Title: How Now Shall We Live? Author: Charles W.
Colson
First published September 1, 1999
656 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780842355889 (ISBN10: 084235588X)
Rating: 4.11
Overview
How Now Shall We Live? by Charles W.
Colson, the winner of the prestigious 2000 Gold Medallion Award, is a book that goes beyond personal faith and explores Christianity as a worldview. This book offers a profound understanding of basic questions like where we come from and what has gone wrong with the world.
It also shows us how to live in accordance with the worldview we believe in. With this book, Christians will learn how to confront the world’s flawed worldviews and restore every aspect of contemporary culture.
From family to education, work, law, politics, science, art, and music, this book provides the tools and confidence to redeem and transform every aspect of life. How Now Shall We Live?
is a must-read that will change the way every Christian sees the world and will revolutionize the church in the new millennium.
About the Author
Charles W. Colson, a former aide to President Richard Nixon, was known as the White House “hatchet man.” He was feared by even the most powerful politicians during his four years of service to Nixon.
However, in 1973, news of Colson’s conversion to Christianity leaked to the press. The Boston Globe reported, “If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everybody.” Colson entered a plea of guilty to Watergate-related charges in 1974 and voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Daniel Ellsberg Case.
He served seven months of a one- to three-year sentence in Alabama’s Maxwell Prison as a new Christian and the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges.
After leaving prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976. It has since become the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families.
He remains a member of the board of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Colson is also a sought-after speaker and has written more than 30 books, collectively selling more than 5 million copies.
His most recent book, The Faith, is a powerful appeal to the Church to re-embrace the foundational truths of Christianity.
In 1991, Colson launched BreakPoint, a unique radio commentary that provides a Christian perspective on today’s news and trends. BreakPoint is currently aired weekdays to more than 1,300 outlets nationwide that reach an estimated 2 million listeners.
Today, Colson is focused on developing other Christian leaders who can influence the culture and their communities through their faith. The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, an online research and training center launched in 2009, is the capstone of this effort.
Colson collaborated with other Christian ministries to write the Manhattan Declaration in 2009, which calls on Christians to defend the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom. Nearly half a million people have signed the Manhattan Declaration.
BreakPoint aims to launch other ecumenical grassroots movements around moral and ethical issues of great concern. Colson has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Templeton Prize for progress in religion in 1993.
Editoral Review
In “How Now Shall We Live?” by Charles W. Colson, the author explores the question of how Christians should live in modern society.
Colson, a former Nixon aide who became a born-again Christian after serving time in prison for Watergate-related crimes, is a prominent figure in conservative Christian circles. In this book, he argues that Christians need to be more engaged in society and culture, and that they should work to transform the world around them.
The book is part of a genre of Christian literature known as “worldview” or “cultural analysis.” It seeks to provide a Christian perspective on contemporary issues, ranging from politics and economics to art and entertainment. Colson’s writing is clear and straightforward, and he makes his arguments with conviction and passion.
The book is organized into chapters that focus on different aspects of modern life, such as family, education, and the media.
Colson’s central argument is that Christians need to be more involved in shaping culture, rather than simply retreating from it. He cites examples of Christian leaders who have made a difference in their fields, such as William Wilberforce, who helped to abolish slavery in Britain, and Mother Teresa, who worked to alleviate poverty in India.
Colson also critiques secular worldviews that he believes are harmful, such as relativism and materialism.
The book is filled with examples and anecdotes that illustrate Colson’s points. He draws from a wide range of sources, including literature, history, and current events.
He also quotes extensively from the Bible, making a case for the relevance of its teachings in today’s world.
One of the strengths of the book is Colson’s emphasis on the importance of culture. He argues that culture shapes people’s beliefs and values, and that Christians need to be involved in creating a culture that reflects their faith.
This is a powerful and persuasive argument, and Colson makes it with conviction and clarity.
However, the book also has some weaknesses. For one, it can be repetitive at times, with Colson making the same points over and over again.
Additionally, some readers may find his arguments overly simplistic or one-sided. Colson tends to see the world in black and white terms, with little room for nuance or complexity.
Overall, “How Now Shall We Live?” is a valuable contribution to the Christian worldview genre. It is well-written and persuasive, with a clear message that will resonate with many readers.
While it may not be for everyone, those who are interested in engaging with contemporary culture from a Christian perspective will find much to appreciate in this book.
I recommend this book to Christian readers who are looking for guidance on how to engage with contemporary culture. It is also suitable for those who are interested in the intersection of faith and society.
While it is not a perfect book, it is a powerful and thought-provoking one that is well worth reading.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
