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Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity

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Michael Craven's Uncompromised Faith is an absolute must-read for all who desire to biblically and thoughtfully engage today's culture. Craven is a powerful communicator; his meticulous research and respectful tone throughout give his voice the right to be heard, regardless of one's perspective. Craven contends that the biblical worldview is not only still extremely relevant, but is actually ignored at one's own deep peril. He wades into some of today's most heavily debated issues--the effects of modernism and postmodernism on the church and culture, the ongoing heritage of the sexual revolution of the `60s, the nature of marriage, and more. Craven's work is profound in that it shares the legacy of another clear voice that in a previous time dared to face the deafening din of the cheering masses and calmly utter the words, "The emperor has no clothes!"

Craven's work is unique in its content, but also in its tone. Sadly, too many books have been written on these topics which ultimately fail to contribute anything of value to anyone. These books tend to fall to either of these two extremes: complete capitulation to cultural values or angry denouncements of any and all opposing points of view. Craven intentionally avoids the insipid stupidity of bumper sticker slogans or the thoughtless wrath of vitriolic placards. Uncompromised Faith refuses to compromise on biblical truth, the merit of research, the importance of love, or the need for compassion. Its overall message is a simple one: the gospel compels Christians to engage the culture for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I am one of the leaders of ministry that is designed to disciple emerging Christian leaders. As a result, I am constantly engaged in conversations with young, eager brothers and sisters who are desperate to understand not only how to act and live, but also how to think, dialogue, and engage as a CHRISTIAN. Uncompromised Faith is absolutely one of the top five books I recommend.

The emphasis of Craven's book is the "culturalized Christianity" and he provides great insight into how our country and Christianity in the West have slid down a slippery slope into the abyss of irrelevance. Craven addresses the effects of modernity as well as postmodernism, and also touches on cultural factors such as consumerism and then nails home the impact that our sex-saturated culture has had on the church and our communities. The book ends with a brief "What are we to do?" chapter, but the meat of the book lies in the clarion call to Christians that there is, indeed, a problem at hand...the book is a wake-up call, an alarm, a cup of scalding hot coffee spilled into the lap of an unassuming Christian who thinks that singing camp-fire songs with his youth group is going to prepare him for the onslaught that he'll face on a college campus and beyond!

If you read the book and are still at a loss for what you can and should do to combat this "culturalized Christianity," go back to the quote that Craven cites at the end of his chapter on Consumerism - he writes that G.K. Chesterton once observed, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been difficult and left untried." Craven joins the chorus of those pastor warriors (Chesterton, Schaeffer, Bonhoeffer and Henry) as well as some contemporary writers (namely Piper, Guinness, Colson, White and Mohler) who believe that a Christian's responsibility is to engage the culture for Christ; not to avoid the fray, but to enter into the marketplace of ideas armed with truth and the gospel of Christ.

S. Michael Craven has written a gem of a book that should be read by all who profess to be Christians. He realizes that all Christians today are being bombarded on all sides from those who seek to tear down Christianity and those who believe in the One True God.

In Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming our Culturalized Christianity the reader embarks on a journey as to why Christians are selling out and no longer living their faith. The fact of materialism, consumerism and modernism makes it harder and harder to live like Jesus. We want what we want and we want it now - who cares who gets hurt. This in turn creates more problems that we as a society have to deal with.

It is painful to see the Christ's church touting so much of the world's beliefs and living them. Divorce is rampant even among Christians, homosexuality is accepted and becoming the norm, abortion is legalized, other religions are slowly infiltrating into our churches and of course, there is no gender differences, co-habitation and premarital sex are okay. This is what the world wants everyone to believe. The church is buying into it because we don't know how to stand up against it or how to refute it. Of course there is also the risk of persecution, of which our Brothers and Sisters in other cultures and times have suffered because of their uncompromised faith in Christ.

Mr. Craven gets to the heart of the matter by discussing with well documented research, quotes from both the Christian side and the opposing side, he makes it understood why Christians need to stand up and say no more compromising! The plague of worldliness and new age philosophies are tearing Christ's churches down and are misleading those inside them. The end of the book gives ideas on what we do to help with fixing these problems both within the churches and also in our daily lives. It isn't just about saying we're Christian, it's about letting others see Jesus in us through our lives, our speech, our interactions - it's about doing!

This was a heavy read, which isn't a bad thing, it took time to mull over what S. Michael Craven was writing about in Uncompromised Faith. That is what is needed though, not some mealy mouth anecdote but meaty resources that will revive our churches and will have God present in them and in our lives!

John 1:14 tells us that Jesus came "full of grace and truth." The challenge for the church today is to be like Christ as we engage the world full of grace yet uncompromising in truth. It is to that end that Craven's book provides a helpful tool.

