The Gathering Storm: Secularism, Culture, and the Church

by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

The president of Southern Seminary reveals how secularism has infiltrated every aspect of society and how Christians, equipped with the gospel of Jesus Christ, can meet it head on with hope, confidence, and steadfast conviction. A Storm Is Coming Western civilization and the Christian church stand at a moment of great danger. Facing them both is a hurricane-force battle of ideas that will determine the future of Western civilization and the soul of the Christian church. The forces arrayed against the West and the church are destructive ideologies, policies, and worldviews deeply established among intellectual elites, the political class, and our schools. More menacingly, these forces have also invaded the Christian church. The perils faced by the West and the church are How should Christians respond to this multifaceted challenge? Addressing each dimension of this challenge, The Gathering Storm provides answers and equips Christians both to give an answer for the hope that is within them and to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.

Genres: Christian, Cultural, Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Politics, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2020

About the author

Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.

Dr. Mohler has been recognized by such influential publications as Time and Christianity Today as a leader among American evangelicals. In fact, Time.com called him the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”

In addition to his presidential duties, Dr. Mohler hosts two programs: “The Briefing,” a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview; and “Thinking in Public,” a series of conversations with the day’s leading thinkers. He also writes a popular blog and a regular commentary on moral, cultural and theological issues. All of these can be accessed through Dr. Mohler’s website, www.AlbertMohler.com. Called “an articulate voice for conservative Christianity at large” by The Chicago Tribune, Dr. Mohler’s mission is to address contemporary issues from a consistent and explicit Christian worldview.

Reviews

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The postmodern clouds loom large over our heads. What Francis Schaeffer anticipated in the sixties and seventies is now upon us - in full force. What was once suspected has now arrived. The full force of secularism has invaded our culture and is wreaking havoc in the church.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler addresses the theme of secularism, culture, and the church in his latest book, The Gathering Storm. Each chapter sounds a warning cry to followers of Jesus Christ as the author demonstrates how secular humanism has managed to essentially “dechristianize the culture.” As Francis Schaeffer once wisely noted, “The tragedy of our situation today is that men and women are being fundamentally affected by the new way of looking at truth, and yet they have never even analyzed the drift which has taken place.” Over and over, Mohler demonstrates the radical nature of this seismic shift.

The central theme of the book is that the storm is real and unavoidable. In the eye of the storm lie several key issues - the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and matters that pertain to gender and sexuality. Ignoring the storm will not alter the forecast. Evangelicals, then, must refuse to plant their heads in the ground like the proverbial ostrich.

While the storm is alarming, Dr. Mohler is quick to leave his readers with hope: “The one true God is Lord over history, and he has now called Christians in this generation into the storm.” Anything less would be cowardly and unfaithful to God and his gospel. I commend The Gathering Storm to followers of Christ and also challenge them to pay careful attention to Al Mohler keen insight in this area.

[Susy C. *MotherLambReads* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not an easy listen. It took me several weeks on audio.
But such an important message to America. The whole books minces no detail in explaining how secualarization has come and will continue to destroy us as a Nation. We are in a moral revolution. It’s definitely written for a certain audience (Christians and those with more conservative standing).

I listen to his podcast every day- The Briefing. I find it immensely helpful to keep up with current events but through a Biblical lense.

Maranatha!

[Ryan Trzeciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend once told me that reading/listening to this book was like listening to an extended version of Albert Mohler’s The Briefing. I agree with that sentiment, but I have always appreciated Mohler’s straight forward presentation of the biblical worldview in light of the current issues we face, and this book continues in that tradition. Much of what was discussed in this book is very concerning, and the battles that will come in the near future will be hard, but none of the forces of evil will prevail against the Lord and his church. I join Mohler in his call for the church of Jesus Christ to stand firm on the infallible, authoritative, and sufficient Word of God, and pray for his grace to save the lost, and that his glory be clearly seen in light of the storm that rages around us.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone familiar with Al Mohler’s work with The Briefing podcast will recognize much of the material and the perspective in this book. Mohler has given a lot of time to understanding current National and global events from a Christian worldview, and what he has seen in the last year or so has him (and many faithful Christians) very concerned about the coming trends. The secularizing culture has infiltrated the church and is seeking to reshape our view of the world. If we do not conform to this new worldview, we will likely begin to experience true persecution soon. We need to understand the times that we are living in, make the best use of our time for the sake of the gospel during these evil days, and be willing to suffer for Christ whenever it should come.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever listen to Mohler’s podcast “The Briefing”, then you have heard a large portion of the contents of this book. Even though it is repetitive in some areas this book was still incredibly helpful as Mohler presents the rising secular issues and then tackles them from a Christian worldview. As someone working in ministry I must admit this book was very sobering. I would encourage any Christian wanting to see lost people of the next generation come to know Jesus to read this book.

[W. Derek Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Coming Storm, Then and Now

Al Mohler does an excellent job of explaining the secular worldview and tracing out its implications, especially as these implications relate to our current cultural moment. This book was written in 2020, so some of the things he wrote about are a bit dated, but none of the key ideas are outdated.

