AP

Review of Sharon James, The Lies We Are Told, The Truth We Must Hold: Worldviews and Their Consequences, Fearn: Christian Focus, 2022.

            If you never read another book, be sure to read this one.   Yes, I know, you have heard that before, but this deserves the high commendation it has been given.  Surely, only those born in the last couple of decades would be unaware that the world today is upside-down.  It is lost in divisiveness, contradictions and confusion.  We should fear for the children in our education systems today.  If you doubt this, refer to Devastated: How gender ideology is tearing Australian families apart, a recent book edited by Kirralie Smith (Gender Awareness Australia, 2024).   Dearly held values and beliefs have been ‘turned on their head’.

            ‘What is truth?’ Pilate said to Jesus before going out to the crowd and saying, ‘I find no fault in Him at all’’ (John 18:38).   The One, who is the Truth, had just told Pilate that He had come to bear witness to the truth, and, today, just what is the truth is a global issue.   The future depends on identifying the truth!

            Sharon James was the first of four children whose father was the late African-born Erroll Hulse (1931-2017).   He was a reformed Baptist pastor, speaker, and writer, held in high regard by many Christians.  Sharon has written several books, spoken world-wide, and studied at Cambridge, Toronto, and Wales Universities, holding a doctorate from the last of these.   Currently, she works for the Christian Institute, in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

            In the acknowledgments we learn that the book originated in the author’s studies and seminars concerning worldview, around 2014.   Next, we find Chapter Summaries under two headings: Part One – The Lies We Are Told;  and Part Two – The Truth We Must Hold. They give us a quick preview/overview of the book.   Commencing with the denial of God and judgment, an increasing naturalistic worldview and acceptance of evolutionary theory by the end of the nineteenth century, we travel through ‘modernism’ to ‘postmodernism’, leading to ‘the trailblazers’, who will be dealt with individually. The Introduction begins with reference to a respected  French philosopher who was shocked to be called to a criminal inquest.   One of his students had been so inspired by the Professor’s teaching on liberation he had decided to put it into practice and was on trial for murder.  The author states: ‘Ideas have consequences.   Their outworking can be murderous.’

            Comments on the book include: “I highly commend this work” (John MacArthur); “… a remarkable feat: she addresses the lies that our culture currently exalts as truth and does so in a way that crosses the generational divide…’ (Carl R Truman); ‘Anyone seeking to understand why our culture seems to be falling apart, and what to do about it, needs to read this book….’ (Wayne Grudem). 

            This important information is vital to young people entering tertiary studies today.   Universities have been notorious incubators of Marxism and other falsehoods for decades. This is a timely and important book. Readers should be enlightened and encouraged.   I am indebted to the friend who gave me my first copy.  Do get some copies of the book for yourself and your friends.   The sands of time are running out…

– Neville Taylor