one way to talk about postmodernism which then puts everyone in a relative spin. Third, more specifics are needed. The book is high on its critique but low in the application of what it prescribes. Maybe, give more examples of Apologists who have come close to Penner's model.

In summary, lest anyone accuses Penner of placing too much attention on postmodernism, readers ought to be reminded that Penner is arguing for an understanding of postmodernism as a "starting point" and not the end in itself. Another starting thought is to recognize that the world now is less of pluralism but more of fragmentation. Thus, any Apologetics cannot be geared toward individual groups in bits and pieces, but to learn to put fragmented pieces back together through common understanding and faith. The way to do this is not through thinking, reasoning, or sole dependence on our rationalization brilliance, but on the Holy Spirit. The mind may convince, but only the Holy Spirit convicts. Faith comes and grows from the latter.

This is a provocative book that does not end but instead extends the reach of Apologetics toward a more Postmodern sensitive audience. Kudos to Dr Myron Penner for highlighting his brave new work.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Baker Academic and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Don't Stop Believin" (Robert K. Johnston, Craig Detweiler, Barry Taylor, editors)

TITLE: Don't Stop Believin': Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-hur to Zombies
AUTHOR: Robert K. Johnston, Craig Detweiler, Barry Taylor, editors
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012, (176 pages).

This book is a collection of commentaries on pop icons and various well-known symbols in the cultures from the 50s to the present. The title of the book is very similar to the pop group Journey who released this hit in 1981. Perhaps, it is chosen because 1981 is somewhere near the midpoint from the 50s to now. Probably, its very title represents a kind of an intersection of faith, pop culture, religion, and people. Maybe, the name of the pop group that produced the song is reflective of where culture is going. It is a journey of belief. Comprising articles written by an assortment of people from many different walks of life. It asks questions about what are the stories, the songs, and the symbols, and the messages they carry that remain valid or has evolved over time. Are there deep theological truths beneath them? What is the gospel according to Peanuts, or Twilight? Through 101 "theologically significant figures," the contributors in this book seek to make some sense out of them.They notice the trends pertaining to gender, sexuality, and religious views that have changed over time. There are lesser of traditional boundaries especially in an electronic age. There are also increasing limitations that we are only beginning to understand. Here is why.

The first 15 articles sketch out what the 50s are about. It is a time where families are more closely knitted, coming together to watch TV sitcoms like "I Love Lucy" and "Father Knows Best." It is time of growing awareness of a need for greater equality, especially race and gender. This gives rise to rebellious symbols such as JD Salinger's counter-cultural "Catcher in the Rye" or Elvis Presley's Rock and Roll against a culture of uptight, prim-and-proper Pleasantville atmosphere. In spite of his popularity, Johnny Cash succumbs to drugs, and fights a losing battle against addictions which led to his eventual suicide. Then, there is Walt Disney's whose vision of an entertainment empire for kids requires a storytelling style that is not linked explicitly to any church or religion. Yet, there is a message that things eventually will be made right. Godzilla the monster is also a chance "to show" the dangers of environmental carelessness, and "to warn" the consequences of nuclear bombs. Christians like Billy Graham and CS Lewis are also described. So are novelists like Alfred Hitchcock, and JRR Tolkien, and artists like Pablo Picasso and Marilyn Monroe.

The 60s is a continuation of the tensions that began in the 50s. With the Cuban missile crisis on the background, and the constant desire for happiness and contentment, John F. Kennedy brings needed leadership to America, and musicians like Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin is a cry to belong, and a growing discernment of a need for people to connect with one another. Such as Franklin's rendition of the hit song, "Respect." Of course, there are efforts to help people perform some escape, like the Star Trek movies, Stan Lee's Marvel Comics heroes, and of course the dizzying popularity of the Beatles.

The 70s is a longing for "Happy Days." Sometimes dubbed the "Me" era, it is a time where narcissistic pursuits begin its climb. Clint Eastwood becomes the icon for challenging people to "Make my day." The Godfather movies brings together a complex combination of faith, family, and filmmaking. Billy Jean King's success in the tennis world gives her tremendous impetus in the championing of women's rights. Bruce Lee's fame and tragedy becomes another reminder of how the most successful martial arts exponent during that time can feel lonely and needy. Of course, there is Mother Teresa who provides a needed corrective to the world of success, by seeking to help the rest of the world through lowly and humble service. Star Wars provide a bridge to the 80s.