I gave this book four stars not because some of its references are a bit dated, but because I think Al Mohler used the storm motif a bit too much. It certainly makes sense to introduce this metaphor at the beginning and refer to it at the end, but I think Dr. Mohler relies on this metaphor too much throughout his book.

Most of what Al Mohler says in this book is still relevant today, even if there’s a “vibe shift” going on now (2025). This vibe shift could easily be undone in the near future unless steps are taken to make certain current changes more permanent. This means that Al Mohler’s warnings are still very relevant and should be carefully considered by all who value maintaining a stable society.

[Josh Ehrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mohler excellently summarizes the state of affairs in the US. It is a sobering look that certainly is contrary to writers like David French who sees some sort of fantasy good news in the courts and elsewhere. What’s clear is that French and his like are deceived about the state of America and the Church. While Mohler describes the storm well, my only criticism is the lack of advice on what Christians should do in the present storm. It is implied but not expressly stated.

[John Uit de Flesch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and clear description of the coming conflicts in America due to moral decay and societal transformation. 90% of the book was focused on the horrible situation. Scant attention given to our response, solutions, mindsets, etc. If you keep up with the news, there will be little new information. Mohler is right however about the coming storm.

[Patrick Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have listened to or read The Briefing, this book will be familiar territory as Mohler takes a look at the growing secularist mindset in our culture. Some of the chapters are definitely worth diving into. I find Mohler’s insights and analysis helpful personally, especially on thinking through some of the more challenging topics.

[Timothy Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mohler is far too intelligent and insightful as well as his ability to synthesize material too sharp to miss the connection of secularism and Critical theory with Critical Race theory. That a chapter was left out about racism and CRT must be deliberate. Considering his status in the SBC and the infamous "resolution 9," it is not too difficult to consider why. This explains my 3 star review to what would have otherwise been a 5 star book that introduced the cultural religion of secularism that has arisen.

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really just can't recommend this one enough. If you are paying any attention at all to what is going on in the world at large, I think you should read this. My husband is now reading this and I've asked my adult children to read it. Mohler does a good job of identifying all the ways that a secular humanistic worldview has infiltrated ideas, policies, and actions. Ironically, the book was just published in 2020, but it came out right before COVID hit and the BLM movement exploded. It's almost prophetic! Not prophetic, really, but he saw hints then of what has now been revealed.

The truth is, the book is a little depressing. The culture around us is bad and it's going to get worse. There IS a revolution going on. But ignorance is not bliss and I think it benefits us to have some idea ourselves what is going on and especially to educate and shape our children's worldview so they aren't taken in by destructive ideologies.

I thought he did a good job giving hope in the final chapter. He reminded us what to put our faith in, where our hope is found, and how to walk (in love). His conclusion of the whole matter was borrowed from Jeremiah: "God spoke to the people of God as they were under severe oppression and told them not to lose heart, and to get busy. 'Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce' (Jeremiah 29:5). What do we do in the face of a secular age? We build houses and live in them. We get married and have babies and grow families and plant churches and make a difference in the world" (197). "Christians reveal their faith in God's plan not only by telling the truth but by living out that truth. (James 2:18) Christians show their faith in God's design by living faithfully within that design. Our marriages, therefore, must last. Our children should know the Scriptures and the storyline of the Bible. Our families ought to be integrally tied to the local church and experience regular fellowship with the body of Christ. Our oppositions to abortion ought to be met with Christian families adopting and fostering children who are in need" (193).

[David Tarkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Albert Mohler has become one of the best-known Christian leaders in the United States over recent years. As president of The Southern Baptist Seminary (SBTS) he has a particular platform in evangelicalism that offers him opportunities to speak and respond to the many issues impacting the world today from a viewpoint described by Mohler and others as a "biblical worldview."

I, for one, have appreciated his input on numerous cultural issues, especially over the past decade and a half, as seismic shifts in cultural norms and the now-termed "moral revolution" has sought to change the landscape of our understanding of right and wrong.

Churchillian Title
One of Dr. Mohler's favorite figures of history (known to anyone who regularly listens to his podcasts or has visited his personal library) is Sir Winston Churchill. The British Prime Minister, known for his solid and tenacious leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II, wrote the first of his six-volume series on the Second World War covering the growing threat of Nazi Germany. Churchill used the title The Gathering Storm for this volume. Mohler credits Churchill's book title as the reason he chose his book's title.

As the threat of Nazism was growing in Europe, many in the UK and elsewhere minimized Hitler's potential impact and most saw Germany's revival as something that would remain within the German borders, not impacting the neighboring nations, much less the world. Churchill, on the other hand, was a voice crying out for others to take note of the growing threat. When it became clear that Hitler and his powerful Third Reich was bent on European (and eventual global) domination, Churchill seemed prophetic as one who had warned of the storm.

In the same way, Dr. Mohler speaks in this new work of the growing and present threat of secularism to the culture and to the church. This is not a cry heretofore unmade. Dr. Mohler, as well as others, have been speaking of these threats for decades. Not unlike many in the UK who heard but ignored Churchill's warnings, sadly it seems that many Christians have either willingly or unintentionally been ignoring the warnings of secularism to such a degree that now the storm is not simply something that may impact us, it is clear that landfall has occurred.

