The relationship between Christianity and American culture is not what it once was. Christians were once considered the moral majority in America, but times are changing. More than ever before, to be a follower of Jesus in America is to be a minority in America.
 
How should we respond to this culture-shift as followers of Christ? If it seems that America doesn’t want to have anything to do with the church, does that mean that the church should give up on America? It is that difficult, and frequently asked, question that Russell Moore seeks to answer in his latest book: Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel.
 
As Christianity appears increasingly strange to the culture around us, Moore wants us to know that  we shouldn't panic or give up. Rather, we should embrace the "strangeness" and let the power of the gospel shine for itself in all of it's counter-cultural glory.   
 
Moore writes, "I think the future of the church is incandescently bright. That’s not because of promises made at Independence Hall, but a promise made at Caesarea Philippi—'I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matt. 16:18). I believe that promise because I believe the One who spoke those words is alive, and moving history toward his reign."
 
This book biblically and skillfully helps believers to see this current culture shift through the lens of God's coming Kingdom and in view of Jesus' inevitable reign over all of His creation. Our end goal is not a culture that holds merely to Christian values, but a culture that surrenders itself to the Christian gospel. 
 
This book is a relevant and timely resource that I highly recommend. Moore is a respected and widely-sought cultural commentator who writes out of a wealth of experience in politics and pastoral ministry, but most importantly, he writes out of his desire to see unbelieving people become committed followers of Jesus Christ. Open up this book and be reminded that the Kingdom is coming, and that we are called to engage our culture as strangers who boldly proclaim Jesus as the King.

You can pick up your copy of Onward at Books by the Park. For more book recommendations to help you build your personal library, please visit our website.

About the Author
Russell Moore is President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the moral concerns and public policy entity of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. He is a frequent cultural commentator, an ethicist and theologian by background, and an ordained Southern Baptist minister. A native Mississippian, he and his wife Maria are the parents of five sons.

About the Reviewer
Dan Schillero has been a pastor at Parkside since 2013. He is happily married to Emily and they are eagerly expecting the arrival of their first child in March! When they aren't debating baby names, they love to go on walks, explore Cleveland, and discover new restaurants.