Book Review – Glen Scrivener ‘The Air We Breathe’ – An excellent apologetic for the blessings of Christianity

I have just finished reading the relatively recent book ‘The Air We Breathe’ by Glen Scrivener. I found it excellent and extremely useful. It is beautifully written with many choice sentences, a compelling and logical structure, relevant quotes and references, and compelling stories. I listened to it on audible, and Glen reads it himself, so you benefit from his infectious passion and appropriate emotional tone.

Glen’s basic argument is that most of the values ​​we in the West take for granted as self-evident “goods,” which amount to moral absolutes, are in reality nothing of the sort. They are not ‘natural, obvious and universal’, but the result of Christianity, arising from the ‘Jesus Revolution’, and were neither advocated nor practiced in the ancient world.

He considers equality, compassion, consent, freedom, enlightenment, science and progress, and makes a strong case that these all stem from Christianity. He builds on the arguments of historians such as Tom Holland and sociologist Rodney Stark, who have mapped out the enormous impact of Christianity, but with an explicit religious commitment and an evangelical touch.

Although the details are not entirely new, his case is built in a fresh and creative way and I learned many interesting new facts and details. More importantly, the book gave me a framework to use these facts more effectively in the fight for Christ.

He is brutally honest about the shortcomings of the church throughout history, but makes the important point that the entirely correct criticism that non-Christians make of the church is essentially a Christian criticism using Christian categories.

He shows how the ancient world not only allowed but expected the powerful to oppress and exploit the poor, including the sexual exploitation of women and children. The chapter ‘What is a little girl worth?’ is extremely moving and powerful. The answer before Christianity was very little.

I found it particularly helpful to have the myth of the “Dark Ages” dispelled, and to be reminded of how Christianity fostered modern scientific methodology. The supposed war between science and the church is another myth being debunked.

It is also too easy for opponents to exaggerate the church’s shortcomings. For example, the number of executions by the Spanish Inquisition over several centuries was much lower than the number of executions carried out during the French Revolution, and lower than the number of executions in the US. The secular regimes of fascism and Nazism, living by the teachings of their respective prophets Nietzsche and Marx, show what can happen when Christianity is eradicated.

I think this is a very fruitful apologetic and evangelical approach in the post-Christian West. It’s more sophisticated than a “What has Christianity ever done for you?” approach, and resonates with the intuitive beliefs of many in our culture, not only challenging them to recognize their source, but also exposing the irrationality of their trust in them unless grounded in the transcendent truth of Christ. Ultimately, only Nietzsche or Christ offer a solid place to stand – no, who would choose Nietzsche or want others to choose Nietzsche for them?

At the very least, Glen shows us that we should be grateful for Christianity’s impact on our culture. Who would want to go back to living in the old world as it was? Real progress has been made. As Martin Luther King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It is pure naivety and ignorance to think that Christianity was a force for oppression and restriction, rather than liberation and greater freedom for all. However, he shows that we must continue to fight for these values ​​and call people to faith in Christ, which is the only lasting justification for this.

He usefully applies his argument to three groups: the ‘Nones’ (no religion), ‘Dones’ (leaving Christianity disillusioned) and ‘Wons’ (those who already believe). It is helpful to remember that we probably have all three groups in our churches when we preach, and we try to speak to all three groups.

There are a few areas where I wanted more. Given that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament revelation, we should be able to show how God’s word to His people Israel was a precursor to the “Christ Revolution,” creating a society very different from that of the Old Testament. Near East. Well-informed atheists and agnostics will raise questions about the Old Testament, for example the apparent genocides during the conquest of the Promised Land.

I also think it is necessary to show the goodness of Christian teaching on human sexuality, especially same-sex relationships. Our culture may recognize that human rights and equality are rooted in the Jesus Revolution, yet argue that it does not go far enough in this regard. The Christian commitment to personal freedom, provided we do not harm others without their consent, can be a partial answer.

Our contemporary context is unique in history. We live in a post-Christian rather than pre-Christian situation, where many assume that Christianity has been tried and failed. We must find different ways to communicate the gospel so that we can meet the challenge this presents. “The Air We Breathe” offers a fruitful path forward, and it should be essential reading for all church leaders and Christians who want to have greater confidence in the goodness of our faith and its usefulness to society.

Above all, it will give us greater assurance that the gospel is true and encourage us to evangelize with boldness and urgency. The impact of Jesus and the transformative power of a message as revolutionary and improbable as the cross is ultimately explainable only because it is true. Jesus died and rose and the world was turned upside down – in a good way!