Life in the Negative World

Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture

By: Aaron M. Renn

Narrated by: Tim Lundeen

Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Learning how to live in today's new social and cultural environment will require examination, trial and error, and adaptation over time. But there are ways to live with integrity and follow Christ today, even in a negative world.

From a peak in church attendance in the mid-20th century, Christianity has been on a trajectory of decline in the United States. Once positive toward Christianity and Christian moral teachings, cultural shifts toward the mid-90s led many to adopt a more neutral tone toward the Christian faith, seeing it as one option among many in a pluralistic public square. Today, however, Christianity is viewed negatively, and being known as a Christian often means a lower social status in elite society. Christian morality is openly repudiated and viewed as a threat to the new moral order.

In Life in the Negative World, author Aaron M. Renn looks at the lessons from Christian cultural engagement over the past 70 years and suggests specific strategies for churches, institutions, and individuals to live faithfully in the "negative" world—a culture opposed to Christian values and teachings. And since there is no one-size-fits-all solution, living as a follower of Christ in the new, negative world and being missionally engaged will require a diversity of strategies.

©2024 Aaron Renn (P)2024 Zondervan

Maybe a little more Boniface Option than Benedict Option

A practical guide for these new and changing times. It’s an honest look at the state of the church and it gives actions we can be doing to be effective Christians.
Loved it.

A Book for Our Times

This is an excellent book that every Christian and church leader ought to read. The audible performance was excellent as well.

Very realistic take on the state of our society and Christian institutions.

Best book I have encountered in the last 5 years. Great insights into various Christian sects and society changes.

Aaron Renn perceives the times with sober-minded reflection.

Aaron Renn perceives the times with sober-minded reflection. His analyses of the current status of evangelicalism gives fresh insight into where churches and Christian families ought to focus their efforts. In a world of fear mongering, Renn distinguishes himself by giving practical areas where the church needs to change while maintaining an optimistic view of the future.

Solid ideas in a time of change

Well considered and well written. Anyone who considers themselves a Christian should be reading everything they can about how to survive in this anti-Christian world.

Relevant but not engaging

Renn doesn’t miss the mark in his analyses, but on the whole I am left with the nagging doubt whether his book is as beneficial as it could have been. «Life in the negative world» correctly identifies areas in which believers gave to reevaluate their role and responses to a culture that is increasingly hostile to Biblical Christianity, but the book fails in not crystallizing practical approaches to these new, hostile environments. I am constantly left with the dissatisfaction that I am not being presented with clear, substantive ideas and suggestions: well, there’s a problem here, so what can I do about it? Renn is knowledgeable and perceptive, but is not providing clear-cut advice on how to go about life in real day to day scenarios.

Love the theory and topic but content seemed to fall flat.

I was excited to read this book because of the title and fascinating theory it presented. I expected more detail on why we live in "the negative world" and what to do about it.
Narrator was robotic and hard to listen to.