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Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval
What in the world is going on?
These days the world has everyone spinning. Weekly terrorist attacks. The refugee crisis. Transgender bathrooms. Academic safe spaces. Tensions with Russia. A perpetually uncertain economy. The list goes on. It's enough to make us crazy... or want to put our heads in the sand.
But we can't, because these are our times, and we must face them. So what many Christians are looking for is someone to communicate a way forward--someone who both understands culture and trusts the Bible. Mark Sayers is such a leader, one who "writes from the future." He is a gifted cultural analysist who combines his biblical knowledge, curious mind, and pastoral heart to offer a guide to the times. Strange Days will help Christians slow down, get their bearings, and follow God with wisdom and tact in this wild world.
These days the world has everyone spinning. Weekly terrorist attacks. The refugee crisis. Transgender bathrooms. Academic safe spaces. Tensions with Russia. A perpetually uncertain economy. The list goes on. It's enough to make us crazy... or want to put our heads in the sand.
But we can't, because these are our times, and we must face them. So what many Christians are looking for is someone to communicate a way forward--someone who both understands culture and trusts the Bible. Mark Sayers is such a leader, one who "writes from the future." He is a gifted cultural analysist who combines his biblical knowledge, curious mind, and pastoral heart to offer a guide to the times. Strange Days will help Christians slow down, get their bearings, and follow God with wisdom and tact in this wild world.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2017
106 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Mark Sayers
20 books258 followersMark Sayers is the senior leader of Red Church and the cofounder of Über Ministries. He is particularly interested in the intersection between Christianity and the culture of the West. Mark lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Trudi, and their daughter (Grace) and twin boys (Hudson and Billy).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 8, 2017
An unexpectedly awesome book. The cover definitely does not match the content! Don't let the flashy neon cover deter you as it did me. This book contains very deep, old, valuable ideas which you should read! Go read it! Now!
Sayers dissects, mixes, and analyzes a whole bunch of ideas like globalization, Western society, cultural movements, consumerism, religion, technology, adolescence, purity, boundaries, sacrifice, spirit vs. flesh, etc...
"Whether we are atheist, Christian, Jew, Hindu or agnostic, the secular liturgy of the non-places of globalization shapes us to view the world in its particular way, to see creation as a kind of personal playground." p. 68-69
I received a free copy of this book while at Book Expo America in New York City in summer 2017.
Sayers dissects, mixes, and analyzes a whole bunch of ideas like globalization, Western society, cultural movements, consumerism, religion, technology, adolescence, purity, boundaries, sacrifice, spirit vs. flesh, etc...
"Whether we are atheist, Christian, Jew, Hindu or agnostic, the secular liturgy of the non-places of globalization shapes us to view the world in its particular way, to see creation as a kind of personal playground." p. 68-69
I received a free copy of this book while at Book Expo America in New York City in summer 2017.
May 16, 2018
A really extraordinary work. Sayers always has unique perspectives, but in this case he pulls a larger picture together that many of us have many grasping at one corner of, before prophetically looking into the future of the church and the confidence in Christ that is both still coming and yet is here with us now.
Every follower of Jesus who lives in the West should have a read. Only 180 pages and worth every penny.
Every follower of Jesus who lives in the West should have a read. Only 180 pages and worth every penny.
January 12, 2018
Mark Sayers speaks truth by reminding us that, "our age is not as modern, unique, and progressive as it believes. Like all ages, it is shaped by the elemental forces" (pg 170). This seems to be the running theme in his book Strange Days. Here he tackles our modern-day plights as Christians.
Sayers discusses culture as we know it and how it came to be so. He suggests how we, as Christians, should live in this modern world.
Sayers breaks down the book into three main parts. Part one deals with the biblical pattern of chaos. He addresses: the role of media, terrorism, immigration and refugees, corruption and failing institutions, confusing conflicts, cultural wars, political polarization, and disconnection in a seemingly connected world. He ties all of these topics together under what we view as globalization. Part two talks about the historical pattern of chaos and shows us how we can see specific movements from Scripture occurring in our world. Part three concludes this book by looking at how we are called to live in this world while living out our Christian faith and escape from the chaos through living a life in the Spirit.
This is an interesting analysis of culture, international relations throughout modern times, and the church past and present. Strange Days is a great and relevant read for our times. I really enjoyed the thought process for the response by the church.
This is a recommended read for all Christians and non-Christians alike, especially those seeking a biblical explanation and understanding of the days that we live in.
Sayers discusses culture as we know it and how it came to be so. He suggests how we, as Christians, should live in this modern world.
Sayers breaks down the book into three main parts. Part one deals with the biblical pattern of chaos. He addresses: the role of media, terrorism, immigration and refugees, corruption and failing institutions, confusing conflicts, cultural wars, political polarization, and disconnection in a seemingly connected world. He ties all of these topics together under what we view as globalization. Part two talks about the historical pattern of chaos and shows us how we can see specific movements from Scripture occurring in our world. Part three concludes this book by looking at how we are called to live in this world while living out our Christian faith and escape from the chaos through living a life in the Spirit.
This is an interesting analysis of culture, international relations throughout modern times, and the church past and present. Strange Days is a great and relevant read for our times. I really enjoyed the thought process for the response by the church.
This is a recommended read for all Christians and non-Christians alike, especially those seeking a biblical explanation and understanding of the days that we live in.
June 1, 2023
Relevant, wise, and packed with truth. Mark Sayers is one of my favorite speakers & writers - especially on the topic of cultural perspectives with a Biblical worldview. His tone is refreshing and never fear-based, and he packs in so much information and encouragement. I plan to re-read this one.
April 26, 2020
I don’t agree with everything in Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval, but I’m solidly with Mark Sayers in one of his firmest conclusions. He writes: “The church, in our strange days, needs to be embedded in the soil in which it finds itself, speaking the local language and reflecting its community. Yet, it cannot give into its community’s myths, most pressingly the myth of the self as god. We need effective communication, eliminating unnecessary and unessential barriers to the cross, yet we must also realize that we cannot lower the bar in order to leave the flesh unchallenged.” (p. 171) In times of terrorism, culture war, polarized politics, and (at least, today) pandemic, Strange Days does a much better job of describing what is wrong than a plan for implementing what is beneficial. But he is clearly right with his diagnosis of what is wrong with the evangelical church, torn between the extremes of declaring a culture war on secular society and contextualizing such that we can no longer make distinctions between the church and the world (p. 152).
Strange Days tries to grapple with the reasons our society seems to be pulling apart. Some of the problem Sayers blames on the ever-increasing pace of the news cycle, what he cites Douglas Rushkoff as causing “present shock” rather than what the 20th century worried about, future shock (p. 10). Some of the problem is blamed on a cultural collision: “Frictions are felt between migrants with traditional values and local populations committed to Western progressive values (particularly in regard to sexuality, gender, and religious issues). Western leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel have thus declared the death of multiculturalism, creating mechanisms to conform migrants’ values to those of majority culture. … another sign of increasing cultural tension in the West, ….” (p. 13) Naturally, coming from the evangelical perspective, Sayers views some of the problem as coming from soft-living and moral entropy. In addition to biblical sources, he cites Herodotus, Xenophon, Aristotle, and Tacitus as being aware that wealth, power, and moral decay destroy societies from within (p. 32). “Our unhindered comfort not only makes us spiritually sick, but mentally and physically weak. We are like astronauts coming back from space, muscles atrophies after months of zero gravity. Our lack of hardship weakens our resilience.” (p. 121)
But Sayers doesn’t merely see boundlessness in morality; he sees globalization as disrupting our boundaries, quoting Benjamin Barber’s Jihad vs. McWorld as accusing globalization making the world appear to be “falling precipitously apart and coming reluctantly together at the very same moment.” (p. 46) And from globalization as the villain, Sayers turns to the point where we significantly disagree. Where I may agree with him that, “Spaces that are not concerned with history, relationships, or identity, then, are non-places. …hotels, airports, and highways are examples of non-places.” (p. 63) Here he posits that there is no shared identity in non-places but then, he takes the leap to calling the connectivity of the web (and other telecommunications tools) non-places as well.
Okay, as well-read as Sayers is, and as much as I agree with much of what he says, my experience of the Internet has been different. Sayers argues, without using the term, from a “social displacement” theory of our connectedness. That means he is conscious that the time we spend on technological gadgets necessarily reduces our social engagement in the material world. He seems unaware of “social compensation” theory which recognizes a “give-and-take” between the material and virtual worlds. Our social circle in the material world may decrease, but it increases in the virtual world.
People like Sayers would immediately respond that our “virtual communities” don’t count as much as material communities. Yet, they have a broadening of influences and ideas that mitigates the localized, tribalized, parochial effect of many communities (especially rural, but also evident in urban snobbery). “Virtual communities” assist members in building an entropic network of weak ties which, in turn, has been shown to be more productive and lead to more innovation than localized groups. And, though I could write a whole screed here, “virtual communities” also provide incredible opportunities for socialization when disabled, disfigured, and hopelessly shy individuals find their voice heard for the first time because, in a virtual world, people can find out WHO you are before you are judged on appearance and demographics.
One can see in the following quotation where Sayers puts the “virtual communities” that I see as having social and individual benefit despite the “Wild West” mentality of some spaces on the web. “Instead of a fractious, fragmented, fiery online reality, there is calm, peace, a pleasant parallel universe. Friendly nods, waves of recognition, the hum of small talk.” (p. 142) There he is comparing the most negative images of the web against the most idealistic images of the church. Has he never seen how far many churches have strayed from “Oh, how they love one another!” to “Ooh, how divided they are!” To be fair, Sayers occasionally chides believers to live up to what the gospel should make us, but as with a politician polishing her points or a ruthless debater ignoring the points from the other side, there are times that it becomes annoying.
There is more benefit than deficit in Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval, but that issue with handling connectivity as a “non-place” versus the whitewashing of serious problems in many churches worked against my ability to internalize as much of Sayers’ message as I probably should have.
Strange Days tries to grapple with the reasons our society seems to be pulling apart. Some of the problem Sayers blames on the ever-increasing pace of the news cycle, what he cites Douglas Rushkoff as causing “present shock” rather than what the 20th century worried about, future shock (p. 10). Some of the problem is blamed on a cultural collision: “Frictions are felt between migrants with traditional values and local populations committed to Western progressive values (particularly in regard to sexuality, gender, and religious issues). Western leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel have thus declared the death of multiculturalism, creating mechanisms to conform migrants’ values to those of majority culture. … another sign of increasing cultural tension in the West, ….” (p. 13) Naturally, coming from the evangelical perspective, Sayers views some of the problem as coming from soft-living and moral entropy. In addition to biblical sources, he cites Herodotus, Xenophon, Aristotle, and Tacitus as being aware that wealth, power, and moral decay destroy societies from within (p. 32). “Our unhindered comfort not only makes us spiritually sick, but mentally and physically weak. We are like astronauts coming back from space, muscles atrophies after months of zero gravity. Our lack of hardship weakens our resilience.” (p. 121)
But Sayers doesn’t merely see boundlessness in morality; he sees globalization as disrupting our boundaries, quoting Benjamin Barber’s Jihad vs. McWorld as accusing globalization making the world appear to be “falling precipitously apart and coming reluctantly together at the very same moment.” (p. 46) And from globalization as the villain, Sayers turns to the point where we significantly disagree. Where I may agree with him that, “Spaces that are not concerned with history, relationships, or identity, then, are non-places. …hotels, airports, and highways are examples of non-places.” (p. 63) Here he posits that there is no shared identity in non-places but then, he takes the leap to calling the connectivity of the web (and other telecommunications tools) non-places as well.
Okay, as well-read as Sayers is, and as much as I agree with much of what he says, my experience of the Internet has been different. Sayers argues, without using the term, from a “social displacement” theory of our connectedness. That means he is conscious that the time we spend on technological gadgets necessarily reduces our social engagement in the material world. He seems unaware of “social compensation” theory which recognizes a “give-and-take” between the material and virtual worlds. Our social circle in the material world may decrease, but it increases in the virtual world.
People like Sayers would immediately respond that our “virtual communities” don’t count as much as material communities. Yet, they have a broadening of influences and ideas that mitigates the localized, tribalized, parochial effect of many communities (especially rural, but also evident in urban snobbery). “Virtual communities” assist members in building an entropic network of weak ties which, in turn, has been shown to be more productive and lead to more innovation than localized groups. And, though I could write a whole screed here, “virtual communities” also provide incredible opportunities for socialization when disabled, disfigured, and hopelessly shy individuals find their voice heard for the first time because, in a virtual world, people can find out WHO you are before you are judged on appearance and demographics.
One can see in the following quotation where Sayers puts the “virtual communities” that I see as having social and individual benefit despite the “Wild West” mentality of some spaces on the web. “Instead of a fractious, fragmented, fiery online reality, there is calm, peace, a pleasant parallel universe. Friendly nods, waves of recognition, the hum of small talk.” (p. 142) There he is comparing the most negative images of the web against the most idealistic images of the church. Has he never seen how far many churches have strayed from “Oh, how they love one another!” to “Ooh, how divided they are!” To be fair, Sayers occasionally chides believers to live up to what the gospel should make us, but as with a politician polishing her points or a ruthless debater ignoring the points from the other side, there are times that it becomes annoying.
There is more benefit than deficit in Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval, but that issue with handling connectivity as a “non-place” versus the whitewashing of serious problems in many churches worked against my ability to internalize as much of Sayers’ message as I probably should have.
July 16, 2017
Sayers does it again! His ability to discuss culture and how we as Christians should live in it and not of it is amazing. This was a great, interesting, well-researched book that I found super helpful. While it took me a little while to get into, once I did, it was excellent.
I am going to sum this review up with one, of many, excellent quotes from this book:
"Crucially, we see the true end of history, not achieved by liberal democracy, a re-embrace of blood & soil, or via a technological-driven globalisation, but by the return of Christ, who will unite heaven & earth...It is a resource that transforms our daily lives, giving us the grandest narrative that re-orientates what is important and what is simply passing."
I am going to sum this review up with one, of many, excellent quotes from this book:
"Crucially, we see the true end of history, not achieved by liberal democracy, a re-embrace of blood & soil, or via a technological-driven globalisation, but by the return of Christ, who will unite heaven & earth...It is a resource that transforms our daily lives, giving us the grandest narrative that re-orientates what is important and what is simply passing."
November 25, 2017
Incredible. So so helpful for followers of Jesus living in 2017. Almost guarantee I will read this book multiple times over the following years.
December 11, 2017
Great description of the rapidly changing culture we live in, with some good terminology. One weakness is that the author overlooked the role of demonic forces in the culture.
February 3, 2021
I came across Mark Sayers via his podcast, This Cultural Moment. After gaining a lot from Mark’s cultural insights and his reflections on how they impact The Christian life, I decided to read one of his books. I’m so glad I did. Sayers has a depth of insight due to an incredible knowledge of political, sociological, historical and philosophical topics which he synthesises to explain how we have reached this particular cultural moment in the world. Not only are Sayers’ insights profound and eye-opening, they are also a soothing balm to the restless and weary soul. This is because Sayers does an excellent job of making macro sociocultural issues easy to understand, while also making the reader feel less alone simply by showing the reader that there is a reason behind these strange days and that none of us are alone in feeling unsettled. Sayers then helpfully provides solutions to the issues he raises, by encouraging the Christian to clasp onto life in the spirit with joy, and embrace the community we are given as we live in the spirit. I would highly recommend this read to anyone who feels weary in their soul particularly as the world continues to wrestle with the effects of the pandemic in the next number of years.
