Monday, June 02, 2008

A Worthwhile Read

I just finished reading The Marketing of Evil by David Kupelian. This is not a feel-good book, as one might guess from the title, but a very thought-provoking and worthwhile look into how Americans have bought into 'corruption disguised as freedom'.

Kupelian looks at different areas of evil in our society one by one, and clearly and concisely explains how we have swallowed lies that, if unchecked by truth, will likely usher in the fall of our nation. Sounds dramatic and conspiratory, but in reality, the claims of the book are documented, shocking truths. Gay rights, multiculturalism, sexu@l obsession, abortion, and a few other issues are discussed. I know that we do need to be shocked, in a sense, into action; I don't think the author's intent was to titillate. However,
there were parts of the book that I couldn't stomach, so I skipped over some of the descriptions he included.

These kinds of books often leave me feeling extremely sad and helpless; the problems are so big, and I am just one measly little person. I was so excited to get into the last chapter and read what Kupelian offered in the way of a solution. I was quite surprised and excited to find that he had some very strong and timely words for Christians, and for the Church. It's hard to pick one reasonbly brief quote, since there are so many good things said in the book, but here's one:
The compartmentalization and trivialization of Christianity into a mantra of belief--but separate from works, from obedience to God's laws, and even more fundamentally, separated from basic honesty, integrity, love of truth, and true repentance--has ushered in a generation of shallow, ineffectual, and invisible Christians. Fortunately, in America there are also many deeply principled and committed believers who have stood firm and held back the tide of atheism from fully sweeping over the land. These Americans love the truth, but they are, sadly, in the minority, which is why the marketers of evil have been winning the war for America's soul.
Yet, it is precisely this affinity for truth--the kind that is sometimes painful and always humbling because it exposes us to our own pride and folly--that is the cure, the antidote for the toxic marketing campaigns that have poisoned American culture, including many of her churches.
Kupelian also touches on the misguided attempt of the modern church to look as much like the culture as possible (with the noble intent of reaching the lost), and how, in the process, Christianity loses its distinctiveness and authenticity, looking instead like a sad rip-off of American culture. That's a can of worms for another post altogether.

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