For those, like me, who live in Florida, hurricane preparedness is a way of life. Floridians have different seasons than other regions in the nation. We have spring, summer, football, and hurricane seasons. When hurricane season begins, we begin to watch our local meteorologists more intently as they share of new storms forming off the west coast of Africa. We know those storms often build up, begin spinning with more intensity, and at times, move from tropical depression to tropical storm to hurricane with eventual impact somewhere in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the southeastern coast of the US. The "cone of concern" is developed and we watch daily wondering if we will be impacted personally. Watching the daily hurricane updates is like watching a turtle run a race. It's slow and plodding and uncertain...until it isn't.

Hurricane Warnings
Living in a state where hurricanes are part of our annual schedules, there are often times where warnings are given, but ignored by many. It is akin to the ignoring the flight attendants in commercial flights as they give instructions regarding how to wear the seatbelt, put on oxygen masks, and emergency exit rules. Since most who have flown numerous times have never experienced an in-flight emergency, these repeated warnings go unheard. Yet, when something mid-flight does occur and the oxygen masks fall from the console, it is clear that many would be doing their best to remember what was said pre-flight as they slide into panic.

In our culture wars and shifting sands of morality and rightness, the storm is no longer on the way. It is here. For those who have listened to Dr. Mohler's daily podcast "The Briefing" and at times felt overwhelmed with the data and daily updates of issues that run counter to a biblical worldview, his new book is a welcome resource. Many of the illustrations and delineated accounts in the book have been covered at some point by Dr. Mohler in one of his briefings, but to have the book available giving a systematic unveiling of the history of secularism and the subtle (and overt) impacts of this philosophy in our lives is telling and helpful. In some cases, the shifts have seemed immediate (e.g. the 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage) but in truth are simply the latest visible impacts of the storm gusts upon culture.

Responding to Landfall
When hurricanes make landfall, the impact varies depending on wind speed, the structural strength of the buildings nearby, the depth and health of the roots of trees, and the preparedness of residents. Once the storm has passed, disaster relief teams arrive (many wearing yellow hats representing Southern Baptists serving and helping in Christ's name,) damage assessment occurs, and next steps for recovery begin.

Unlike a natural hurricane, the storm we now face seems to be only increasing in intensity with an ever-widening cone of concern with no end in sight. Yet, as Christians we are affirmed that as we stand firmly on the gospel of Christ, though a narrow foot-hold certainly, we will not only withstand the storm, but thrive in its midst and in the aftermath. So, be encouraged.

In Dr. Mohler's book, he focuses on nine specific issues impacted by the rising secularism. Sadly, this is not only a secular, godless worldview present outside the church, but also at times visible within. The chapter titles categorize these areas so the reader can more clearly see that which has occurred and is occurring. Chapters speaking of "The Gathering Storm in..."

- Western Civilization
- The Church
- Human Life
- Marriage
- Family
- Gender and Sexuality
- Generational Divides
- Engines of Culture
- Religious Liberty

After reading The Gathering Storm, I cannot help but see indicators of the growing secularization and worldview shifts daily as new headlines appear on my newsfeed. In fact, yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled in what I deem a disastrous ruling, that "that 'sex' does, in fact, include sexual orientation and gender identity, despite the fact that legislators repeatedly voted against including those categories in the legislation." (ERLC - "After the Bostock Supreme Court Case") Where would this lie in Dr. Mohler's analysis? It is clearly part of the storm related to gender and sexuality, but also impactful in the area of religious liberty, not to mention family and generational divides.

This is just one headline from today.

One can simply peruse other current and recent stories to see how the moral revolution and the rise of secularism continues to impact all avenues of our culture on a daily basis.

What Now?
Dr. Mohler's concluding chapter hearkens once more to Churchill's warnings prior to World War II. While Churchill, along with the other Allied leaders, entered into the storm against Nazism, fascism, and imperial despotism with a united, military campaign that proved to be essential for victory, Dr. Mohler is not calling for a militaristic movement. He is, however, clearly reminding the church that what we face today is truly a battle. The church has been in this spiritual battle since the very beginning, but the storm of secularism is our most recent and current beachhead.

Dr. Mohler gives reasoned, practical, and timelessly biblical encouragement and insight into how Christians and the church must live in such times. The concluding chapter is titled "Into the Storm" and that certainly is our calling.

I recommend "The Gathering Storm" highly and encourage readers to subscribe to "The Briefing" for continued daily updates of current trends and shifts in culture from a biblical worldview.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is primarily a collection of articles, although two addresses given at BYU are also included. "The Gathering Storm" is an appropriate title - the earliest article is from 2009, and a couple are from this year. I think it would have been better to have arranged the articles in chronological order, but I still got a feel for the change between 2009 and the present. A quote from near the end of the book gives a good description of the theme: The vast high-velocity moral revolution that is reshaping modern cultures at warp speed is leaving almost no aspect of the culture untouched and untransformed.

