If you are familiar with The Spectator, Unherd.com, Rod Dreher, or Ed West, you might choose to skip part one of Sharon James’ new book. Not because it isn’t interesting, or full of fresh quotes and surprising illustrations, it’s just that you’ll probably be well acquainted with the diagnosis – essentially that after the experiments of the twentieth century, our culture no longer feels confident that it knows what truth is – what you will want from a Christian are some solutions.
Much more rewarding therefore, is part two, in which the author tries to encourage the reader that there is a truth, not only to know but to love unashamedly. James is passionate about reaffirming human dignity, our need to include in our proclamation a story of human flourishing, and ultimately the eternal truth that Christ is King.
I’m not completely sure that this book would work as an evangelistic resource. I suspect it displays a particular right-wing Christian perspective that an unbeliever would find easy to dismiss. However, as a primer on how we got here, and crucially as an encouragement to Christians to tell a better story, this is definitely worth a look.