Why You Can't Stay Silent: A Biblical Mandate to Shape Our Culture

by Tom Minnery

Should Christians withdraw from societal involvement and put their efforts solely into building up the church? Some leading evangelicals have suggested as much. Tom Minnery opposes that view. In Why You Can't Stay Silent, the author challenges Christians to engage themselves in the culture and use their God-given gifts to be positive influencers in an increasingly post-Christian world. Includes appendixes on how Christian can become involved.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living, Cultural, Politics

217 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2002

Reviews

[Randy A]

A good book on why Christians should not stay silent in todays world. This book has some really good thoughts on how Christians should behave. Reading it gives a good understanding of modern day Christianity but I think needs to challenge how Christians act/react.

[Christopher Teeter]

Excellent call to action for Christians. Volunteer to help others, first. Then engage in the way our world works. Actions louder than words.

[Chris]

Good read...really helps you understand the consequences of NOT getting involved in the political realm, and of staying silent. Everyone has a RIGHT to get involved in the public policy debate and as responsible Americans we should do so in order to preserve our democracy and keep our elected leaders responsive to us - the people. Since this book carries with it a Christian perspective the author also points out that it is our GOD-given responsibility to get involved. He also effectively makes the point that there is no such thing as "separation of church and state" and that it is a fallacy to believe that religion and politics can not (and thus should not) mix. Everything that becomes public policy or law, Minnery argues, comes from moral mandates or a "religious" perspective, relevant to the author or sponsor of that policy. Even atheists, he argues, want to pass legislation because they believe in it - and believe that what they advocate is RIGHT (versus wrong). This comes from the same moral framework as a conservative Christian advocating passing pro-life legislation, for example. We should all learn to love each other and love the world, and to not shy away from controversy in the public realm just because what we sincerely believe may be "controversial," perhaps causing persecution or other public scorn. One person CAN make a difference and the bedrock of America is passionate, logical, and reasoned debate. But as Christians, we should not be intimidated from sharing and advocating our Christian views in rational public policy debates.

[Michael Vincent]

Some good reminders about the need to engage the culture as a Christian. However, I wish they were more willing to use the Scriptures in their arguments. I believe one reason we lose debates is that we do not use some Scriptures to let people know we believe in the truth of God's Word. Some practical application and many stories of Christians who stood for righteousness and truth in the culture.

[William Dicks]

CEO of Citizen Link, Minnery, succeeds in his aim to show that Christians should be involved in the shaping of our culture. However, he shows his Theological bias in vilifying Calvinism. I think he only mentions it twice and both times very negatively while portraying the heretic, Charles Finney as his hero. This is a major negative point for me.