The reduction in religious liberty can no longer be described as "erosion." It's more like an avalanche or mudslide. And, frankly, it's scary. But to quote Dr. Mohler again, "I can close my eyes at night and I can open them to face each day because I know that my redeemer lives, and that history is in the hands of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I know that I, along with all who come to him by faith, are safe in Christ. I can trust that he, as the Apostle Paul stated so famously, will be faithful to the end."

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gathering Storm discusses the ways in which secularism is changing our society. It focuses on issues related to sexual liberty which are supplanting religious liberty. Further, it admonishes Christians to not trade biblical faith for cultural relevancy.

The author, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., makes it clear toward the end that only Jesus Christ can save. It is in this context that he states, “The First Amendment will not save us, but it now falls to us to save the First Amendment.”

How do we do that? By being faithful, praying, and fulfilling our civic duties. And most importantly by trusting our future to God no matter the outcome for He is in control.

Note: I had not listened to Mr. Mohler’s podcast prior to reading this. Reviewers who are regular listeners found this book repetitive.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely read. I appreciated the author's commentary on the trends our nation and the comments on how Christian's can combat each assault. Those more well read in modern day happenings may not feel surprised but most of the information, but the majority of Christians will most likely find eye-opening information and guidance. I appreciated Mohler's words; he struck a good tone between awareness of modern day issues without leaving me feel depressed and unable to change anything myself, as other, similar books have done.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long version of his podcast (minus the Home Depot theme music).

“The one true God is Lord over history, and he has now called Christians in this generation into the storm.”

“In a secular age, everything appears to be negotiable. Doctrine can be reformulated. Anything objectionable to the zeitgeist can be removed. In a secularizing epoch, the church must constantly be aware of how even our thinking is seductively rearranged and recast.”

[Brenden Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour de force!
Reading like an extended episode of one of his Daily Briefing podcasts, Mohler’s cultural analysis from a biblical worldview is astute, punchy, eye opening, and extremely helpful

In a our day of orthodox & biblical Christianity moving from a standpoint of toleration to now being attacked, this volume is essential reading for Christians seeking to understand how & why the culture is against them, plus how to live and respond in truth & love

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! To be expected from Al Mohler. A very timely book, however, by the time it came out our world had changed with the racial issues taking the forefront. I wonder if Mohler will consider a second edition with a chapter on race and critical race theory? I would buy that! Recommended!

[Joseph Crampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book written by a most insightful cultural observer. Highly recommended!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary of the cultural challenges the church is facing today, although much of the material was familiar to me as I am a regular listener to Dr. Mohler’s podcast, The Briefing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this soberingly relevant read to all without reservation. Highlighted more thoughts than I could possibly include here...just read it!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and helpful view of various fronts in which morality is being challenged, where new norms are being forged. The western world has long been influenced by Christian values, but when Christ is not held, of course the values will slip with various winds of man's pleasing.

[Matthew Rushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. It is a good overview and has a great reminder that our hope is in the power of the Gospel

