The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics

by Collin Hansen (Editor), Skyler R. Flowers (Editor), Ivan Mesa (Editor)

Tim Keller once said, "The job of the missionary is to enter sympathetically the worldview/story of the culture yet challenge and re-tell the culture's story so they see their story will only have a happy ending in Jesus." This way of evangelism and apologetics has come to be known as cultural apologetics. Still, the concept has gone largely undefined in any formal sense. The Gospel After Christendom seeks to step into this conceptual gap. Gathering leading scholars and practitioners who serve as fellows at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, this edited volume defines cultural apologetics, explains its biblical and historical grounding, and demonstrates how it is an important resource for the church today.

Cultural apologetics studies the cultural climate to seek out unique opportunities for the gospel to be proclaimed in compelling ways to meet and fulfill the lives and longings of a person with the truth, beauty, and goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church, inhabiting the culture and social imaginaries as well, is simultaneously edified and renewed by this sort of apologetic. The church that habituates cultural apologetics in its life, practice, and teaching will find itself offering an alternative culture and society to the one the people near it inhabit in their daily lives.

The Gospel After Christendom is a guide for Christians, churches, and leaders who desire to create these missionary encounters and see hearts transformed by the power of the gospel entering hearts and minds through the practice of cultural apologetics.

Table of

We Need Cultural Climatologists - Collin Hansen

Part What Is Cultural Apologetics?

1. A Tool for Evangelism - Trevin Wax

2. A Biblical Vision - Chris Watkin

3. A Framework for Retrieval - Joshua D. Chatraw

Part How Is Cultural Apologetics Done?

4. The Neither Accommodating nor Condemning - Alan Noble

5. The Subversively Fulfilling the Social Imagination - Dan Strange

6. The Healing Hard Hearts and Dark Minds - N. Gray Sutanto

7. The Exposing Unbelief as Unlivable - Gavin Ortlund

Part What Questions Does Cultural Apologetics Answer?

8. Is Christianity Good? - Rebecca McLaughlin

9. Is Christianity Beautiful? - Rachel Gilson

10. Is Christianity True? - Derek Rishmawy

Part Where Does Cultural Apologetics Happen?

11. The A Witness to the World - Bob Thune

12. Front Why We Still Need Them - James Eglinton

13. Everyday The Cultural Texts We Live By - Sam Chan

The Narrow Road to Eternal Life - Collin Hansen

Genres: Theology, Cultural, Audiobook, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Collin Hansen is editorial director for The Gospel Coalition and was previously an associate editor for Christianity Today. He has written for Books & Culture, Leadership, and Christian History & Biography, and is the author of Young, Restless, and Reformed.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m generally not a fan of multi-author volumes. They’re hard to pull off well. This one is excellent. Filled with stimulating insight.

[Martin Augestad · Rating 5 out of 5]

De siste årene har jeg fått sansen for kulturell apologetikk, og det var svært interessant å lese et strålende forsøk på å introdusere denne måten å forklare og forsvare den kristne troen på.

Boken definerer kulturell apologetikk som en måte å koble kristen tro til kulturen man prøver å nå, og å vise at Jesus er svaret på enhver kultur sine dypeste lengsler. Kristen tro er ikke bare sant, men også godt og vakkert. Alle forsøk på å begrunne kristen tro gjøres til eller i en kultur, og vi trenger å være bevisste på hvilken kultur vi snakker til for å kunne nå ut til den på best mulig måte.

Forfatterne er tilknyttet The Keller Center og de har skrevet et kapittel hver. Det fungerte stort sett meget godt, bare noen få ganger der de gjentok seg selv noe, uten at det gikk utover leseropplevelsen.

Det var inspirerende å lese, og jeg satt egentlig igjen med følelsen av at boken gjerne kunne vært lengre.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting my editor hat aside, this is the best collection of essays on the work of cultural apologetics available today. This is the equivalent of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ assembling together the brightest voices: Sam Chan, Joshua D. Chatraw, James P. Eglinton, Rachel Gilson, Collin Hansen, Rebecca McLaughlin, Alan Noble, Gavin Ortlund, Derek Rishmawy, Daniel Strange, Bob Thune, Christopher Watkin, and Trevin Wax. As a whole, this work seeks to define cultural apologetics, explain its biblical and historical grounding, and demonstrate its importance for the church today.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book so much as a collection of essays (though that sounds a little dry.... maybe just call them chapters?) by a wide range of theological minds from across the globe. It's broken up into four parts:
1. What is cultural apologetics?
2. How is cultural apologetics done?
3.What questions does cultural apologetics answer?
4. Where does cultural apologetics happen?