With the American hostage situation in Iran, the 80s is marked by social unrest and a deep longing for security. Star Wars provide a feel good ending to a seemingly hopeless war. Ronald Reagan's rise to Presidency gives many Americans hope and a feel good disposition. Calvin Klein's fashion ideas challenge conventional thinking and causes breakthrough in sexual freedom. The runaway success of the musical Les Miserables, is due to the clever and effective themes of hope/despair, legalism/grace, condemnation/redemption, etc. The Apple MacIntosh marks the beginning of computers gaining a foothold in popular culture.

The 90s is a time where spiritualism becomes more prominent. With Deepak Chopra, Dalai Lama, and other spiritualists entering the scene, people become more open to Eastern religion.  This is made easier with these Eastern gurus speaking and teaching widely in the West, using language and symbols to meet the hunger and thirst of many frustrated people living in the West. Goth represents anti-religious establishment. Ellen DeGeneres stands for pro-lesbian. Secularism is championed by Philip Pullman. Reacting to these, the Left Behind series of novels try to warn the culture at large that there is an impending judgment if people do not correct their steps. The Matrix movies attempt to marry all of these religious and social sentiments by combining all kinds of religion, postmodern thinking, and others into an entertainment vehicle. Games like SimCity empowers a young generation to take control of their own destiny through virtual gaming.

There are also many interesting thoughts on Twilight and Stephanie Meyer, Survivor reality shows, Harry Potter books and movies, sports icons like David Beckham and Tiger Woods, and the rising social media icons like Facebook.

The editors finally ask some questions about what these all means. Are the cultural icons merely trying to communicate something to us? How should Christians respond?  The first approach is to adopt a "traditional approach" where some either boycott the pop culture. The second is to plunder them so that we can extract the good, like what Os Guinness is advocating. The first approach tends to be overly dismissive and may commit the error of throwing away the baby with the bathwater. The second approach makes Christians guilty of superiority thinking. A third approach is suggested, that participates in the culture, and advocates for the gospel without being overly dismissive or carelessly embracing.

My Thoughts

Like it or not, the world that we live in are full of cultural symbols. This book of a mini-who's who enables a group of Christians to come together to reflect, to ponder, and to suggest steps in which we can be engaging and not enveloped by the culture at large. This calls for wise discerning of the underlying messages of these cultural icons. It calls for biblical perspectives and how Christians are to live counter-cultural when they is a need to, to support humanitarian, ecological, social reforms, or things common to the well-being of people. There are many crying out for help or for understanding. Are Christians hearing them? There are many seeking out some semblance of direction in life. Are Christians looking out for them? There are also many trying to make sense of what is life all about. Are Christians equipped to help them out? The editors of this book has been carefully chosen for their expertise. Robert K. Johnston is well-known for his work in the integration of theology and film. Craig Detweiler, with Barry Taylor do the same for the music scene, as well as celebrities, art, and cultural fashion.  Instead of having a book where theology or biblical insights inform the shape of the book, it takes on a two way interaction, where one observes, then reflects, and then pauses to make some sense of what the Bible is speaking and what the culture is saying. In doing so, one is careful not to dismiss all cultural icons are mere entertainment. Neither is one overly simplistic in trying to "baptize" everything with holy things. The latter attitude will reflect more of a secular/sacred divide, instead of a holistic view of things where all truth is God's truth. One's theological insight can be sharpened, regardless of whether the object has a "Christian label" on it or not.

There is a slightly heavier Californian influence among the contributors in the book. Many of them are associated with Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as churches and organizations in California, the land of Hollywood. I enjoy this book. In fact, there needs to be an expanded dictionary version, maybe online, so that the wider Christian community can benefit from this serious and yet fun engagement of culture from a Christian perspective. Don't stop believing, and don't stop engaging too.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.