Uncompromised Faith is divided into two parts. Part 1 is a look at how we got here: an overview of the development of cultural thought and philosophy over the last couple of centuries and how they shaped the way Americans think. While a good introduction to such broad concepts, two major flaws bothered me. First, Craven seems to over-glorify the past. In attempting to show how the moral decay in America, he paints an overly rosy picture of days gone by. The church in each generation has faced its own challenges. Second, the title of chapter 4 is "Consumerism: Idolatry is Alive and Well!" Now, the problem was that he never addressed the idolatrous nature of consumerism. He did talk about its false hopes and ability to deceive, but never returned to the problem of idolatry. The chapter title was very good and I was disappointed he never explored the depths of the theme he introduced.

The real strength of the book comes in Part 2 where Craven investigates a few central themes, especially gender and sexuality issues, that provide major challenges to the church in the coming years. With a useful review of relevant literature and research, Craven reveals the misconceptions that have shaped cultural thought and calls the church back to the biblical normative. Then, most helpfully, Craven concludes each discussion with a few practical suggestions for how to live out the biblical precepts to which he calls us.

Though I have a couple of reservations (listed above), Uncompromised Faith is a great resource for Christians longing to engage sensitive issues with both grace and truth.

I've been reading S. Michael Craven's newsletters for a long time now. He takes on thorny and contentious issues in Christianity and writes about them with thoughtful clarity and compassion. His first book, Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity, shows the same intelligence and passion I have come to expect from his other writings. Despite tackling hot-button issues that usually inspire strident rhetoric--for example, homosexuality and same-sex marriage--Craven almost always presents well-reasoned arguments without shrillness. Even when he sinks to ad hominem attacks, such as linking Carl Jung to Hitler and the Nazis, he forgoes lurid and inflammatory language. He writes about Jung's pseudo-scientific spirituality:

The popularity of the Volkish movement, with its foundational concept of an Aryan elite, actually may have contributed to the preconditions necessary for the rise of Nazism in Germany. One scholar wrote, "By 1933 the German right was captured by Volkish ideas. It was a trend in German thought that became so strong that millions accepted it as the only solution to Germany's problems." Jung was regarded as an important proponent of Volkish thinking, a connection that many followers of Jung have worked hard to conceal, for obvious reasons.

It's hard to find a Christian writer today who can write any kind of cultural critique without invoking the Nazis. They are to us what demons were to Jesus' contemporaries. At least Craven sticks to references that have a plausible connection.

Craven identifies three isms--modernism, postmodernism, and consumerism--that in his view have most hindered the spread of the gospel and the effectiveness of the church in America. His book is unconcerned with the global impact of efforts in the American church to spread the gospel beyond the United States; he instead tackles the obvious decline in Christian influence in the public sphere in America. He does not mean political influence but cultural influence. The Christian right may have a stranglehold on the Republican party, but Christianity--right or left--certainly has little influence in Hollywood or Wall Street.

The book is long on critique but short on solutions. Craven identifies the cultural and ideological trends that have most harmed the effectiveness of the church, but he offers little as an effective strategy for combating those trends. Nevertheless, he provides a good start, and those who give serious thought to where the American church will be in 40 years should read this book. For the United States has been overtaken by a modern form of paganism, characterized by a diffuse belief in an impersonal God, confidence in progress, suspicion of history, and radical self-reliance.

Craven is not alone in his judgment that America is becoming increasingly pagan. Eccentric art critic Dave Hickey writes in a recent article,

Citizens of ancient Rome made sacrifices at the temple of the god most likely to find them a mate or cure erectile dysfunction. We Americans conflate the shops of Rome with its temples. We shop for dreams in galleries and boutiques-and every cent we pay for an object that exceeds its utility may be taken as a pagan sacrifice to the power of that specific object to lend us some assistance.

No wonder Craven calls consumerism idolatry. In America where do we turn in a time of crisis? What will save us from an economic tailspin? Shopping! When the politicos and pundits tells us our salvation will come when we break out the credit cards and cash and head to the nearest retail outlet, then we know we are no longer a nation that trusts in God, despite what it says on our currency. An earlier generation would have repented (or at least been urged to repent) of avarice. But now avarice, no longer a vice, is our greatest virtue--as long as it's a democratic avarice and not elitist like those AIG bigwigs who reaped obscene windfalls after gutting their own company.

The promise of the subtitle is that readers would learn to overcome their culturalized Christianity. The book certainly helps with recognizing how our culture has not only influenced but actually subverted the message of the gospel, but it does little to help us overcome this subversion. For that we may have to wait for a prophet with more fire in his belly.

In "Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity" apologist S. Michael Craven posits that Christians have become so conformed to our culture that we have ceased to have significant meaningful impact on the world for Christ. Craven calls on Christians to understand the ways in which we are influenced by our times, and choose instead to be counter-cultural, not merely for the sake of being "different" or as an anachronistic throw-back, but as a witness to the transforming power of the Gospel. Condemning the widespread anti-intellectualism of Western Christianity, Craven points out that in 1 Peter 3:15 Christians are commanded to understand our culture in order to engage it, and suggests that the command in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "take every thought captive" is not merely a recommendation for personal holiness, but also a charge to understand the philosophies and beliefs that keep others from knowledge of the truth.

The first part of Craven's book examines the ideas that permeate our culture and how those affect the way Christians see the world as well. I imagine that most Christians would find quite a few points of conviction in the chapters on the philosophies of modernism and post-modernism, as well as (or perhaps most particularly) the one on consumerism. Craven challenges readers to consider how (if at all) our ways of thinking and making decisions differ from those who do not believe in Christ. He points out that in many ways our thinking is shaped by cultural influences more than God's word. I found the first section of the book to be the stronger of the two parts, and wish that Craven had expanded on his conclusions in the first section rather than tacking on the second.

The second part of the book deals with social issues and movements that Christians don't explain very well or don't understand well enough to really be like Christ in that situation. The section was a good overview of several issues, but didn't seem to fit as closely with the stated focus of the book (overcoming our culturalized Christianity) and I felt that in most cases those issues are dealt with well and at greater length and depth in other sources. I don't think Craven necessarily got anything wrong in his second section, but again I don't feel it was as strong as the first part, or even really necessary to his thesis.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for the strength of the first section.

I would highly recommend this book! Mr. Craven does an exceptional job at communicating where our society has been, where we are currently, and where we will continue to go given the track we are upon. He uses a similar approach as Dr. Francis Schaeffer in his portrayal of the Western nations philosophically, morally and religiously - a systematic look at the present, how we arrived at such a place and the logical continuation of where will take us in the future. He uses a lot of statistics, which can seem laborious at times, though essential to his thesis. He does a great job at making the connection to many moral issues of our time and how our worldview in the West (and America particularly) has significantly declined bringing us to unprecedented moral lows. He doesn't deconstruct our predicament and leave us feeling hopeless, rather, he sheds light on what needs to begin changing in order for this generation and the next to begin to influence the cultures in which we live and stop standing on the sidelines. If you are looking for a good overview of where we are philosophically, morally and how we have come to such a place this is a great book to read. I would also recommend "Can Man Live Without God?" by Ravi Zacherias.

This hard-hitting book is a must read for anyone who is interested in engaging today's culture with the gospel. Craven pulls no punches from the very beginning. Less than 2 ½ pages in he says:

"In comparison with past achievements, it is safe to say that evangelical Christianity is in a pathetic state of decadence and decline in the West. It is, to a large degree, fragmented, watered down, and retreating from relevancy"

Craven then goes on to discuss some very important and even some controversial cultural and social issues including postmodernism, homosexuality, marriage and feminism. As part of his discussion of these topics, Craven does a great job in offering solutions to the problems. In his discussion on postmodernism he offers this advice:

"The evangelical opportunity created by postmodernism lies in the resultant desire for recovering a connectedness to other people and to spiritual meaning."

While this book can be looked at by many as controversial, I think it is a much needed call to action for Christians who are looking for a way to get out on the front lines and make a difference. In the Epilogue, titled "What Are We To Do?, Craven offers these words:

"...retreat is not an option the Lord has given to us. God, in His providence, has placed you and me in this very place, in this very time, and the call of Jesus Christ remains Follow me!"

If you're looking for culturally relevant and scripturally based answers to many of today's cultural and social issues, this book is for you.

The basic question for this book is "Has your faith become irrelevant?" I of course responded with a very animated "absolutely not." That is, until I read this book. As I read the book, I became more and more solemn, as I realized how passive our culture has become and how I have let this passivity create itself in me without argument or fight.

Craven caught my attention on page 21 when he said, "We have traded in Milton's Paradise Lost for Left Behind, the arias of Bach for contemporary Christian music, and Rembrandt for Thomas Kinkade...what passes for Christian art and literature today fails to rise to the same level of quality and achievement as that of historical Christian artists and writers." Craven goes on to discuss how are culture has changed and how we have allowed it to happen. He goes on to discuss how we have relied on our own understanding, not on God. He also discuss the modern and postmodern era and how it has effected Christianity.

The second half of the book was based on social ideas that have influenced Christianity, including sexualized culture, homosexuality, marriage, feminism, and New Age Spirituality. Every chapter was well researched (and made me want to read his resources). He used statistics without becoming boring or choppy. I caught myself highlighting line after line or making comments out to the side to share with friends.

