Reading a Book Review of a Book I Won’t Recommend

I was reading a book review of a book I can’t recommend and won’t name, but one reviewer of the book, a guy by the name of “Brenden” (no last name given) had some interesting and I think accurate historical analysis. He was writing about the Ancient Roman approach to religion and Christianity in particular. Then he turns to what is happening in our culture that is similar in two other spheres of influence, the media culture of our moment and the political powers of our moment.

“Rome in a lot of ways was very progressive in its religious thinking. It’s syncretic policies try to incorporate thousands of different modes of worship and religions. The Roman empire allowed this for compliance. A similar thing is happening within progressive Christianity. Comply with the culture in honor all identities and we will allow you to be Christians. Give up exclusivity that Christ is the only way. The Roman empire said the same thing,”You Christians are too exclusive. You threaten the social order because you won’t honor all deities.” [The] Modern West [is similar]: “You Christians are too exclusive. You threaten the social order because you won’t honor all identities.”

a guy named “Brenden”

That strikes me as spot on.

But faithfulness to the One who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) requires us to stand against our culture and our state in this moment. The culture wants to convert us away from Christ. We must not betray our Lord.