Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval

Mark Sayers tackles the current state of social and cultural unrest and chaos. He pulls instances from the past, examines how they helped develop the present, and shines a biblical light on both in an attempt to explain the world we are currently living in. He also cites many authors and scholars in order to highlight the current climate through a biblical lens.

The book is divided into three parts, and it flows nicely as each chapter builds on the previous one. Here are a few key points and sections I enjoyed and found especially relevant:

1. Discussion of the entitlement mentality and tolerance

2. Chapter 5 discusses non-places and the emergence of smartphones and the withdrawal from society

3. Chapter 9 discusses the role of the church as it relates to society and spiritual warfare

4. Chapter 12 compare two views of our exile, outlining some issues with a pre-Christ view and calling us instead to a post-ascension view.

5. Chapter 13 seeks to answer these questions: How do we live lives of quiet, holy protest against the elemental forces? How do we transgress the boundaries of this world and give our neighbors a glimpse of the world to come?

I would recommend this book to all Christians, especially those seeking a biblical explanation and understanding of the strange days we live in. I received this as a free ARC from Moody Publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredibly well-written book, culturally savvy, and full of truly fascinating insights. If you're wondering what's actually wrong with an age of expressive individualism and achievement culture, look no further. Thankfully, Sayers keeps it real and returns the reader to the centuries old contours of orthodoxy and life in the Spirit, the true exile for a people seeking true human flourishing.

Life is chaotic. From the politics of the day and culture wars raging, Mark Sayers attempts to make sense of the days we find ourselves in. The book is divided into three main sections: Biblical Pattern of Chaos; Historical Pattern of Chaos; and Life Re-Patterned in the Spirit. One point the author made stuck with me when he said, "Westerners affirm they value equality, diversity, and freedom, but we don't realize that these things do not necessarily act in concert. Equality of opportunity is different from equality of outcome. Communism drove toward equality or outcome and in the process freedom."

These times challenge Christians to live lives sharing the love of Christ to all we come in contact with and to remember that God is with us in the days ahead. There is peace and hope amid the chaos of our days.

I received this book from Moody Publishers for this review.

Overall I enjoyed Strange Days. It is a helpful look at the current cultural state of affairs and how to think about things biblically. The author provides a nice wide global look at world events in his examination and his overall message is hopeful and reassuring that God's sovereignty is intact and His kingdom will continue to advance and reign. I will say that the book was not always organized in a way that made it easy to follow the author's train of thought. Overall, however, it's a hopeful and helpful look at God's continued rule even in a world that seems to be more chaotic by the day.

This book is fantastic! The author addresses current, challenging, and prevalent issues our culture faces today. His use of current events to illustrate his points is artistic and easy to follow. While his vocabulary and writing style can be intellectual and challenging at times, the information is so interesting that I pushed through it anyway!

Sayers divides his book into three sections to help explain the chaotic world we live in. The first addresses the Biblical pattern of chaos. As early as Genesis, we see the brokenness within the world: murder, pride, and a myriad of other downfalls characteristic of our world even today. Sayers explains where we see chaos in culture even within early Biblical times. In the second section, he addresses the historical pattern of chaos. We so often believe that our time in history is unique- unlike any time before. And while in some aspects this is true, overall the chaos we see in our world today is nothing new. The author takes this section to look over this pattern of chaos we see throughout more modern history. And in the final section, the reader learns about how to live practically in this fallen and chaotic world. Sayers does a sort of commentary through Galatians and offers the solution to be living in step with the Holy Spirit on a day to day basis. The only way to overcome this time of upheaval is to allow the Spirit to work in the life of the believer...utilizing a life characterized by the love of Christ to draw others into a relationship with Him.

I will definitely read this book again. In fact, I highlighted something on nearly every page. I loved the author's emphasis on living a life guided by the Spirit! In a time where even on campus I meet students from different spiritual backgrounds or students who have walked away from God, this book does a wonderful job of helping explain to someone the brokenness of the world and the way that Christ will indeed overcome it!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!*

This world is changing faster than anyone could possibly imagine. What makes it more disconcerting is the weird events happening around us that make it challenging to understand. Anyone who hears people saying this world is becoming a better place ought to seek out a second opinion. There are security fears over terrorism. Economic turmoil seems to be the norm. The role of media has changed from factual reporting to public opinions. The more sensational it is, the better. With the improvements in transportation technology and communications advancements come the increased global movement and immigration. The previously despised Hitler regime is slowly rearing its ugly head through radical groups. How do we find our spiritual bearings during such tumultuous times? Mark Sayers, cultural observer and critic helps us with this helpful road map to understanding and engaging the complex culture we live in. In a three part manner, he leads us through the biblical, the historical, and the alternative paths on what we can do in this time of upheaval.