This book was filled with facts, statistics, and resources, yet it read very fluidly. I was never overwhelmed with the information and wanted to keep reading chapter after chapter.

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in apologetics, social issues and how they effect Christians, and/or cultural changes.
Posted by lindsey at 9:28 AM

"But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone ask you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (GW)

"Research reveals that Christianity in America has become more diluted, more distorted, and less Christ-like with each subsequent generation," Josh McDowell writes. "So severe is the crisis that I dared to proclaim that if something serious does not occur in the life of the church, we may be witnessing the last Christian generation in America."

"Historically, Christians have been formidable in projecting this new and true interpretation of reality [the transformational shift in our conceptions of reality, self, human nature, knowledge, morality, and ethics] into every aspect of American life and culture," S. Michael Craven offers, "not by political coercion but through intellectual influence, missional activity, and compassionate outreach." But, in today's culture, where a candidate can be elected President through 'inclusive and universal' change even by those who claim Christianity as their religion, such formability has become systematically reduced to "religious ritual and personal piety."

As the world has become increasingly intolerant of its views and its mission, the Church has withdrawn into its beautiful buildings and subcultured language, symbols, and literature. It has strayed away from the very calling of its mission and ill-equipped those daring enough to venture into the culture of deprived and sinful world. It has become a victim of the culture, influences, and worldview of a society it was supposed to save.

S Michael Craven, president of The Center for Christ and Culture, is considered to be one of the leading cultural apologists in the modern world and offers those daring enough to engage in discussion a thought-provoking and challenging look on the crisis facing the movement started by Jesus Christ and the ineffectiveness of modern Christianity in meeting that commission given in his book Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity.

"Empty-headed evangelism," Craven believes, is the "dumbed down Christian theology" that has created a generation of Christians who are afraid to engage in the hard questions that society uses to silence the witness of the followers of Christ, prevents effective discipleship, and has created a world where the immoral views of humanism are dominant. He calls for a renewed, biblical form of engagement in the battle for the lost souls of the world, in an effective and culturally changing mindset.

Missional apologetics.

A way of engaging the culture in a way that historical apologetics (classical, presuppositional, and evidential) has failed to do. In "addressing the ideas or ideological influences common to a given culture," and recognizing "social issues and their underlying ideas or worldviews," missional Christianity becomes more of a "rescue force that is determined to stay until all are rescued" instead of a hit-and-run commando force that is only here to harass the enemy forces.

"The missional Christian presses into the world wherever he or she is," Craven defines this 'new', highly trained warrior. "and pushes back the darkness with the love of Christ."

In Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity, Craven not only challenges us to learn the way to effectively engage the culture that we have unknowingly allowed to affect our faith but he offers thought-provoking arguments on how those influences have brought a once effective and life changing reality to the former shadow of itself.

Post-enlightenment, postmodernism, and the persuasive consumerism of American culture have allowed "social acceptance of false moral perspectives" as culturized Christians have become increasingly unable to "articulate meaningful, rational, and compelling reasons" for the Gospel message of morality. Only 4% of American Christians use a biblical worldview as a basis for decisions, and even that worldview is more of an espousing of Christian tenets rather than a framework for 'analyzing, evaluating, and guiding' one's lifestyle.

Craven describes this necessity of having a "Christian philosophy of life....where men understand all of reality and its nature in connection with the revealed Word of God" for the effective engagement of a culture and society that has become increasingly anti-Christian. In looking at the effects of modernity and modernism, postmodernism, and consumerism upon our faith, Craven calls us to 'represent the Kingdom of God' through "distinct community...and serving the world through compassion and mercy in meeting humanity's needs and being just."

Reading his book, we are taken upon a journey of understanding the cultural influences and how they have changed the biblical context of God's grace, mercy and glory. We are offered a restoring and effective way to rejoin that unique and achievable goal of being part of God's redemptive work in a world gone crazy by understanding how the morality of our faith has been suborned by secularism. Craven looks at the cultural influences of our modern times, the social issues that plaster the landscape of American society, and calls us to engage that culture through 'demonstrating the reign of God within...authenticating community" with understanding and love.

"If we want to overcome our Culturalized Christianity to worship and serve the King of Kings; we must recover this broader understanding of our mission as Christians in the world. We must learn to properly analyze and intelligently engage the culture, and we must interact with each other and the world in a spirit of grace, love and charity."

Far from emergent, universal, and New Age spirituality movements that disengage God from life, Craven offers a means of understanding and being effective as believers in the cultural influences of our age with the effectiveness of Paul, the compassion of Peter, and the ultimate reality-changing and life-giving impact of Jesus Christ.

I would recommend picking up a copy of Craven's book and challenge you to develop an 'uncompromised faith.'