Futureproof

This helpful book covers a lot of necessary topics that many people aren’t talking about, but need to be. Part One of the book goes through 3 reasons the gospel is better than what culture has to offer while Part Two looks at ways the church can flourish in certain circumstances.

Futureproof is saturated with presenting the gospel as the better option to all the false comforts and idols that society presents. He touches on a wide range of subjects ...like technology, discipleship, pronouns, a Christian’s dual-citizenship, self-careeducation, and more. This short book packs a punch and I think this would be great to read with friends to really delve into these important topics.

I particularly appreciate the grace-filled, gospel-centered perspective that McAlpine writes with. He does not claim that all Christians must _____ (homeschool, ignore pronouns, refuse to use social media, etc.), but instead he lays out what the Bible says, encourages the reader in their Christian liberty, and points to Jesus.

A few quotes I especially liked:

“Our aim is not to win every argument to soothe our anxieties. Nor is it to retreat from the public square, blocking our ears to the cries of our neighbors. Our aim is to be a non-alarmed community that trusts in God because he is in control. Not so that we can say “I told you so” to those losing their heads in the cultural churn, but so that we offer a viable and attractive alternative that has our kind King at its center.” Pg 29

“The irony, of course, is that although we often have a sharp perception of the failings and limitations of our political and cultural opponents, that lens becomes opaque when it’s turned towards ourselves.” Pg 67

There’s also an application guide available as a free download.

This book addresses a variety of timely topics related to how Christians can think about the church's role in a swiftly changing, secularizing society. Stephen McAlpine encourages his readers to consider ways that the church is uniquely poised to address issues like the loneliness epidemic, and he writes about ways that the church can be an embodied, communal witness to a different way of life. Over different chapters, he reflects on multiple social issues, political topics, and broader cultural problems, including ecological issues and the fast pace of new, developing technologies like AI.

McAlpine encourages Christians to take hope in the promises of God, even when they feel discouraged about the state of the world, and he also challenges Christians to maintain a distinctive worldview, instead of believing in self-focused ideologies that prioritize autonomy above all else. The book deals with some high-level concepts in very accessible ways, and in addition to explaining and defending his points with Scripture, McAlpine also shares story-driven examples. He uses research findings and anecdotes to illustrate and explain his points, and this will be highly readable for people in different walks of life.

This is a helpful book for people who want to think more deeply about the church's witness in our current society. McAlpine addresses a variety of issues without a harsh culture warrior tone, and since he is Australian, it was nice to read a book that addresses the West more generally, instead of primarily focusing on American culture. Overall, I enjoyed this, but because McAlpine addresses so many different topics in a relatively short book, he can't go especially deep with each one. This is a great primer for adults and teens, but if someone has already read and thought deeply about these issues, not much in this book will be new to them.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Futureproof by Stephen McAlpine was a quick but refreshing read on how we as Christians can live in a world that is constantly changing. He begins by showing us that Christianity is distinct from the world in many ways. While the world is constantly focused on themselves, the church is (or should be) a community where there is selflessness, forgiveness, and bearing of burdens. Christianity also offers a way for people from various backgrounds to come together in unity through their shared love for Jesus, going beyond surface-level interests. Lastly, God provides His people with a future that will last. ...Christians know Who ultimately reigns and that His kingdom will come! In the second part of the book, he discusses how we can flourish in our communities, online, and in politics by practicing self control and overcoming evil with good. He also discusses how we can steward the earth while keeping in mind that someday, there will be a new one!

“The gospel offers us a safety net above. It keeps us from trying by force to bend others to our vision of the future, as if this world is all that we have. The letter of Hebrews says that we are ‘receiving’ a kingdom (12 v 28)-offering a corrective to the many political ideologies that are intent on creating one…the heavenly kingdom we are receiving is to be our hope and the primary focus of our energies. If that's the case, we won't tend towards despair or cynicism when the electoral cycle goes against our desires. Nor will we tend towards triumphalism or mere cultural optimism when it goes the way we want it to.”

Thank you for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!