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The Contemporary Christian: Applying God's Word to Today's World
People today reject Christianity not because they think it is false but because they believe it is irrelevant. John Stott knows otherwise. In this book he challenges all of us to move with the times while standing firmly on the truth of God's Word. "To be 'contemporary' is to live in the present," Stott writes. "To be a 'contemporary Christian,' however, is to ensure that our present is enriched both by our knowledge of the past and by our expectation of the future." The challenge, then, is to be both conservative and radical--conservative in guarding God's revelation and radical in applying that revelation to the realities of the contemporary space travel, homelessness, genetic engineering, pollution, war, health care, gang violence, education and more. Opening our eyes to the Word and the world, Stott shows how Christianity can speak effectively and relevantly to the contemporary world. He includes chapters on the human paradox, authentic freedom, mind and emotions, evangelism and social action, the pastoral ideal and dimensions of renewal. For those familiar with Stott, The Contemporary Christian is a "must-read" book. For those who have not yet benefited from his insight and passion, The Contemporary Christian affords the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with one of the most widely read and respected Christian thinkers at work today.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
12 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
John R.W. Stott
305 books555 followersJohn R. W. Stott is known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist, and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London, where he carried out an effective urban pastoral ministry. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). His many books, including Why I Am a Christian and The Cross of Christ, have sold millions of copies around the world and in dozens of languages. Whether in the West or in the Two-Thirds World, a hallmark of Stott's ministry has been expository preaching that addresses the hearts and minds of contemporary men and women. Stott was honored by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 8, 2018
This book can largely be summarized in his introductory idea on "double listening"—our need to listen to God's Word and stay true to its ultimate truth while at the same listening to our world and making sure that the Truth we proclaim is done so in a relevant and contemporary way. There is obviously a lot to this idea and Stott wisely unpacks how that effects many different aspects of Christianity.
I found (and I agree with most, if not all, his conclusions) that often his suggestions in each chapter came as the middle ground between two extreme sides. It's an interesting observation in a world so polarized on many things that the best stance us contemporary Christians should take is often the moderate position—rather than reacting to the extreme of the opposition.
I found (and I agree with most, if not all, his conclusions) that often his suggestions in each chapter came as the middle ground between two extreme sides. It's an interesting observation in a world so polarized on many things that the best stance us contemporary Christians should take is often the moderate position—rather than reacting to the extreme of the opposition.
May 15, 2017
Anything with "contemporary" in the title will obviously age quickly. However, the fundamental approach Stott lays out in this book is timelessly wise, and so still reads brilliantly.
The book is worthy buying simply to read Stott's explanation of "double listening" for Christians - listening closely to the word, and listening closely to God's word, so that you can apply the latter to the former.
His rebuke of many evangelicals' inability to really listen to the world and understand it ("our organ is much more the tongue than the ear") feels like it gets more and more prescient by the day. In an age where reductionism plagues evangelicalism, a recovery of Stott's mindset is badly needed.
However, the book is far too long. Stott has a tendency to never leave a stone unturned in his arguments. The economical and plain prose with which he does this (a strength in most of his works) quickly wears thin as a result.
I'm not often a fan of this, but this book would hugely benefit from a contemporary abridged version.
The book is worthy buying simply to read Stott's explanation of "double listening" for Christians - listening closely to the word, and listening closely to God's word, so that you can apply the latter to the former.
His rebuke of many evangelicals' inability to really listen to the world and understand it ("our organ is much more the tongue than the ear") feels like it gets more and more prescient by the day. In an age where reductionism plagues evangelicalism, a recovery of Stott's mindset is badly needed.
However, the book is far too long. Stott has a tendency to never leave a stone unturned in his arguments. The economical and plain prose with which he does this (a strength in most of his works) quickly wears thin as a result.
I'm not often a fan of this, but this book would hugely benefit from a contemporary abridged version.
December 30, 2025
Solid, dependable book from Stott. Not always an exciting read but a very good guide to all of the areas he covers. The book is now over thirty years old, but many of the issues and challenges he addresses are still with us (especially the excellent treatment of mission in contemporary society and his articulation of holistic mission in a chapter of that title, which searches the relationship between evangelism and social action in helpful ways).
