The Gathering Storm by R. Albert Mohler Jr.: A Book Review
Books take on different qualities. Some are enjoyable. Others are helpful. Rarely though, one comes along that seems very important. The Gathering Storm by R. Albert Mohler Jr. is one such book. It is timely and serves as a word of warning for the church. We would do well to take heed.
R. Albert Mohler Jr. is the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He also does a weekday podcast called The Briefing. Listeners to The Briefing will find a lot of familiar content in this book, but Mohler has updated it and compiled it to make larger points.
Mohler borrows the title for this book from Winston Churchill’s first volume of his six-volume history of the Second World War. Mohler says, "I have borrowed Winston Churchill’s title, for I see a gathering storm that already presents itself as a tremendous challenge to the faithfulness of the Christian church. Actually, this storm has been on the horizon and working its way through history for over a century now, but in our own day with a dramatic strengthening and acceleration. This is the gathering storm of the secular age."
Mohler writes on the gathering storm in nine areas of our culture with the first being an overhead picture of Western civilization. The other areas he speaks to are the church, human life, marriage, the family, gender and sexuality, the next generation, culture at large, and religious liberty. Every single chapter is worth paying attention to and is important for Christians today.
I’d especially recommend the chapters on the family and the next generation to those with younger children such as myself. I found them to be a strong warning to be intentional with my children and to not let myself coast when it comes to teaching them.
The truth is each chapter in this book overlaps because our civilization at large is interconnected. It’s hard to separate one from another because this storm impacts every facet of society. Mohler is sounding the trumpet and we would do well to pay attention.
One recommendation I have when it comes to engaging with this book is that the reader begin with the introduction and conclusion and then move on to the chapters in between. I think this is important because in the conclusion, Mohler gives the hope for those in Christ. I think this perspective will serve the reader well as they read the nine chapters in between.
The Gathering Storm is an important book that has come during an important time. Christians would do well to read the warning Mohler gives and to be spiritually disciplined in their own lives and to teach their children. The Storm is gathering. How will we face it?
You can pick up your copy of The Gathering Storm on Amazon. (affiliate)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for a fair and honest review.
