Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel by Russell D. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Three things are clear to start with. Russell Moore loves his God. Russell Moore loves the church. Russell Moore loves his country. And this is important, Russell Moore knows the difference between the kingdom of God and America. With the current social political climate today I cannot recommend this book enough. While we debate gay marriage Moore makes a strong case for both family stability and religious liberty. In writing on religious liberty he makes a solid distinction between the church’s authority, the states authority and how the believer lives under both. While we discuss racism and immigration Moore reminds us that ALL human life is made in the image of God and has dignity. Abortion and gun rights. Yes they are are both matter of the dignity of life.
Moore reminds us that the church has a voice, and a place in the current culture. Our voice is not one of screaming, arguing, belittling or compromise but a declaration of truth with as he calls it “convictional kindness”. Dr Moore writes with optimism that the church is not dead in America, but it does look different than the Bible Belt of years ago and that’s OK. America is not a post Christian nation (was it ever a Christian nation? Is there even such a thing. God only called out one nation as his own and that was Israel.)Instead maybe we are a Pre Christian society and the next Johnathan Edwards or Billy Graham is the tattooed biker guy living a hard life who has yet to taste living waters.
In the end, God did not promise to build the American church but HIS church. It is time to exercise our voice, declare our convictions with kindness and move Onward.
Thinking About Theology 