I look at the paragraphs above & find them a little dry. When you read on the other hand, what you find is a deeply challenging, and deeply encouraging book. It takes a subject that sounds like a "buzz word" and shows the reader that as soon as we take a text from first century Israel and we try and understanding outside of Jerusalem, we're adding a cultural layer to our understanding.
The various authors take the reader on a journey, considering how we understand the Bible in its context, how we apply its universal truth's to the context of the world we live in today, and also how we might gently challenge the non-believing world to see themselves and the world they live in from God's perspective.

Not only was this book a pleasure to read, but I'll be working through my highlights & considering how different sections might change the way I do evangelism. What a great way for me to finish my reading year!

[Saolomon Mouacheupao · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Basically a 4 for the measured argument for this kind of defense of the faith in our secular age. Though, their articulation of the practice in theory is better than some of the authors practice of it in real life.

2 stars for Sam Chan’s chapter of Christian fluff

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great compilation of authors and essays. A very beefy intro for me and not elementary, but also not over the head. I enjoyed the challenge and hope to discuss with someone soon!

[Joshua Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like assembling the avengers of Christian apologetics.

I love the idea of Christianity “out-narrating” other cultural stories and “subversively fulfilling” the stories and desires of other worldviews. Gavin Ortlund’s chapter on the enchantment of the gospel has me fired up. Christopher Watkin was, as always, brilliant. Rebecca McLaughlin’s chapter on the goodness of Christianity was timely and compelling.

[Xavier Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consists of 13 chapters, each written by a different author from The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Pulling from Paul Gould, Cultural apologetics is defined in the Introduction (written by Hansen) as the "work of establishing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination within a culture so that Christianity is seen as true and satisfying." (though some authors put their own spin on the definition of this term) The impetus for this focus on cultural apologetics rather than (or rather, in conjunction with) its classical counterpart is the need to capture hearts and imaginations beyond simply appeals to the mind. This is especially so considering the work of social psychologists like Jonathan Haidt, who have "described the relationship between intuition and reason as an elephant and its rider. Reason may steer, but intuition will only move when motivated. What the heart wants, the head will rationalize. Our intuitions follow our aspirations".

The book is structured into four parts: Part 1 (chapters 1-3) lays the conceptual foundation for cultural apologetics, with Trevin Wax explaining how it is a tool addressing 21st century Western social and cultural narratives, Chris Watkin demonstrating that the methodology of cultural apologetics featuring in Scripture, and Joshua Chatraw doing something similar by showing the discipline feature in church history (eg. Augustine's City of God). Part 2 (chapter 4-7) discuss how cultural apologetics is done: Alan Noble discusses the posture of neither accommodation nor aggression, Daniel Strange explains the entering into the narratives of a culture and helping it discover their co-opting of the Christian story and how the Christian story offers a subversive, glorious fulfilment of social imaginaries, N. Gray Sutanto discusses how everyone has an innate knowledge of God but suppress the truth (cf. Romans 1), and Gavin Ortlund explains the need to expose unbelief not merely as untrue but also unlivable (disenchanted, meaningless, and lonely), ultimately leading to despair which can only be answered by the gospel. Part 3 (chapters 8-10) puts out three questions which cultural apologetics answers: Rebecca McLaughlin answers 'Is Christianity Good?', Rachel Gilson answers 'Is Christianity Beautiful?', and Derek Rishmawy 'Is Christianity True?' (not going into classical apologetics, but rather the limits of taking a pragmatic approach to life rather than caring about truth). Lastly, Part 4 (chapters 11-13) ends with exploring where cultural apologetics happens: Bob Thune writes that that it happens in the church's preaching, hospitality, worship, community, and hope, James Eglinton writes that it happens in "front porches" – that is, "half-way places between the insides of the homes and the streets" such as a hospitable Christian home, and Sam Chan discusses everyday conversations with non-believers.

In closing, Hansen recaps how "secular, immanent narratives have replaced the Christian, transcendent story in the Western imagination", and movements borne out of secularism in the lead-up to and during the Second World War led to trauma "[w]e have yet to heal" from. At this crossroads, cultural apologetics "hope[s] to reawaken the memory of Christianity and the hope of a new heaven and new earth to come with Christ. ... shar[ing] the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings" – that is, a longing for "personal peace with God that results in collective peace with each other."

A good read, even if light on technical, substantive content and analysis (it is [and purports to be] an introduction, after all). Especially for those who may be more familiar with classical apologetics and have not given much thought to more cultural-based work.

[Joshua Bremerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, and I will take away both theoretical and practical insights. I found the trifecta of good, beautiful, and true stimulating and intuitive. I also thought the chapters on "porches" and reading everyday texts were quite clarifying. One of the best was on approach, specifically looking at exposing secular worldviews as unlivable.