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, a seminary president and the host of the popular podcast The Briefing, borrows Winston Churchill’s title as he sees a gathering storm that already presents itself as a tremendous challenge to the faithfulness of the Christian church. He writes that it is a gathering storm of the secular age. He tells us that the most familiar word for the process we are witnessing is secularization. The challenge faced by Christians in the United States today is to see the storm and to understand it, and then to demonstrate the courage to face the storm.
For regular listeners of The Briefing, many of the topics (abortion, family, sexual revolution, religious liberty, etc.) in this important book will be familiar. This is a book I’ve been reading and discussing with a few friends. Here are my main takeaways from each chapter:
Chapter One: The Gathering Storm Over Western Civilization
• Secular, in terms of contemporary sociological and intellectual conversation, refers to the absence of any binding theistic authority or belief.
• One of the clearer developments in the past two decades has been the inevitable collision between religious liberty—America’s most cherished “first freedom”—and the newly invented sexual liberties. It has become clear that the entire LGBTQ movement represents a clear challenge to anyone who would hold to the historic, biblical position on sexual morality and marriage.
• Historic Christianity is now increasingly either rejected outright or relegated to having no significance in the culture. Many people in the most privileged sectors of our modern societies do not even know a believing Christian. They are no longer even haunted by the remains of a Christian frame of mind. They are truly secular.
• We must, with every fiber of our God-given strength, with full dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit, with every ounce of conviction we can muster through prayer, with unwavering courage, protest this secular moment.
• The attempt of secularism to usurp the rule of the Son of God amounts to the height of human folly. Nothing will prevail over our God. Nothing can withstand the power of the gospel.
Chapter Two: The Gathering Storm in the Church
• The secular age exerts a subtle but constant influence on churches and Christians. If not careful, churches will look less and less like churches and more and more like the secular world around them.
• Discipleship to Christ makes objective demands on conduct, virtue, and morality. The God revealed in holy Scripture issues commands to his people, and God calls his children to live in obedience to his commands and statutes.
• When churches and denominations surrender to the forces of secularism, they do so because they departed from the “rock,” namely, the lordship of Jesus Christ.
• The obedient church of Jesus Christ cannot just preach a biblical morality; it must live out that morality. Otherwise, our words will ring hollow.
Chapter Three: The Gathering Storm Over Human Life
• The Christian worldview affirms the sanctity of human life at every moment, from fertilization to natural death. Thus, every abortion amounts to the murder of an unborn child.
• American Christians must not only work and argue for the preservation of unborn life, but we must also pray for it.
• The only real answer to the culture of death is the gospel of life.
Chapter Four: The Gathering Storm Over Marriage
• Marriage is about our happiness, our holiness, and our wholeness—but it is supremely about the glory of God. When marriage is entered rightly, when marriage vows are kept with purity, when all the goods of marriage are enjoyed in their proper place, God is glorified.
• Marriage is not greatly respected in our postmodern culture. For many, the covenant of marriage has been discarded in favor of a contract of cohabitation.
• Our culture is so sexually confused that the goods of sex are severed from the vows and obligations of marriage.
• A society that disbelieves in God will eventually disbelieve in marriage.
• A stable and functional culture requires the establishment of stable marriages and the nurturing of families. Without a healthy marriage and family life as foundation, no lasting and healthy community can long survive.
Chapter Five: The Gathering Storm Over the Family
• The secular storm and the sexual revolution aim to normalize its entire transgender ideology.
• Secularism sets out to redefine humanity.
• The secular age will not tolerate worldviews that challenge its comprehensive vision for humanity.
• Faithfulness to Christian teaching now places parents outside the mainstream and could potentially lead to a termination of parental rights.
• Christians need to understand what is at stake. The end of parental rights is the end of the family, and eventually, the end of human civilization as we know it.
Chapter Six: The Gathering Storm Over Gender and Sexuality
• The single greatest impetus of the sexual revolution was the advent of birth control, which began to transform the notion of the “possible” and gave way to an onslaught of consequences no one saw coming.
• The LGBTQ revolution demands not only equality but also the suppression of divergent worldviews, namely, the Christian worldview. Any moral code that denies the new sexual rights must be silenced,
• Sadly, many churches have capitulated to the demands of the sexual revolution. It will take extraordinary conviction to resist their revolution. We are about to find out which churches, denominations, and Christian institutions are capable of this resistance.
• We cannot see Revoice as anything other than a house built upon the sand. Revoice is not the voice of faithful Christianity.
• The sexual revolution—now undermining the very structure of humanity as male and female—represents a direct challenge to what Christians believe and teach and preach.
• Biblical Christianity must speak the truth in love and seek to be good neighbors to all, but we cannot abandon the faith just because we are told that we are now on the wrong side of history.
Chapter Seven: The Gathering Generational Storm
• The coming generations do not see themselves as related in any formal or binding sense with churches, formal beliefs, or religious institutions. These young adults are considerably less religious than their parents, less committed to formal doctrines, and less involved, not only in church life, but even in such activities as volunteering in charity work and social organizations.
• The problems facing the coming generations are massive with enormous cultural, social, political, and theological ramifications.
• Delaying marriage, the deconstruction of the family, and the advent of social media have all had both a liberalizing and secularizing effect on America’s generations.
Chapter Eight: The Gathering Storm and the Engines of Culture
• Our responsibility is to think clearly, carefully, and critically about how our culture is being influenced, and what this means for Christians seeking to live faithfully in a secular age.
• The cultural products we watch and read and listen to are sending moral messages, constantly. Hollywood controls the narrative, and if you can manipulate the narrative, you govern the mentality, worldview, and character of a culture.
• Hollywood utilizes its creative authority to craft compelling narratives in step with the moral revolution—especially the LGBTQ agenda, but increasingly on abortion as well.
• Corporate America’s desire to build its brand has moved many companies to engage in virtue signaling—a show of support through advertisement or company policies that tilts its hat toward the LGBTQ movement. By sending this signal, companies reveal to the larger culture their place on the “right side of history,” and their desire to live as part of the future rather than a now discredited past.
• The monopolistic power of the social media giants is unprecedented in American history. Add to this the fact that Silicon Valley is rather astonishingly one-sided in its politics, and we can see the huge challenge now facing anyone who holds to a contrary worldview.
Chapter Nine: The Gathering Storm Over Religious Liberty
• If they maintain the House, regain the Senate, and secure the presidency, Democrats will have all they need to unleash a full-scale assault against religious liberty by making the Equality Act law.
• We cannot understand the transcendent value of religious liberty without these three essential words: God, truth, and liberty, and in that order. Every one of these words is indispensable.
• These are days that will require courage, conviction, and clarity of vision.
• Religious liberty is being redefined as mere freedom of worship, but it will not long survive if it is reduced to a private sphere with no public voice.
• The very freedom to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is at stake, and thus so is the liberty of every American.
• If we lose religious liberty, all other liberties will be lost, one by one.
Conclusion: Into the Storm
• For Americans, the intensity of this storm picks up with the backdrop of a presidential election. Christians must realize that the more enduring contest is not between rival candidates but between rival worldviews.
• Only the Christian worldview is sufficient to answer the demands of secularization, nor can any other worldview provide the framework for true human flourishing. Silence in this age is not an option—indeed, silence and retreat are tantamount to failure.
• If we take our stand upon the revelation of God, no revolution—not even a revolution in sex and gender—can confuse us. If we take our stand in any other authority, every revolution will engulf us.
• The gathering storm is real—and we can see it, and we dare to see it for what it is. But Jesus Christ is Lord, and he promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail over his church. And that is enough.
Appendix: The Storm Over the Courts
• For several decades now, the courts—and the Supreme Court in particular—have taken unto themselves powers that should be in the hand of Congress or the White House. In most cases, the courts have taken up issues that Congress was either unwilling or unable to resolve. In other cases, the judiciary has usurped power for itself.
• The competing visions for the Supreme Court center on divergent hermeneutics—different ways of reading a text. For decades, more liberal justices and law professors argued for the idea of a “living Constitution” that would evolve with the maturing nation. Conservatives, on the other hand, argued that any text, including the Constitution, should be interpreted in light of the author’s original meaning, looking to the actual text at stake.
• If the American people wanted to legalize abortion and same-sex marriage, Congress could have legalized them through the legislative process.
• Whoever appoints judges to the federal bench and justices to the Supreme Court controls, in large part, the future of the nation.
• Christians understand that there is more at stake in the storm over the courts—including the future of religious liberty. At no time in our nation’s history have the courts been such a focus of attention—and rightfully so.

