Book Review: World View

With near-sighted eyes, I see items and figures up close with great clarity. However, when things are a distance from my view, I sometimes struggle to make out what I am seeing. To combat the problem, my eye doctor prescribed me to receive glasses and/or contact lenses. I use both eyeglasses and contact lenses. My vision no longer suffers. I can see clearly now. While my eye issue is physical, I believe a similar sentiment pertains to our view of culture, current events, and our faith. We need the proper lens and prescription to rightly see what is going on in the world and, particularly, in America. We need the balanced response of grace and truth with our interactions of today. World Magazine editor-in-chief Marvin Olasky recognizes this need and has been addressing it for several years. As a result, we have World View: Seeking Grace and Truth in Our Common Life.

In this compilation, Mr. Olasky shares 58 of his columns written between the years of 1997–2016. His purpose is to give “an American Studies sampler” (vii) and challenge Christians to view matters with both grace and truth. He broadly categorizes his columns into five sections: (1) Basics, (2) Changes, (3) Institutions, (4) Causes, and (5) Conclusions. Subjects within these sections include life, politics, race relations, immigration, and many others.

World View is a highly readable book, each column only covering 2–3 pages of the work. Marvin Olasky’s articles throughout the years ought to encourage Christian readers to live in light of current events with grace and truth. While not visible in necessarily every article, the pattern of thought throughout the sections is to show grace and speak the truth. At the same time, some articles do seem to politicize and speak from the “us” and “them” mindset of Republications and Democrats, speaking more truth than showing grace. Too, the content shared in the respective sections of the book is, at times, ambiguous. For instance, the column “Volunteering by Itself Is Morally Neutral” (Olasky 101) is placed under the section on institutions rather than the following section on causes. I recognize some articles do not fit nicely into one of these categories so there has to be some broadened understanding. But the critique of the tone and structure of the book do not damage the overall commendation of the book. World View: Seeking Grace and Truth in Our Common Life provides a prescription to view current events and culture in America and abroad through a biblical lens.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.