Being Christian After Christendom: Where Are We? How Did We Get Here? What Went Wrong? What is the Solution?

The social landscape has radically changed over the past 50 years. Christians were once respected, sought out, and trusted. Now we are blamed, marginalised, and viewed with suspicion. In this book, David explains what, how and why this has happened, in a way that the average person can understand. He begins with Christendom, where both christians and non-christian held shared beliefs and values. He explains the church's role, and how evangelism and discipleship worked in that era. He then tracks the changes that have occurred, and clarifies what and why things are now different. His explanations are insightful, broad in their reach, illustrated by real-life examples, and woven together so that readers can see the patterns in the new landscape. Many sense these changes, and assume that churches must be to blame, and that our world is falling apart - that things are getting worse. David is not just a pessimist; his answer is not to go back to the good old days. Instead, he has some practical suggestions about how we can be 21st-century christians called to reach the 21st-century West. This is not the only book in this space, but it is perhaps the most grounded, readable and yet serious attempt to describe where we are, what has happened, and the solution. If you are looking for a thoughtful overview of what is going on in our world and how this relates to being a Christian in a local church, this book is a great introduction.