[Brittany Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Christians must display faith in God’s design, faith in God’s Word, and faith in the power of the gospel.”

“The great threat we face is not to the church’s existence, but to its faithfulness.”

Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, hosts a popular podcast called ‘The Briefing’ where he analyzes news and current events through a biblical worldview.

This book is basically an extension of many of the topics he discusses in his podcast.

It is an intelligent, relevant book that will spur us on as Christians to be on guard against the secularization of our culture and to stand firm on the truths of the Bible.

He enlightens us and exposes the trajectory of a secular worldview and how it opposes true freedom. His arguments are logical and easy to understand.

Mohler has a really good handle on politics and current affairs as well as what the Bible teaches. He is very qualified to share this information with us.

“Only the Christian worldview is sufficient to answer the demands of secularization, nor can any other worldview provide the framework for true human flourishing.”


What is the Storm?

Mohler borrowed the phrase ‘The Gathering Storm’ from Winston Churchill who used it to describe the rise and threat of Hitler in Germany. The threat here is not the same, but Mohler presents throughout his book ways that secularization has produced a ‘storm’ between biblical beliefs and cultural demands.

These storms revolve around Western civilization, the church, human life, marriage, the family, gender and sexuality, generations, engines of culture, and religious liberty. These are his chapter titles.

The Gathering Storm hits all the most controversial issues including abortion, same-sex marriage, the nuclear family, transgenderism and binary sex, freedom of speech, the Supreme Court, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, social media giants, language and more.

His main point is that many Christians, when forced to choose, follow what the culture tells them is ‘the right side of history’ and thus compromises God’s design, the authority of Scripture, and the power of the gospel for the appearance of cultural acceptance.

His secondary point is that we are in a war between revolution and revelation. The secularization of society is radical and eternally unquenched. Mohler quips, “Revolutions are never satisfied.” People who used to be considered far left are being pushed further to the middle by the continuous radicalization of the left. The implications of this shift are grave for religious freedoms and the church’s ability to publicly stand in their beliefs and share them with others.

[Carl Trueman’s interesting book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self traces the historical path of the sexual revolution and how the culture has changed how it identifies and views the self.]

[The book The Coddling of the American Mind is written by Democrats who see the loss of freedom of speech and diversity of opinion on college campuses.]

These are no small things.


What Does ‘Secular’ Mean?

So what does Mohler mean by secular?

“In terms of contemporary sociological and intellectual conversation, it refers to the absence of any binding theistic authority or belief. It is both an ideology (secularism) and a consequence (secularization).”

As Christians our authority is God and his word. He defines our identity; he has created the design for marriage and the family— life in general— that we follow; he reveals objective truth. The culture is trying to remove God and his principles and replace them with ever-changing subjective truth and authority rooted in fluctuating feelings.

The Declaration of Independence says “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The rights of human dignity that the culture claims to uphold are 1) self-evident, meaning objective, and 2) come from their Creator. If they remove God from the picture, where is human dignity rooted? If everyone determines their own truth, how are these ‘rights’ self-evident to all?

[This idea is the main point of Rebecca McLaughlin’s book, The Secular Creed— that human rights come from God and they are in jeopardy if we remove him.]

Mohler quotes Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous words, “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.” He is referring to the Communist oppression in Russia. Is it any wonder why virtually all totalitarian and communist governments reject and remove religion? When God is not the authority, the government becomes god.

[The similarities between the current American state and what happens in Communist countries is interestingly explored in the book Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher.]

Some may claim that Christians are trying to force our religion on others as we oppose certain cultural demands, but what they fail to recognize is that atheism is also a belief system. There is no morally neutral opinion or policy in the public sphere. There are certain belief systems that are easier to target and keep out because they recognize a deity like God or Allah or Buddha, etc, but atheism as a religion is sneaky because their god is themselves.