July 11, 2023
Starts off slow, gets really good in the second 2/3 of the book. Sometimes I have a hard time perceiving the point sayers is trying to make. Sometimes he has a sentence that deserves a book, but in the end is probably just a summary of some other book. I really have a love/hate relationship with his endnotes because I discover new books but for every one book I read by sayers my reading list grows by 4 or 5.
Overall, Sayers has a great critique of our politicized world and offers living by the spirit as a “transgressive” alternative.
Love the Chicago river on the cover.
Overall, Sayers has a great critique of our politicized world and offers living by the spirit as a “transgressive” alternative.
Love the Chicago river on the cover.
July 10, 2018
By no means does my rating reflect how influential and helpful Sayers has been for me as a Christian cultural commentator. I just think this book tried to explain a lot and had trouble focusing on a handful of things to bring clarity to. My big takeaway was the idea of these "non-places" we often live in where we have no commitment, no relationships, no responsibility, a place where millennials are often headed and desire to end up in. However, in these "non-places" we actually only find a lack of purpose and loneliness and no growth as an individual. Very helpful perspective!
September 15, 2021
Sayers does a great job of putting words to what is going on in our society, and the implications of it for Christians. It's a book I'll want to read again to process more!
February 5, 2018
OK, I'm very on the fence about this book. On the one hand, I had SUCH HIGH HOPES and feel like my qualms with it could be solved if the book was honestly just a little bit longer... not so quick to move past some things and given more room to deal with some particular topics.
On the other hand (and especially if you've been following what's been going on at Moody Bible Institute, home of Moody Publishing), I think there's some serious issues with a book that claims to address the issues that this one does, and then spends numerous pages bemoaning the dangers of liberalism (and he does give a fair critique of the ideology, so my issue isn't with him "not being liberal" persay), and giving about 3 paragraphs to the other side that total up to essentially "the far right is bad and uses internet trolling so it's hard to figure out what they actually want, oh and sometimes the Christian establishment doesn't help." In the US at this particular time in history, I don't think the church can afford to act like they have NO IDEA how things got this bad on the right, nor do I think they get to play the "I'm so oppressed by liberalism!" card. The true, Spirit-filled, orthodox church, maybe, but as long as the Franklin Grahams and Pat Robertsons of the world are on TV and saying what they're saying, I think Mark Sayers needs to watch his thesis a little.
And all this is not to say that the book is garbage... he makes some interesting points, his stuff about non-places and the loss of home as our source of chaos is excellent, and his last few chapters about life in the Spirit, while not particularly groundbreaking, were encouraging and insightful. In the end, I guess my issues boil down to: if you're going to attempt a cultural critique, you have to be spot on on the diagnosis. While I think Sayers is generally correct in his, more depth would have helped.
On the other hand (and especially if you've been following what's been going on at Moody Bible Institute, home of Moody Publishing), I think there's some serious issues with a book that claims to address the issues that this one does, and then spends numerous pages bemoaning the dangers of liberalism (and he does give a fair critique of the ideology, so my issue isn't with him "not being liberal" persay), and giving about 3 paragraphs to the other side that total up to essentially "the far right is bad and uses internet trolling so it's hard to figure out what they actually want, oh and sometimes the Christian establishment doesn't help." In the US at this particular time in history, I don't think the church can afford to act like they have NO IDEA how things got this bad on the right, nor do I think they get to play the "I'm so oppressed by liberalism!" card. The true, Spirit-filled, orthodox church, maybe, but as long as the Franklin Grahams and Pat Robertsons of the world are on TV and saying what they're saying, I think Mark Sayers needs to watch his thesis a little.
And all this is not to say that the book is garbage... he makes some interesting points, his stuff about non-places and the loss of home as our source of chaos is excellent, and his last few chapters about life in the Spirit, while not particularly groundbreaking, were encouraging and insightful. In the end, I guess my issues boil down to: if you're going to attempt a cultural critique, you have to be spot on on the diagnosis. While I think Sayers is generally correct in his, more depth would have helped.
September 25, 2018
I recommend reading everything by Sayers. Few in the church can rival his ability to analyze and dissect the current cultural moment, as well as to express those analyses as articulately and potently as he. Sayers does, indeed, capture the ethos of our "strange days," and he points us in the direction of faithful witness for our times. A weakness in Sayers' last work, Disappearing Church, was the imbalance between diagnosis and remedy. It was heavy on analyzing what's happening now and light on how to actually live Christianly in the face of it. He improves upon that weakness in this work, devoting the last chapter to thinking through how to live life in the Spirit in the face of the turmoil, confusion, and anxiety of our age. Admittedly, one could have asked for more, as the prescription is basically to live the discipled life, quietly and lovingly, while embracing the theology of the border-smashing practice of Communion. It's not a bad prescription and inherently biblical. However, one might have asked for ways to course correct for the many churches that have, in his terms, fallen back to the elemental forces and basically lost their distinctive witness for Christ and kingdom.
