by Jenni Zeuli
Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture is a timely book for all Christians to read! Author Natasha Crain does an excellent job describing various worldviews, biblical discernment, and how to share the hope of Christ.
The book is split into four parts and begins with some startling statistics about Christianity. For example, according to a 2017 study conducted by the American Culture and Faith Institute, only 10% of all Americans have a biblical worldview. But don’t let that low number dishearten you – there is much hope for our future and a lot we can do to raise this percentage. Crain does an excellent job deconstructing current myths that seem to be the new “normal” in our society and offers practical advice on how to respond in a loving manner. She has done extensive research and describes ways Christians need to be discerning even within the church, as many churches have strayed away from the truth of the Bible. She tackles all the tough topics and doesn’t shy away from controversy.
Crain describes what faithfully different believing, thinking, and living are. She writes, “Christianity isn’t only about what we believe or only about what we do, but rather, about having a relationship with Jesus that leads to a life generously poured out for others.” So while she explains current culture and gives some warnings, she also calls us to be the best version of ourselves and really live out the truth of the Gospel. In every chapter she quotes the Bible and relates it to our everyday lives. She recounts how Paul boldly yet lovingly spoke God’s truth to help turn people away from their sin. He didn’t ignore their sin or tell them to just believe their own truth, but cautioned those about God’s judgment since there only is one Truth! It is important for us to seek opportunities to share the love and hope of Jesus with those around us. The Bible needs to be our guide for moral and justice standards, not the latest trend or our own individual ideas of good versus evil.
I learned so much from this book and I highly recommend it for all to read! Even though there seem to be so many changes in our current culture, Crain writes it best when she responds, “Christians with a biblical worldview, however, must remain clear that God’s moral standards never change because they’re based on His unchanging character.” How grateful we can be that we can glean wisdom from God’s Word, and we can in turn share this hope for all to see!
Jenni Zeuli and her husband John have lived in Rochester since 2007 and are new to Calvary. They have five children (Brandon, Connor, Kjersten, Ella and Roman) and love to stay active. Jenni is a teacher at Schaeffer Academy and enjoys reading, socializing, scuba diving, and volunteering.