There is a discussion here about who gets to decide what is right, but it is dishonest to claim that Christians are the only ones promoting their own beliefs.

[Jonathan Leeman talks about this important realization in his book How the Nations Rage.]

Secularization is a slow and often subtle process. But if we don’t think critically about the implications of its trajectory, we may find ourselves in a very dangerous and compromised position.


So What Now?

This idea of ‘being on the right side of history’ is noble and right. We want to look back and see that we loved people and took care of them, especially the vulnerable and outcasts. And it is true that the church, along with the rest of humanity past and present, does not have a perfect record of that.

But when Christians start believing that the culture presents the right path more than the Bible, they are deceived.

If 'the right side of history' asks you to tame the word of God to be more palatable and universally acceptable, we must recognize this deception for what it is. God doesn’t need us to ‘fix his mistakes.’ He is not embarrassed by his truth.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and neither should we!

We are here to trust God’s design, obey his Word, and preach his truth.

Jesus straight up tells us that the world will hate us because of him. If no one is offended by your beliefs, you have probably traded your Bible in for the Book of Post-Modern Geniality.


Mohler brings up many concerns we have with the culture and religious liberty. But he reminds us that we are not without hope.

The government can’t save us. Laws can’t save us.

The Lord alone saves. And he is sovereign and powerful.

And He promised that he has established his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) He has faithfully shown us that he preserves a remnant and he protects his people.

Mohler writes this book to remind us of God’s truth and charge us to defend our right to believe it and proclaim it. He writes this book to remind us that God is pro-people and pro-human flourishing. Therefore, his design is best for humanity and when we fight for that design, we are loving our neighbor.

“We must defend the right of Christians, along with all other believers, to be faithful in the public square as well as in the privacy of our own homes, hearts, and churches. We must defend the right to teach our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We must defend the rights of Christian schools to be Christian— and to order our institutions around the Word of God without fearing the crushing power of the state. We must defend the right of generations of those yet unborn, to know the liberties we have known and now defend.”

“[Christians] know why every human life at every age under every condition is precious. We know why truth is truth. We know that sin is what explains the brokenness of the world, and we know just how broken it is, starting with ourselves. We know why marriage can only be the union of a man and a woman, and we know why the family best be respected and protected by any sane civilization. We know why right is right and wrong is wrong. We know that life is not meaningless, and that right is not merely socially constructed and up for negotiation. We know that we are responsible creatures— that one day God will judge us for our every thought and deed.”

 

Conclusion

I’ve read a lot of books along these guidelines and have tagged them accordingly— browse the ‘Cultural Books’ link below for more. I’ve always appreciated Mohler’s viewpoint in his podcast and helping us understand the world through a biblical perspective.

Likewise, I think this book is a really important book for Christians to read and consider. Capitulating to the demands of our culture is not what God has called us to. The pressure of the culture is great, but the power of the Lord is greater.

At some point, we have to make a choice. We cannot serve two masters.

Mohler will inspire you to defend truth, love people, and put your hope in our sovereign Creator.

“Hope gives us the reason to build a home and live in it. Love gives us the reason to build a home for others, for them to live in. Because we love our neighbor, we work for just laws, for righteousness and justice, for the protection of human life, for the good of our neighbors in all things.”



[Sidenote: Similar to Candace Owens book, Blackout, this book was written in 2020 before the presidential election. Mohler is not hiding the fact that he hopes his presentation will influence the way readers think as they cast their vote. The election is over, but nonetheless, this book will continue to be relevant.]


Additional Quotes:

“The cultural engines of progress driving toward personal autonomy and fulfillment will not stop until the human being is completely self-defining.” 

“I am arguing that there can be no sustained defense of religious liberty without intellectual respect for belief in God and cultural respect for religious devotion. Even when Americans claim to rest their argument for liberty, for human rights and human dignity on a secular foundation, they are actually borrowing intellectual capital from Christianity…. we are witnessing the collapse and retreat of any secular notion of human rights and human dignity that would include religious liberty.” 

“The secular age writes checks it cannot cash. It claims to uphold human rights even as it undercuts any argument for human dignity and natural rights. It invents new rights (like same-sex marriage) at the expense of fundamental rights (such as religious liberty). It claims a high view of human dignity, but aborts millions of unborn human beings in the womb.”

“No God, no truth. No truths, no liberty. No liberty, and nothing remains but the heel of someone’s boot.”

“The kingdom of Christ will not hide in a political platform.”  

“The first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court said that the power to tax is the power to destroy.” (This is what’s at stake when politicians threaten to remove tax-exempt status from churches and institutions that express beliefs they don’t agree with and demand they change their beliefs to keep their tax exempt status)

“On many campuses, a significant number of faculty members are representatives of what has been called the “adversary culture.” They see their role as political and ideological, and they define their teaching role in these terms. Their agenda is nothing less than to separate students from their Christian beliefs and their intellectual and moral commitments.”  (Surviving Religion 101 is a great book for students going off to these campuses)

“[Celebrities] have the social capital that allows them to influence others— and they are driven by a celebrity culture that now requires them to signal their moral precepts and politics, constantly. These celebrities usually have no expertise nor experience in the complex issues to which they speak.”