July 9, 2017
Christianity Today reviewed the author in its recent magazine and I was attracted to the rather profound responses the author gave. The book continues much of the same themes and was well worth the time to read.
I was quite taken by how deep and profound the author's insights were about the current social changes in America today. I liked that he approached recent rises in the alt-right and far left in an objective manner and provided a good Christian perspective about how the church can weather these seismic changes. The book is particularly strong in the first half of the book, but there are great insights throughout. I plan to read more books by this author.
I was quite taken by how deep and profound the author's insights were about the current social changes in America today. I liked that he approached recent rises in the alt-right and far left in an objective manner and provided a good Christian perspective about how the church can weather these seismic changes. The book is particularly strong in the first half of the book, but there are great insights throughout. I plan to read more books by this author.
December 21, 2018
I was first exposed to Sayers on the “This Cultural Moment” podcast. I Highly recommend that podcast. This book was not a disappointment. Great for seeing the ways that different worldviews are currently shaping the world. Especially helpful in exposing radical individualism. I really appreciate that he critiques both liberal and conservative. He doesn’t place blame, but explains the belief systems behind right and left ideas and compares and contrasts them with biblical ideas.
The tag line is a bit misleading, ad he really only addresses “life in the spirit” in The last chapter.
But there is a lot of food for thought here.
The tag line is a bit misleading, ad he really only addresses “life in the spirit” in The last chapter.
But there is a lot of food for thought here.
January 28, 2020
Insightful commentary on the cultural realities of today, exploring everything from Islam, the New Left, the Alt Right, and what it all means for the church. I found both his ability to pull things together and make kingdom conclusions very helpful and invigorating.
April 18, 2020
I'm totally with Kris' review on this. An unexpectedly awesome book. The cover does not match the content. Yes, I too was put off by the odd neon cover.
And I'm also totally with Mike Wardrop's comment: "A really extraordinary work. Sayers always has unique perspectives, but in this case he pulls a larger picture together that many of us have many grasping at one corner of, before prophetically looking into the future of the church and the confidence in Christ that is both still coming and yet is here with us now."
I only went looking for it because I had actually enjoyed Facing Leviathan: Leadership, Influence, and Creating in a Cultural Storm—yes, enjoyed!—while I was researching the spirit of Leviathan. It's not often I just simply enjoy a relaxing read during research. I enjoy uncovering nuggets but it's not the same sort of enjoyment that comes from relaxing with a free-flowing, almost-but-not-quite-stream-of-consciousness story-laden book.
I guess it's the stories. I found both books incredibly absorbing, thought-provoking and easy to read. Despite the new insights, they were presented in such an accessible way, the book flowed from beginning to end and I read it in a single sitting.
Here are some things I was reminded of during reading or else learned for the first time. Either way, I don't want to forget them again:
The root of the word "culture" is cultus, a Latin word meaning "to care, or tend a sacred site of worship." Culture is an expression of worship. (p 41)
Sayers contrasts "places" and "non-places". (p 61 ff) As he wrote of airports as "non-places", I was reminded of my local airport which, now I understand the idea, is intensifying its "non-place" aspect. I rather liked my local because it had different shops that other airports, and even the ones that were the same as other places were scattered in a unique way. The set-up enabled me to orient myself when I got there. But in the latest refurbishment I was astonished to see that an identical row of shops (I suspect in identical order) to other major airports is underway. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to make all airports look alike. Now that I get the "non-place" is about no-history, no-relationships and no-identity, this sameness makes sense.
And I'm also totally with Mike Wardrop's comment: "A really extraordinary work. Sayers always has unique perspectives, but in this case he pulls a larger picture together that many of us have many grasping at one corner of, before prophetically looking into the future of the church and the confidence in Christ that is both still coming and yet is here with us now."
I only went looking for it because I had actually enjoyed Facing Leviathan: Leadership, Influence, and Creating in a Cultural Storm—yes, enjoyed!—while I was researching the spirit of Leviathan. It's not often I just simply enjoy a relaxing read during research. I enjoy uncovering nuggets but it's not the same sort of enjoyment that comes from relaxing with a free-flowing, almost-but-not-quite-stream-of-consciousness story-laden book.
I guess it's the stories. I found both books incredibly absorbing, thought-provoking and easy to read. Despite the new insights, they were presented in such an accessible way, the book flowed from beginning to end and I read it in a single sitting.
Here are some things I was reminded of during reading or else learned for the first time. Either way, I don't want to forget them again:
The root of the word "culture" is cultus, a Latin word meaning "to care, or tend a sacred site of worship." Culture is an expression of worship. (p 41)
Sayers contrasts "places" and "non-places". (p 61 ff) As he wrote of airports as "non-places", I was reminded of my local airport which, now I understand the idea, is intensifying its "non-place" aspect. I rather liked my local because it had different shops that other airports, and even the ones that were the same as other places were scattered in a unique way. The set-up enabled me to orient myself when I got there. But in the latest refurbishment I was astonished to see that an identical row of shops (I suspect in identical order) to other major airports is underway. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to make all airports look alike. Now that I get the "non-place" is about no-history, no-relationships and no-identity, this sameness makes sense.
