The Zone Gathering

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity
by Nancy R. Pearcey
Reviewed by Jana Hoisington

Is there a biblical perspective on everything – not just on spiritual matters?  Author Nancy R. Pearcey believes there is, and that we must be utterly convinced of this if we are to “make sure our toolbox contains biblically based conceptual tools for every issue we encounter” (40). Far too often we privatize our faith so as to disregard it as a source of knowledge, and cede to science the authority to determine “facts,” then try to salvage some area of Christian faith in the realm of “value” (119).

In a manner that is both practical and easy to grasp, Pearcey dissects the bifurcated fact/value, sacred/secular split in society in which Christianity is held captive, and lays out the framework for the essence of the Christian worldview by using the three-part grid of Creation (how did it all begin?), Fall (what is the source of evil and suffering?), and Redemption (how can the world be set right?).   Pearcey demonstrates how to apply this powerful tool of analysis first to Christianity and then to nonbiblical worldviews to determine where those fail. 

The second section focuses on Creation, the foundational starting point for any worldview.  Since the reigning creation worldview in the Western world is Darwinian evolution, Pearcey includes a strong and lengthy critique of its scientific claims and makes a case for supporting the concept of Intelligent Design based on the latest findings of science, which discredit naturalistic theories of evolution.

The third section of Total Truth looks back on the history of religious engagement in the United States from the colonial age to the present, and asks why the secular/sacred dichotomy is so pervasive throughout society, even among evangelicals.  Pearcey posits that as Christianity was reduced to the personal and private, Christians withdrew from the intellectual spheres which govern public life in America, explaining our strong temptation to “do the Lord’s work but in the world’s way” (364).

The final section of the book reminds us that the basis of worldview thinking lies in its practical and personal application, and that it is only when we face sorrow, loss or injustice, and are stripped of our personal dreams and ambitions that we truly die to our own agendas.  When Christianity is tested, we discover that it alone explains and makes sense of the most basic and universal human experiences.  “This is the confidence that should sustain us when we bring our faith perspective into the public arena, whether in personal evangelism or in our professional work,” Pearcey concludes (396). 

Despite its daunting length, I found Total Truth to be a surprisingly fast read and accessible book, and one that I would recommend for all Christians – especially any desiring a fresh review of apologetics.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 1:00 am and is filed under Book Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.