good overview of issues that Christians need to discuss

There is so much going on in the world today, that it’s pretty hard to figure out which side of the argument you’re on. And it’s especially difficult for Christians who have to balance the gospel, the laws of the country, and wanting to be on the side of social justice.  Pastor Tim Keller recently tweeted the following: “How do Christians fit into the two-party system? They don’t. The historical Christian positions on social issues don’t match up with contemporary political alignments.”

                And it almost seems that Bruce Riley Ashford might have been thinking somewhat along those same lines as he wrote Letters to an American Christian (B&H Books, 2018). Ashford is a professor of theology and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, so one can’t help but enjoy the whimsy as this book is shaped in the form of letters to Christian, a young college student and a new believer, who has written to a professor asking for help sorting through things of this crazy world in which we live.

                Although Bruce, as the professor signs his letters, leans decidedly to the right on political issues, he bases his convictions on scripture rather than emotion or “fake news” as the press frequently gets called. And unfortunately, it seems the majority of Washington politicians, on both sides, tend to rely on rhetoric and emotion to make their case. After all when you have rhetoric, emotion and public opinion on your side, why worry about the facts.

                But as Ashford correctly points out, in the post-modern, post-Christian, post-truth culture in which we find ourselves today, there is still a voice of reason to be heard. So we read about hot-button topics like the relationship between religion and politics, the relationship between Christianity and culture, religious liberty, Roe v Wade, free speech, the role of the Supreme Court, gun rights, same sex marriage, immigration, environment, and the list goes on.

                Each of the issues addressed in this book merit several volumes on their own, so I am greatly appreciative of the condensed version provided. I consider myself a moderate, leaning toward the right, so I for the most part agreed with Dr Ashford. Having said that, I am also grateful that he often presented a synopsis of the other side so that Christian could look at both points of view and make up his own mind.

                I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a brief look at some the topics that are burning up the airwaves day after day.

                This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a review. My review is submitted as a part of the publisher’s blogger’s program. There was no requirement or expectation that I would write a positive review.

                4/5