Being Christian After Christendom
David explains the changes in the social landscape over the past 50 years, where Christians were once respected and trusted but are now blamed, marginalized, and viewed with suspicion. He tracks the changes and clarifies what and why things are now different. He offers practical suggestions for 21st-century Christians to reach the 21st-century West without going back to the good old days. This book is a grounded, readable, and serious attempt to describe where we are and the solution.
What People Are Saying
“In a world of TikTok and endless news cycles, everyone wants black and white answers to complex questions. Or they think they do. What they truly want - even if they cannot articulate it - is someone to clear the cutter and give them clarity! David's work is a perfect foil to the cultural chaos and societal noise in our post-Christian West, particularly around the contested topics of identity and purpose, and what it means to be human. He offers a robust Christian faith that is neither looking over its shoulder wistfully for an era that won't be coming back, nor drowning in doubt or despair. As the title implies, there's still a way to pick through the rubble of Christendom and still follow Jesus. David's book is a map for that journey.”
— Stephen McAlpine, Director of Cultural Engagement, CITY TO CITY AUSTRALIA
“For anyone who is passionate about their faith and loves the church, this book is priceless reading. It addressed my troubling questions: How did we get to here, and how do we rethink our mission with wonderful clarity?”
— Time Costello, former CEO World Vision Australia.
“What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in cultures that desire freedom, tolerance and autonomy but reject the very gospel that gave birth to these values? David Rietveld steers us through the profound sociological changes that are leading to a post-Christian view of the world in a way that is clear, accessible, warm and good-humoured.”
— David Williams, Director of training and development, Church Missionary Society of Australia
“This book is a sobering, yet rewarding and meaningful hike through the reality of cultural change in our time and its impact o Christianity. We are invited to put on our biblically shaped glasses and navigate theological, historical, and philosophical contours of life in an accessible, conversational style. I recommend this book in particular to all Christian educators who seek to best relate, understand, and nurture the students in their care in this time of history.”
— Michelle Dempsy, CEO of Christian Education Nation