First, he covers the biblical pattern of chaos, stressing that what we are experiencing today is not new. Throughout history, people have a need to create places and spaces for themselves. Since the days of Eden when men were banished from the sacred Garden, they have been trying to build that place for themselves. Refusing to accept their sufficiency and the kingship of God, this rebellion has not gone away. In fact, the reason for the climate of discontent and restlessness is the unfulfilled desires of the heart that prefers worldliness more than anything else. Thankfully, there is hope in Jesus, where Jesus extends His hand of reconciliation to all who would receive Him. Second, he goes into the historical description of how the rebellious nature of mankind led to the globalized culture of disenchantment. The lack of a spiritual center means misguided trust in things of the world. People become disoriented with the status quo and endear themselves to radical ideologies that promise an ideal future at the expense of the present. This striving pattern to try to make this world a better place has backfired. Some get discouraged over the temporal success and subsequent failures. Others retreat back to their cocoons of individualism. One terrorism leads to another retaliation. Politics are increasingly polarized and communities streamlined into isolated enclaves. People's sense of culture becomes more and more diffused. Thankfully, there is a part Three which takes us away from the gloom and doom, and shows us there is hope in a new life. The Church is a central figure. This means recognizing the threats within and without. Learn to see the opportunities beyond mere threats. Learn to belong. Learn to live. Be content with quiet and purposeful living without being anxious about recognition or visibility. Sayers urges us to remain faithful in discipleship; to learn to connect a disenfranchised world with the bigger story of God; being renewed as the Church engages with the surrounding culture without being absorbed; and many more.

I appreciate the way Sayers refers to this world as "strange days." We are in fact strangers to this world because the world does not recognize us as belonging to it. We belong to Christ and are resident aliens in this world. Our true home is in God. We do not need to be trapped in the worldly ideology of despair or unreal idealism. We have the hope in Christ. When we have this assurance of salvation and eschatological hope, we will not be easily embroiled in controversies or lost in political quagmires. Strange it may seem there is nothing new under the sun. There is a way forward because Jesus has shown us the way through Him. Here is a powerful quote:

"As disciples, we cannot choose passivity, nor do it all under our own steam. Instead the disciple lives at a distance from the crowd, as well as a distance from his own flesh. A disciple lives under the lordship of Jesus, guided, counseled, and quickened by the Spirit. In the 'peerarchy' of contemporary culture, where we look to our peers as the ultimate authority and guide of our behaviour and values, entering a hall of mirrors, reflecting to each other a constructed, perfected self on social media, we choose to take a different path. Loving our peers, but not bowing to them. In the opinioncracy, in which we are told that all opinions are valid, and which has descended into a deafening echo chamber of never-ending voices, broadcasting into the wind, we choose to speak the Father's truth." (167)

Indeed. Even as the world are running itself dry, we can be refreshed in God constantly. There is no need to be anxious if the world does not accept us. On the contrary, if the world accepts us, that in turn is truly be something we ought to be concerned. For just as the world has rejected Jesus, so too will the world reject followers of Christ. The word of Jesus remains true and comfort us today: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Mark Sayers is a cultural commentator, writer, speaker with deeply insightful thoughts on faith and contemporary culture. He has written books like The Road Trip that Changed the World, Facing Leviathan, and Disappearing Church. He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and three children.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

If you have watched the news, read the newspaper, and look on social media, you will soon realize that our world is out of control. Terrorist attacks, unacceptable election results, people walking out of graduation ceremonies because they don't agree with the speakers views, and the list goes on and on. What are Christians suppose to do these days? How are they suppose to live? Do we run and hide?

Mark Sayers addresses how Christians are suppose to live in these days, in his latest book, Strange Days. The subtitle of the book is most appropriate, "Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval." Sayers starts off with how did the world get so chaotic. When did it start> Some people might be pointing the finger, but the truth is the world has always been a chaotic place ever since the Fall. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, this world became corrupted by sin. We see that pattern continue throughout the pages of the Bible and throughout history.

Next, Sayers looks at where chaos continues. He says that every culture tries to put some sort of religious structure in society. We also see how individualism has crept into society to make it all about me. Terrorism has played a part in the chaos of our world. Now these days, you cannot simply go to concert without wondering if something is going to blow up.

Finally, Sayers looks at how the church should respond. The church should not hide their heads in the sand. We should be living life in the Spirit. The church should move forward despite the threats against it whether from the culture or a group planning to kill them. The church should continue to live in community and fighting against the flesh. The church should be always standing for the truth no matter the cost.

Overall, this was an excellent book. Sayers is a good author with good insight. I recommend this book to all who are fearful for the days ahead.