June 16, 2020
Mark Sayers is a singular voice in the arena of cultural analysis and correlation. He is able to zoom out with a wide-lens look at cultural trends and values to help you understand the general underpinnings and then rush back in for personal application.
Sayers’ book pulls us roughly into the chaos of the world around us and then seeks to give biblical categories for understanding. He then dips into cultural analysis, bringing together such chaotic threads as globalism, polarized politics, terrorism, and technology. Finally, he ends by urging us to cease striving and seeking to find ourselves in what is ultimately on anxiety inducing and instead be made new by the Spirit of Jesus. Only by abandoning the elemental ways of life in the flesh and pursing life in the Spirit can we find the good life we have been promised.
As a pastor, Sayers is using biblical passages framed by the biblical narrative to shed light on our present struggles. For instance, he explains how globalism is connected to the biblical theme of chaos epitomized by raging nations in Psalm 2. Post Cold-War, those believing in the “end of history” (that history was ending in an upward swing of free democratic societies) nations find new progress as they come together globally in locations Sayers labels non-spaces (sterile environments in which, paradoxically, all cultures are welcome so long as they adopt Western ideals of sameness). However, this has actually created a backlash of nationalism and religious zeal. Since all cultures are, at the end of the day, determined by what they prioritize (worship), the nations rage against each other as they jockey for position and against God in idolatry. The answer, as Sayers shows us, is in acknowledging the bankruptcy of the “end of history” view and adopting a wartime mindset as people defined not by place, but exile, not by success, but by the Spirit.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has looked or is looking now at the world around them and wondering, What the is going on? By pointing beyond this world into supernatural, spiritual rescue, Sayers looks to introduce us to the personality who alone can lead us through the chaos safely home.
Sayers’ book pulls us roughly into the chaos of the world around us and then seeks to give biblical categories for understanding. He then dips into cultural analysis, bringing together such chaotic threads as globalism, polarized politics, terrorism, and technology. Finally, he ends by urging us to cease striving and seeking to find ourselves in what is ultimately on anxiety inducing and instead be made new by the Spirit of Jesus. Only by abandoning the elemental ways of life in the flesh and pursing life in the Spirit can we find the good life we have been promised.
As a pastor, Sayers is using biblical passages framed by the biblical narrative to shed light on our present struggles. For instance, he explains how globalism is connected to the biblical theme of chaos epitomized by raging nations in Psalm 2. Post Cold-War, those believing in the “end of history” (that history was ending in an upward swing of free democratic societies) nations find new progress as they come together globally in locations Sayers labels non-spaces (sterile environments in which, paradoxically, all cultures are welcome so long as they adopt Western ideals of sameness). However, this has actually created a backlash of nationalism and religious zeal. Since all cultures are, at the end of the day, determined by what they prioritize (worship), the nations rage against each other as they jockey for position and against God in idolatry. The answer, as Sayers shows us, is in acknowledging the bankruptcy of the “end of history” view and adopting a wartime mindset as people defined not by place, but exile, not by success, but by the Spirit.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has looked or is looking now at the world around them and wondering, What the is going on? By pointing beyond this world into supernatural, spiritual rescue, Sayers looks to introduce us to the personality who alone can lead us through the chaos safely home.
February 18, 2022
4.9/5 -- This is an absolutely profound, enthralling commentary on our culture and the church. Also a beautiful, holistic call/challenge to disciples of Jesus to live a grounded-yet-glorious, quiet-yet-bold, and equipped-yet-spontaneous life in the Spirit to reflect God to the chaotic, confused, anxious, increasingly immoral society all around us in the West. I went into it with high expectations (because I highly respect Mark Sayers, having listened to his This Cultural Moment podcast) and it exceeded even those!
I was blown away by the care he took with painting a picture of not only what's going on right now, but also how we got to where we are. Very important and enlightening pieces of contextualized historical accounts to add the shading and contours needed to fully appreciate the current state of affairs. Honestly, some parts were difficult to digest, especially as he kept piling on the extreme and upsetting realities of our Western culture on top of each other in a dizzying buffet of gross and disturbing proportions.
The places/non-places chapter was awesome, as were his points on the achievement culture as one of the results of the failure to capitalize on the optimism brought on by the fall of the Berlin Wall. And the end section was tremendous! I ended up writing down so many quotes from this book. Can't say enough good things about it.
The only subtraction to the overall rating is due to the fact that some parts could have been longer/elaborated upon. And, barely worth mentioning, as someone else noted in another review here, the cover is... kinda... strange...? ;-) (It just doesn't quite match the breadth and intellect and wisdom found on the pages within.)
But all in all, an extraordinary book. Tiny, minor flaws that are easily overlooked for the rest of the enlightening, ultimately edifying content written by a solid man of God, an admirable brother in Christ. Well done and thank you, Mr. Sayers. :)
I was blown away by the care he took with painting a picture of not only what's going on right now, but also how we got to where we are. Very important and enlightening pieces of contextualized historical accounts to add the shading and contours needed to fully appreciate the current state of affairs. Honestly, some parts were difficult to digest, especially as he kept piling on the extreme and upsetting realities of our Western culture on top of each other in a dizzying buffet of gross and disturbing proportions.