“The push of a secular worldview erodes the roles of parents in the upbringing of their children. Case after case, story after story, chronicles the downgrade of parental rights—secularism subverts the authority of parents who refuse to sing its seductive tune. If parents object to secularization, then they must be removed from the equation.”

“Language really matters. The use of language serves as a moral signal, and the moral revolutionaries understand the power of language and the influence words carry. The sexual revolution insists that society must alter its use of language and terms to accommodate its moral agenda.”

“Pornography represents one of the most insidious attacks upon the sanctity of marriage and the goodness of sex within the one-flesh relationship. The celebration of debauchery rather than purity, the elevation of genital pleasure over all other considerations, and the corruption of sexual energy through an inversion of the self, corrupts the idea of marriage, leads to incalculable harm, and subverts marriage and the marital bond.”

“A society that disbelieves in God will eventually disbelieve in marriage.” 

“What morally atrocious age have we slipped into where we sacrifice babies on the altar of ‘women’s health, autonomy, and their right to the pursuit of happiness’?” 

“While we must never demean the importance of elections nor diminish the responsible stewardship Christians have with their vote, we also dare not believe political victory will secure ultimate and lasting peace. Rescue will not come by mere politics. We do not need a political movement. We need a theological protest.”

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[Andrew Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely and needed.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s his podcast but in book form. Excellent nonetheless.

[Jonathan Beigle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gathering Storm is unabashedly political. I'm not into politics, but I do think that a Christian's response to politics is extremely important. Al Mohler walks through 9 gathering storms on different topics and walks through how a Christian can/should respond to each of these storms like gender and sexuality, religious liberty, family, marriage, etc. The book is a solid overview of the current state of play in each of these storms and gives the reader an opportunity to think through these difficult topics.

Favorite quotes:
p. 13 - "While we must never demean the importance of elections nor diminish the responsible stewardship Christians have their vote, we also dare not believe political victory will secure ultimate and lasting peace. Rescue will not come by mere politics. We do not need a political movement. We need a theological protest.
p. 36 - "From the first centuries of the church's existence, to our own secular moment, the Bible consistently remains the safe haven for Christians to turn to as the source of their worldview."
p. 118 - "In response to the storm gathering over gender and sexuality, Christians must do at least two things: preach true gospel liberty in the face of erotic liberty and stand ready to receive the refugees of the sexual revolution."
p. 128 - "Theological conviction has been sacrificed on the altar of individualism and a relativistic understanding of truth."
p. 141 - "One of the distinguishing marks of young people who continue in their church participation as adults was that they had developed a warm and trusting relationship with an adult in the church (even just one) other than their parents."
p. 192 - "If God designed it, it is right."

[Daniel Calle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomando como punto de partida la metáfora que utilizó Winston Churchill para "predecir" la amenaza nazi, Albert Mohler, advierte en este libro de la "tormenta que se avecina" de la era secular. Él dice que este es un "enorme desafío a la fidelidad de la iglesia cristiana" (xvi). Es muy importante que entendamos la tormenta que se cierne sobre nuestro mundo: una era completamente secular. El cristianismo está siendo reemplazo por una cosmovisión secularizada en la civilización occidental. Este libro es un llamado urgente a la iglesia para que conozca y ame la verdad bíblica. Solo así podrá resistir los embates del liberalismo y progresismo moral de nuestra época. En nueve capítulos, el autor define en qué consiste la tormenta de la secularización, y advierte sobre sus profundos y graves efectos sobre la iglesia, la dignidad de la vida humana, el matrimonio, la familia, el género y la sexualidad, la brecha generacional, la cultura y la libertad religiosa. Los temas se discuten desde la perspectiva de la realidad estadounidense, sin embargo, es interesante ver que la misma trayectoria se observa en Latinoamérica. Este es un libro muy relevante para nuestra época, escrito por uno de los cristianos más perspicaces y atentos a la cultura y sociedad que nos rodea. Mohler con "voz profética" nos llama a no quedarnos callados y proclamar con nuestras palabras y vidas la fe que nos ha sido dada por Dios y que afecta todas las áreas de nuestra existencia. Muy recomendado.

[Steven Kopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with about 85% of what Molher says in these pages - My primary point of disagreement is over his assessment of Revoice.

My primary issue with this book, however, is one of balance and tone. While he does say that our solution is primarily theological, not political, the content of the whole book is not just political, but partisan. The enemies are always the left, the liberals, and specifically democrats. If the enemies are the democrats than by implication, the answer must be the republicans. The presidential election is seen as the primary battlefield in which we must fight the broader worldview war. It is no surprise, then, that Al Mohler is now putting his weight and influence behind Donald Trump in 2020, a change from 2016.

I would find this book for more credible if Mohler had given voice to examples of secularism on the right such as the abandonment as moral character as a criteria for public office, positions on immigration which undermine human dignity, the tendency of the current administration to blatantly lie for political expediency. Instead, while this book deals with real threats to we really do need to confront, it reads a lot more like red meat thrown to ravenous religious partisans.