How could our world be different if Christians were recognized for not only speaking the truth, but also demonstrating mercy? What would our lives be like if we reacted to our common culture with not just biblical facts, but also grace and compassion?
For more than 25 years, Marvin Olasky has offered this kind of viewpoint in his columns as the Editor-in-Chief of World Magazine, the leading news magazine written with a Christian perspective. In this collection of far-ranging columns, Olasky's commentary on world events and affairs, as well as his own personal interactions, encourages readers to respond with both grace and truth in every encounter.
A leading voice for standing for biblical truth in the public square, Olasky also believes Christians should incorporate the biblical virtues of humility, kindness, and mercy in all of life. His call for biblical values to include both truth and mercy makes his voice stand out in a world that often falsely divides those goals and settles for a poor imitation of the robust Christianity described in Scripture. These short and punchy columns offer readers a new way to consider challenges in today's world and shows them how to respond to any encounter biblically, but not hysterically, providing a wake-up call for the complacent, while also calming the frantic.
Regular readers of World will want to have this 60-column collection for their own library, as well as an extra copy to share with friends.
"Marvin Olasky has been one of the leading biblically minded journalists in America for years. He has shaped World magazine's timely and trenchant critique of newsworthy events impacting the American stage of politics, culture and ethics. This selection of his classic articles gives insight, stirs action and prompts reflection as we as believers endeavor to engage our communities with a conscious and consistent Christian worldview."
Peter A. Lillback, President of Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA
"Interesting, insightful, provocative, remarkably well-informed, and relentlessly biblical in approach, Marvin Olasky's columns are always worth reading, and this book is a rich treasure trove of them. His thoughtful Christian worldview fills this book with a wise analysis of dozens of current issues."
Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, AZ
"Sorting out the urgent from the important is a tough task for everyone, but for Christian believers, it's also sorting out the holy from the hype. Rarely is any issue the issue, but it's ONE of many that people of faith must process and confront. In his new book, Marvin Olasky provides a rational and thoughtful process to prevent us from 'using all our water for too small a fire' as my college professor used to remind me. Dealing with same-sex 'marriage,' abortion, bathroom laws, faith-hating films, court decisions, and political conflicts are just a few of the issues we face. But no one issue should consume us. Christ should consume us. Olasky's approach is like Nexium to the indigestion of the soul."
Mike Huckabee, Former governor of Arkansas
"America may be more culturally and politically divided today than at any time since the Civil War. Christians need to know how to act and live smartly and prudently, with strength and compassion. Employing his usual wisdom and clarity, Marvin Olasky explains how."
William J. Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education; host of the Bill Bennett Show
"World View: Seeking Grace and Truth in Our Common Life offers practical theology without hysterics, histrionics, or sell-outs. This wise book, written by a sage veteran of cultural shifts and values, models how to live like a Christian in a world losing its foundations. As editor of World magazine, Marvin Olasky, with both street cred and old-school professional authority, illustrates by example what civil discourse means and how we must practice it. Practical, readable, accessible, transparent, and relevant to all. Olasky blazes a trail for those who want to talk with their neighbors, not blast them on social media. He speaks to those of us who put more stock in prayer than in Twitter. He shows how we can best understand the language of our post-Christian world without being duped by it. Read this book!"
Rosaria Butterfield, Former professor of English and Women’s Studies; author of Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
"Christians are the intellectual outlaws under the current secular conditions. To believe the truth claims of Christianity is to defy principalities and powers—and to face an intellectual onslaught. In this context of increasing hostility to the Christian faith, Marvin Olasky's careful and theologically-informed reflection on the culture is a needed resource for the church. Olasky's new book, World View, is a thoughtful and rich resource for those who are seeking to walk faithfully during this challenging cultural moment."
Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"For years, Marvin Olasky has inspired thousands of readers to stop separating their moral principles from their politics and start thinking compassionately about those left behind in our society. This volume puts his arguments into one handy compendium. Readers of all faiths and political stripes will find inspiration here to make sure their own ethical commitments are informing how they live each day."
Arthur Brooks, President of American Enterprise Institute
"The searing truth and wisdom in these pages is vintage Marvin Olasky. And the best part of all: it rubs off. See for yourself!"
