God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams

When David F. Wells published No Place for Truth he promised to follow up his critique with a more positive proclamation, which he adumbrates in God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, c. 1994). (He reneges a bit on the "positive" promise, however, opting to set forth a more modest "perspective" for such proclamation. As we all know, it's easier to pick things apart than to weave them together! So this is more a continuation of the first volume than a blueprint for construction.) The volume, as the title portends, resumes Wells' cultural critique of "modernity;" he believes Western Christian culture has been swept aside by powerful secular torrents. Traditional values and "timeless truths" have simply faded from prominence, if not slipped from memory. Renewing his distinction between "modernization" and "modernity," Wells grants the material comforts of the former while condemning the spiritual poverty of the latter. Clinging like barnacles to better nutrition and transportation have come fractured families and suicidal adolescents. At the heart of the crisis lies "the central issue with which Our Time must now reckon: the loss of its center" (p. 14). "At its starkest," Wells says, "it is the transition from Mozart to Guns n' Roses, from Aquinas to infomercials, from Milton to gangsta rap. We may now have everything, but none of it means anything anymore" (p. 14). In the midst of this cultural upheaval, the Christian Church has lost its footing. Particularly, Wells holds, evangelicalism has lost its theological foundation, seeking "cultural acceptability by emptying itself of serious thought, serious theology, serious worship, and serious practice in the larger culture" (p. 27). To get along, evangelicals have sanded off the edges and softened the texture of their faith, making it easier to recruit converts, easier to attract devotees of entertaining self-help talks and rhythmic concerts. In the midst of all their apparent "success," evangelicals have lost touch with God. Instead they have pursued alternatives to God, worldly idols of various sorts. Our hearts, Scripture declares, forever fabricate idols--things we construct and control, giving us the illusion of security. One of the idols "made in America" is the worldly church which substitutes self-esteem for divine worship and promotional programs for godly disciplines. Ultimately, "The choices now are sharp and clear. Which of these two competing and antagonistic loves will hold the evangelical heart: love for God or love for the world?" (p. 223). American clerics, attuned to the emergent consumer culture, have reduced the Gospel to marketable potions targeted for "felt needs." Thus, Wells says, evangelists such as George Whitefield and "populist" movements such as the Methodists took advantage of this nation's propensity for popular sovereignty. The most successful rev

In "God in the Wasteland..." David Wells continues the examination of the decline of evangelicalism he began in "No Place for Truth" taking it to such a depth of content and analysis that there is no doubt in my mind that we are in trouble. Modernity (or Post-modernity depending on your view) has infiltrated the church to such a degree that we are more worldly than not. Dr. Wells calls us to let God "weigh heavily" on us and the Church. He calls us to be turn away from the worldliness that we have adopted and turn toward God. Only then can we truly be the Church, an alternate culture in a decaying world. There is so much to this argument that it would be hard to even scratch the surface in this review. I can only urge you to read and consider Dr. Wells' observations and how you need to respond to the crisis at hand. In addition to his penetrating observations Dr. Wells also includes the raw data from a study of two groups of seminarians eleven years apart and their responses to a battery of questions designed to assess their world-view. This fascinating book is a must read for all those concerned with the state of the Church.

In this sequel to the groundbreaking 1993 book entitled "No Place for Truth" (which is also strongly recommended), a professor from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary shows how evangelical churches have slowly but surely fallen for the values of postmodern society. Christian ministers in particular should pay close attention to Wells' thoughts, as he calls for a return to preaching God's holiness as an antidote to the church's compromised state.

I am reading this book as part of a course in basic theology, and it is very illuminating. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in the church who wants to tell about "the reason for the hope that lies within you..." It is not just for a few pastors and teachers to know theology; it is the opportunity of everyone in the church.

I think this is one of the best books I've read of serious Christian thought in the last few years. He teaches on ramifications of our po-mo thinking and also brings out clearly the way our consumer bent way of thinking has dictated the presentation of the gospel. Many times in ways we do not even see or sense...yet the 'consumer as king' mentality has not been challenged in the church and the believer feels at home sitting in judgement on eternal truths. An extremely worthwhile read,