October 28, 2013
Most Christians would agree that one of the greatest challenges of the church today is staying relevant to the contemporary times without diluting the gospel. In this light, stott plead for the case of “double listening”, understanding both sides of the story – the Word and the world. Initially, this may set some worrying whether he is trying to make one conform to another, but what he actually did was to explore the essence of this conflict and reassert the Christian position.
Divided into five parts, (1) the gospel; (2) the disciple; (3) the Bible; (4) the church; and the (5) the world, and then further separating each part into 4 to 5 chapters, this book presents clearly, the author’s view of christianity’s role in the present world. What is the essence of the gospel? How should a Christian behave? How do we interpret and respond to the Word of God? How can a church be renewed and revived? What is the role of the church in the world? Stott attempted to answer these questions. These are big topics but he managed to present his take in a simple manner.
Think his strength lies in organizing his thoughts into points and further sub-points – which makes this book a good reference if one is looking for materials to share on contemporary Christian issues. The questions in the appended study guide behind also helps in personal reflection and group-discussion. Yet having said that, this book could at best offer some general principles to spark off further thoughts – it does not give specific opinions to particular issues.
The book starts and ends well by placing the Christian challenge rightly in the flow of time: what a contemporary Christian needs to do is to understand the relation between the then and the now, while moving from the now to the not yet.
Divided into five parts, (1) the gospel; (2) the disciple; (3) the Bible; (4) the church; and the (5) the world, and then further separating each part into 4 to 5 chapters, this book presents clearly, the author’s view of christianity’s role in the present world. What is the essence of the gospel? How should a Christian behave? How do we interpret and respond to the Word of God? How can a church be renewed and revived? What is the role of the church in the world? Stott attempted to answer these questions. These are big topics but he managed to present his take in a simple manner.
Think his strength lies in organizing his thoughts into points and further sub-points – which makes this book a good reference if one is looking for materials to share on contemporary Christian issues. The questions in the appended study guide behind also helps in personal reflection and group-discussion. Yet having said that, this book could at best offer some general principles to spark off further thoughts – it does not give specific opinions to particular issues.
The book starts and ends well by placing the Christian challenge rightly in the flow of time: what a contemporary Christian needs to do is to understand the relation between the then and the now, while moving from the now to the not yet.
March 13, 2012
John Stott offers a fabulous systematic theology that is immensly applicable to the modern follower of Jesus Christ. With sound theology and Biblical Interpretation, Stott helps us see the message of Christ and the application for Christ's followers anew. Anyone who wishes to answer the call to make disciples should read this book and consider what is being said within its pages. God has a calling for us and that calling is as relevent today for the Christian as it has always been, we just need to understand how our world can and will recieve the message.
July 16, 2015
Stott writes a comprehensive look at the Contemporary Christian under five different headings, touching on many areas of modern life. The book, although a couple of decades old now, is as relevant today as it was when it was written and well worth a read.
In covering such a wide topic range there often isn’t a chance for Stott to go into everything, however, even within his sub topics he is very thorough.
It’s a long book, but it’s worth a read for getting your bearings as a Christian living in the West in the twenty-first century.
In covering such a wide topic range there often isn’t a chance for Stott to go into everything, however, even within his sub topics he is very thorough.
It’s a long book, but it’s worth a read for getting your bearings as a Christian living in the West in the twenty-first century.
December 30, 2011
Extremely practical and also incredibly informative and relevant! A must read for anyone that desires to think and respond biblically to a world that is contrary to God and His word.
April 23, 2014
Very challenging and helpful as I navigate ministry to college students.
August 13, 2014
Confirms by high regard for John Stott. He handles the so-called new theologies with intellectual precision without resorting to polemic.
March 30, 2017
What shall I say of this volume by John Stott? It is an amazing book which loudly calls on the church to live as faithful Christians in the modern world. It particularly calls on believers to practise what he calls the art of 'double listening', that is, listening to God in his word and to the needs and concerns of the world we are called to serve. It walks us through the significance of the person of Jesus Christ as attested in history and the witness of Scripture, the life of the Christian disciple, the role of the church and her mission to the world. This is not a book to be glossed over but one to be thoroughly digested and reflected upon.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews