How Now Shall We Live

Charles Colson and coauthor Nancy Pearcey have teamed up to compose an excellent work about worldviews and how a Christian is to live in our society with a consistent Christian worldview. Colson worked in Nixon administration and was involved in the Watergate Scandal. Since becoming a Christian, he has had an excellent prison ministry around the world. Pearcey, herself, is well experienced in worldview discussions, and add much insight to this book.

The authors break their book down into five parts. The first part discusses the importance of having a world view. One major emphasis here is that Christianity itself is a worldview, and therefore believers must understand what it is they believe so that they can impact the culture with Christ. Also, as the rest of the book will reveal, the Christian worldview is the only worldview that stands up to test of truth, experience, and impact. That is why this book is so important.

The second part concerns creation. In order for a Christian to stand in a world of worldviews, people must understand where they came from. Darwin’s theory of natural selection has had massive implications. Everyone’s worldview derives from this critical issue. Colson manages to destroy the theory of evolution, and instead, reveal the truths of the Genesis account of God creating things ex nihilo. Creation is the foundation on which we must build our worldview.

Thirdly, what’s wrong with the world? Christians call this the fall. The authors reveal how the world has tried to create a utopian idea of this fallen world, claiming that man is ultimately good. Instead, one should understand that man is naturally evil, and only the grace of God can lead him to do good. Also, why is there evil and suffering in the world? The author’s answer is simple and precise: because the earth is infested with sin.

Fourthly, how can we fix this problem? There have many attempts at solving this riddle. The authors mention things such as sex, science, and the new age movement. All of these are unable to solve the question at hand. For example, science and evolution only lead to despair because it shows that there is no hope. The Christian on the other hand, knows the answer to the riddle: Jesus Christ. This is the only thing that can redeem the individual and the society.

Finally, how do we restore society using this worldview? This is the longest and the most practical of the five sections. The authors provide several areas in which Christians can be involved in to change our culture. They include education, politics, sex, true science, crime, media, and many other things. In order to impact our society, we must be infectious in these institutions. And, as they reveal, the way to solve these issues is found only in the Christian worldview.

In terms of critical evaluation, I am very impressed with this work by Colson and Pearcey. Throughout its pages, they not only reveal what the Christian worldview is, but show how Christians can impact our culture. No page is wasted and should go unread.
One of my favorite sections of the book concerned creation. In my opinion, the authors build a strong case against evolution. They reveal the inconsistencies, both scientific and logic. But in addiction to that, they show how a denial of Intelligent Design really shapes a person’s worldview. Everything they believe in begins at creation, thus, showing how critical it is for the
Christian to know what the Bible says about this issue.

Also, I liked the discussion on redemption. The two authors manage to reveal the futility of our societies attempt at solving the problem. People like Kinsey try doing it by sex, whereas many others try to do so by science, which only leads to despair. As a result of these futile attempts, many have turned to Eastern thought and the New Age movement, but even these are futile.
Only the Christian worldview has the power of redemption.

Overall, like Total Truth this is a must read for all Christians. It will help them understand what they believe, and how they can impact their culture. One important note they make is that even one Christian can have a major impact in our society. It is not only theological and logical, but it is also practical, reaching the heart at the real issues in our society.