The places/non-places chapter was awesome, as were his points on the achievement culture as one of the results of the failure to capitalize on the optimism brought on by the fall of the Berlin Wall. And the end section was tremendous! I ended up writing down so many quotes from this book. Can't say enough good things about it.
The only subtraction to the overall rating is due to the fact that some parts could have been longer/elaborated upon. And, barely worth mentioning, as someone else noted in another review here, the cover is... kinda... strange...? ;-) (It just doesn't quite match the breadth and intellect and wisdom found on the pages within.)
But all in all, an extraordinary book. Tiny, minor flaws that are easily overlooked for the rest of the enlightening, ultimately edifying content written by a solid man of God, an admirable brother in Christ. Well done and thank you, Mr. Sayers. :)
May 5, 2017
In Strange Days, Mark Sayers takes events from the present and shows how the current happenings flow from the past. He adds some very interesting tidbits of events I knew nothing of such as the man who proclaimed himself king of Sealand , a dilapidated World War antiaircraft platform located several miles off the English coast in the North Sea. Believe it or not, rival businessmen hired goons to seize this platform and the family fought for it. The added bits and pieces in this book often made me laugh or gave me a lot to think about as I shared them with my husband and other people.
There is a seriousness to this book too. It often seems as if it gets a little more difficult to be in the world as the days go by. When I watch the news, I am astonished by how many murders there are and the way that adults abuse children—sadly that’s become a constant in this world. Marriage is changing faster than I can blink an eye, and who knows who will end up in a public bathroom stall next to me. Christians are laughed at and looked down on by many—blamed for every bad thing that has happened since the beginning of time. What is a Christ follower to do?
I feel the author did an excellent job of covering this subject and ties it up neatly with a conclusion that shows how the New Testament calls life in the Spirit an alternative to the chaos of our time.
There is a seriousness to this book too. It often seems as if it gets a little more difficult to be in the world as the days go by. When I watch the news, I am astonished by how many murders there are and the way that adults abuse children—sadly that’s become a constant in this world. Marriage is changing faster than I can blink an eye, and who knows who will end up in a public bathroom stall next to me. Christians are laughed at and looked down on by many—blamed for every bad thing that has happened since the beginning of time. What is a Christ follower to do?
I feel the author did an excellent job of covering this subject and ties it up neatly with a conclusion that shows how the New Testament calls life in the Spirit an alternative to the chaos of our time.
May 24, 2020
What in the world is going on? Written before COVID-19 the reader can still interject what happened through that into this book as the author talks about the economic crisis of 2008. Near to the beginning, the author asks the questions, "What is it to live a life in the Spirit in a moment of anxiety, upheaval and extremes?" He then delves back into history.
What is the New Left? What is their philosophy? What about the Alternative Right? Written in 2017 it is interesting that the author refers to a novel based in 2020! What does all this mean for the church? "The chaos will not disappear." I had to smile at the following quote:
"All the powers swarming around us, most of them beyond our understanding, have been disarmed. Yes, they are still active, but only in the same way a chicken is after its head is cut off!"
Comes back to the fact that programs, politics etc. cannot save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus can do that. What should the church's response be to all that goes on? What is the end of history concept many have "bought" into that is not biblical.
This was the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to others. Thanks, Liz
What is the New Left? What is their philosophy? What about the Alternative Right? Written in 2017 it is interesting that the author refers to a novel based in 2020! What does all this mean for the church? "The chaos will not disappear." I had to smile at the following quote:
"All the powers swarming around us, most of them beyond our understanding, have been disarmed. Yes, they are still active, but only in the same way a chicken is after its head is cut off!"
Comes back to the fact that programs, politics etc. cannot save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus can do that. What should the church's response be to all that goes on? What is the end of history concept many have "bought" into that is not biblical.
This was the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to others. Thanks, Liz
May 5, 2021
The author, Mark Sayers, is a Christian, pastor of an Australian church. He is well aware of the need for renewal in today’s Christian community in a world of terrible suffering and hate.
As the Cold War ended between the Soviet and western nations, many thought that a new age beckoned, full of hope, when civilization would triumph. Young people were entering a golden age when dreams would be fulfilled. Narcissism and hubris reigned.
Events like the terrorist targeting of the World Trade Center on 9/ll and the new wars in the Middle East shocked the world from its easy view of life. Financial crises shook people’s belief in the current banking system overseen by the United States. The coming of social media increasingly shaped lives toward shopping and consumerism and the temporary.
Sayers calls for the church today to respond by living a different kind of life, life as a creative minority. Christians, he writes, follow the teachings of Jesus, not the gods of flesh and consumerism.
As an example, Sayers reminds readers that the early Christian church overcame similar lifestyles in the Roman world by forming congregations who chose different ways. Those lifestyles were symbolized by the simple breaking of bread together around a table in community.
As the Cold War ended between the Soviet and western nations, many thought that a new age beckoned, full of hope, when civilization would triumph. Young people were entering a golden age when dreams would be fulfilled. Narcissism and hubris reigned.
Events like the terrorist targeting of the World Trade Center on 9/ll and the new wars in the Middle East shocked the world from its easy view of life. Financial crises shook people’s belief in the current banking system overseen by the United States. The coming of social media increasingly shaped lives toward shopping and consumerism and the temporary.