Eric Metaxas, Best-selling author of Martin Luther: the Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World
"This provocative collection is a monument to Marvin Olasky's precise, searching and devout mind. For those who share his beliefs and those who do not, Olasky will not let you rest, writing with a style that mimics what he is searching for in his writing—the balance between passionate conviction and profound compassion—with a voice that is mindful of the humility required by grace."
John Dickerson, Moderator, Face the Nation; author of Whistlestop: My Favorite Stories from Campaign History
This was a gift and the receiver of the gift enjoyed the book very much. It meant the expectations and I would highly recommend it to others.
World View is a very unique book. It's a collection of columns that Marvin Olasky has written for World Magazine. I have never read World Magazine, so I went into this book blind and not sure what to expect. I really enjoyed this thoughtful collection of essays. It's an easy book to pick up and read a chapter and then put it down and pick it up again at a later time. This is the type of book you want to chew on for awhile while reading it. I appreciated that the articles ranged from 1998-2016 because it was neat to see the range of views and what people were thinking and talking about in the 90s and early 2000's versus today. I liked Olasky's balance between Biblical truth and grace. The range of topics in these essays were thought provoking and helped me to round out my views. In a time when people are constantly pushing the idea that Christianity is irrelevant and all Christians are stupid, bigots, and/or not critical thinkers, books like these are very important. We as Christians need to "prove the critics wrong", so to speak, by showing intelligence and balance in our worldviews. I highly recommend this book to all Christians.
I have always enjoyed Mr. Olasky's articles in World Magazine. He has insightful ideas and looks at everything through a Biblical lens. This book is actually a compilation of articles he wrote between the years 1997 - 2016. I found it very interesting to see what he was writing about in these years. Some things are very different and yet some things never change. Because this book is short "chapters" of articles, it's very easy to read a couple or read a lot. I enjoyed his writing style and the fact that he stands on the Word of God in his beliefs and his world view. Each article is thought provoking and quite interesting. I enjoyed this book a lot and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
When I read the email offering this book for review, I just skimmed it. I didn't realize until I started reading it that is comprised of columns the author wrote for World Magazine. That is not a complaint. I actually enjoy books that have short sections/chapters, as they are great to pick up and read a page or two and set the book aside to do other things. And these columns cover a lot of different topics, all written in an interesting fashion that one wants to ponder on and not just skim. To be honest, I have never read World Magazine nor have I heard of Marvin Olasky....... but this book makes me want to read the magazine. Olasky has a unique style of writing that merges religion, current events, and politics in a great way that makes sense and shows the need of Christian values and morals in our world. In one way, the book is a quick read being split up into so many columns. Yet, these are columns that need to be read carefully and thought about, so in that way it is not a quick read if you want to get the most out of the book. Regardless, there is a lot of great thoughts in this book that make it worth the time to read.
World View: Seeking Grace and Truth in Our Common Life is a collection of columns which Marvin Olasky, as the Editor-in-Chief of World Magazine, wrote for the magazine. He presents Christian/ Biblical worldview on a wide variety of current world events and topics such as government role, abortion, racism, immigration, welfare, education, economics, environmentalism, tax, movies, marriage, and more. The book is divided into 5 main sections: Basics, Changes, Institutions, Causes, and Conclusions. There are 10-13 articles/columns under each section. These columns are short (only 2-3 pages long) but packed with Biblical wisdom and practical insights. The author exemplifies how to confidently speak Biblical truths in love with grace, respect, and humility and to passionately live out conviction with integrity, mercy, and compassion. Today's culture keeps challenging our faith. How do we effectively communicate about God, the Bible, and Biblical values without getting sucked into needless arguments and/or emotional outbursts? Learn from Marvin Olasky. He understands that truth without love is like poison that does more damage. We are called to be light and salt in the world. This book will help you examine your attitude, speech, and conduct and ask yourselves whether you are helping or hindering the cause of Christ. Stay faithful to God's Word and stay grace-filled in God's love. Check out this thought-provoking, Biblically sound, Christ-centered book on social issues and Christian living! Marvin Olasky did an excellent job of balancing truth with grace.