Life in the Negative World
Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture. By Aaron Renn
Much has been written from the Christian perspective about the reality of moral decay in the West, specifically the moral decay of America. From blogs and articles to books and podcasts, the problem facing Christians today is well-attested, and the diagnosis is precise. But what good is a diagnosis without a treatment plan and a prognosis? Suppose Christians are going to do more than hand-wringing. In that case, we need a plan and a vision for how to thrive in this new environment, and this is what Aaron Renn seeks to provide in his book Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture.
Aaron clarifies that he is not a preacher nor a pastor but has been shaped by Christianity and is an astute observer of society and culture. Therefore, readers should not expect a Bible exegesis or a well-defined Biblical Theology on cultural engagement. Instead, readers will find that Aaron has successfully acted like the men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what the people of God ought to do (1 Chron 12:32), something which preachers and laity alike should strive for.
In Part 1, Aaron begins by putting forth his framework for understanding how the view of Christianity has changed over the last 30 years, which he defines as Positive World (pre-1994), Neutral World (1994-2014), and Negative World (2014-present). He then talks about how Christianity has sought to implement strategies for engaging each of the worlds within the framework. Parts 2, 3, and 4 work out the plan for engaging the Negative World. First, internalize them personally (becoming obedient, excellent, and resilient). Then, we can externalize the strategy through institutions (institutional integrity, community strength, ownership). After internalizing the strategies personally, externalizing them through institutions, the last part considers engaging the cultural missionally (be a light, a source of truth, and prudentially engaged).
This book is accessible and timely for all Christians who want to know how we have arrived at the problem and get practical help navigating the choppy waters of our day.
- Matt Schiesser