Sayers calls for the church today to respond by living a different kind of life, life as a creative minority. Christians, he writes, follow the teachings of Jesus, not the gods of flesh and consumerism.
As an example, Sayers reminds readers that the early Christian church overcame similar lifestyles in the Roman world by forming congregations who chose different ways. Those lifestyles were symbolized by the simple breaking of bread together around a table in community.
February 5, 2020
I've heard this isn't Sayers best book, but all of Sayers writings, teachings and podcasts seem beautifully similar. He critiques culture helping Christians see how the Western culture has been shaped by the past- the flaws and dangers in it. And he offers a hope found in simply walking with Christ day by day in the Spirit. His solution for being a Christian in this age is daily living by the Spirit standing in contrast to a technological, success-driven mindset. I have hope when I read or listen to Sayers. He taps back into an essential element of what it is to be a Christian. It means that Christ lives in us and our lives are completely shaped by that. We are meant to be different than the world around us- in fact, we can't help but be different as we fight in the struggle of the flesh against the spirit.
I'm not sure if this is completely unique in Sayers' writings, but this book does speak to the political climate in America and the Western world as a whole. He helps understand how politics are getting pushed more to extremes. That was another beneficial contribution of this book.
I'm not sure if this is completely unique in Sayers' writings, but this book does speak to the political climate in America and the Western world as a whole. He helps understand how politics are getting pushed more to extremes. That was another beneficial contribution of this book.
July 23, 2020
I already knew I loved Mark Sayers from his podcast This Cultural Moment, but being able to read through the simplicity and yet profoundness of his thoughts at my own pace (and steal quotes from every chapter) was helpful. I appreciate how well-read Mark is, and love watching him pull together thoughts and perspectives from other faithful followers of Jesus throughout the ages to shed light on this time in history. There were some new ideas sprinkled throughout some other ideas with which I was more familiar, but regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would encourage anyone who is wanting to step outside of their own cultural/generational perspective as they consider what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this cultural moment to read it and follow the work of Mark Sayers.
November 28, 2025
Do you ever look around the world and wonder how we got here? Why is the world constantly in crisis? Why are you living through yet another once-in-a-lifetime calamity?
If so, this is the book for you.
Sayers breaks down how the optimism of the turn of the century, fueled by the fall of the Soviet Union, prepped a generation to expect a better and more just society constantly moving forward, and how that promise let us down.
This is one of those books that is not very long, but pack full of insights that provide aha! moments. It is explicitly written for Christians and addresses how Christians should interact with the world. However, it does so in a very Biblically grounded, sensible way that I found both comforting and encouraging.
I highly recommend.
If so, this is the book for you.
Sayers breaks down how the optimism of the turn of the century, fueled by the fall of the Soviet Union, prepped a generation to expect a better and more just society constantly moving forward, and how that promise let us down.
This is one of those books that is not very long, but pack full of insights that provide aha! moments. It is explicitly written for Christians and addresses how Christians should interact with the world. However, it does so in a very Biblically grounded, sensible way that I found both comforting and encouraging.
I highly recommend.
January 17, 2021
Some challenging commentary about our modern Western culture and how the Gospel presents a better way of love living. Overall, there were a few helpful sections but I felt the content was quite repetitive. "Thus, the church will not be carriers of recognition politics, which seeks to affirm people in the way they wish to be affirmed. The church affirms that the identities we devise apart from God are the problem - that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that we like sheep have gone astray." p. 139, "The damage done by sin in our world means that we cannot have it all. Salvation, yes, but all earthly benefits no." p.158
March 10, 2018
Great cultural exegesis!
A worthwhile read for all Christians, but in particular this is a book that should be read by Christian leaders. Sayers has a great handle on Post-Christendom in the West and especially on what is going on in America. I would probably rate this book 4.5 stars if Goodreads allowed as I would have liked to have seen the applications in this book fleshed out more, but maybe Sayers just wants us to read his Australian contemporary Jon Tyson’s short book “Creative Minority.”
A worthwhile read for all Christians, but in particular this is a book that should be read by Christian leaders. Sayers has a great handle on Post-Christendom in the West and especially on what is going on in America. I would probably rate this book 4.5 stars if Goodreads allowed as I would have liked to have seen the applications in this book fleshed out more, but maybe Sayers just wants us to read his Australian contemporary Jon Tyson’s short book “Creative Minority.”
March 17, 2019
this book is all about the 'new way forward' for Christians increasingly displaced in the wake of globalization. some of his cultural or political commentary I'd would've liked him develop a bit more. for example, his critique of the alt-right. Also, if you haven't read other books of his, some phrases and concepts he uses may seem like out of no where for you. otherwise, I love every next chance I get to read Sayers. Disappearing Church and Facing Leviathan are his best works I've read! Strange Days is perhaps a good synthesis of those two.
November 19, 2017
A fascinating analysis of Western culture, international relations since the end of the Cold War, and the church. Sayers draws on a famous essay - the end of history and the last man (Fukuyama) - which argued that liberal democracy and free markets would leave us completely satisfied. They haven't. In fact, the opposite is true. A great and relevant read for our time. I really enjoyed the candid, but biblical, analysis for the response of the church
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