Overall, while some of the chapters are more helpful than others, I think this book is quite useful for encouraging individual Christians to pre-evangelize and evangelize their unbelieving neighbors.

My biggest critique of the book, and this only appears underneath some of the chapters (including the church chapter) and in the other works of some of these writers, is that there is no real distinction between public and private pre-evangelism and evangelism. Applying subversive fulfillment and the observe-understand-empathize-deconstruct-fulfill methods at an institutional level is almost always a recipe for disaster.

As a nod to Renn's Three Worlds book, you can live like it is still neutral world in one-to-one micro-level interactions (and in some ways this book is basically a toolbox for bringing positive world to bear in the lives of unbelieving friends and neighbors), but institutions must acknowledge negative world realities in order to adapt, survive, and thrive today. As public institutions building trust, I would argue that churches and schools need to draw clearer lines much quicker than an individual might in an evangelistic setting.

[Colin Michaelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Vanhoozer said this is the best introduction to cultural apologetics on the market. And I am not about to disagree with Kevin.

With essays by fifteen excellent authors, I suspect that if I list some of their names, you would get why this book is so good and full of amazing truths, articulately expressed. Trevin Wax, Christopher Watkin, Gavin Ortlund, Rebecca McLaughlin, Rachel Gibson and more contributed to this important topic from very diverse perspectives. I had some favorites especially 'Is Christianity True?', by Derek Rishmawy.

The authors draw on so many good sources. From The Bible of course, but also Blaise Pascal, Augustine of Hippo, Dostoyevsky, Charles Taylor and C.S Lewis, to name a few. And the insights they pull from these thinkers just adds depth to this book.

As Rebecca McLaughlin says in her essay, 'Is Christianity Good?', "If our non-Christian friends and neighbors turn to Jesus, they will find he is the first and best foundation for their deep beliefs in universal human rights, equality and justice. If they turn to atheism, agnosticism or pantheism, or a spiritual-but-not-religious worldview, they must wave goodbye to any rational foundation for their ethical beliefs."

[Bradley Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent, helpful and clear introduction to cultural apologetics. If you are concerned with knowing the foundations of sharing your Christian faith in a growingly hostile culture to Christian values you should read this, and take heart. Christianity has navigated these waters before. The church as the best homiletic for the gospel was a great encouragement and a clear challenge for us to look at the foundational and functional reason for why and how we meet. I need to reread this again but slower.

[Kyle Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. Would highly recommend people to read this. I think the whole concept of the gospel being true, good, and beautiful is something that I will always remember, and from showing the gospel as true, good, and beautiful it makes the person want the gospel to be true before they believe the gospel to be true.

Big main thought leaving this book is how do I make the beauty of the gospel obvious to those around me in this post christian culture? What does subversive fulfillment look like to those that surround me?

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the approach of this book, and the consistent thoughtfulness of the contributors. It was a bit too introductory for me (perhaps I shouldn't fault it for that, as it's clearly trying to be an introduction!) and I would have liked more examples of actual "cultural apologetics" in addition to the various thoughts about the posture and the approach. But still a solid read.

Video review: https://youtu.be/-sTtiX5_9RM

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent intro to cultural apologetics. This book looks more specifically at Western Culture, and as culture changes, our apologetics will need to adapt. This book considers post-modern culture and offers helpful ways to think through how to faithfully answer the questions of the culture around us. I also highly recommend the Cultural Apologetics Cohort through the Keller Center that's offered periodically. Many of the contributors to this book teach that Cohort.

[Lianna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lifted up Jesus as the historically risen, only way to God. Its insistence on promoting the old, old story was a balm and a breath of fresh air. Throughout the book, the authors took me on a path of seeing how I can navigate this world’s false witness by engaging it with the enduring truth of the Lord. It is an uplifting and challenging book—well worth the read.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly clear and wonderfully deep. These authors are clearly well rounded and well read leaders who have a pure heart for the gospel even in today's troubled world. It lays out a honest, simple, and real way to evangelize and do apologetics in today's disenchanted, lonely, and broken world. Highly recommend this book.

[Aaron Carlberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the best chapters in this book are the ones by Dan Strange and James Eglinton. Why we still need front porches speaks the cultural context of our conversations with those around us. While a framework of this approach (chapters 2 and 3) push back on those who may go too far and jump too deep into culture and leave the Gospel behind, overall the book is a good and balanced read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several authors give an introduction to defending the Christian faith in cultural terms.

[Nathan Bozeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on cultural apologetics! Highly recommend this volume if you're looking for different ways of approaching apologetics in a post-Christian West.

[McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated each chapter and each author's contribution to the conversation. I found it both insightful and helpful.

[Rianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook