Chuck Colson recently reviewed 'The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization,' recommending it as a 'must-read'. He reminds us that If Western civilization and our way of life are to survive, we must understand and re-embrace the biblical principles and values they were built on. Read his review of this book here.

Vishal Mangalwadi, a native of India and one of the great Christian worldview thinkers, believes that much of modern India, including its language, educational system, and political freedom, developed not out of Hinduism, but out of Christianity.

His newest work, The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization explores the Bible's impact, not only in leading the West to unparalleled liberty and prosperity, but in helping India and other nations to share in the West's success.

Mangalwadi carefully examines the intellectual roots of Western concepts of human dignity, reason, morality, science, liberty, and self-sacrificial heroism, explaining how each of these concepts grew out of Biblical principles. He then contrasts the biblical view of life with alternative worldviews like Secularism, Islam, and Hinduism. His own extensive experience doing relief work in rural India showed him the dehumanizing consequences of false worldviews. For instance, he tells how he and his wife tried to take care of a baby girl whose parents refused to provide her with medical care that she needed to digest food. As unbelievable as it sounds, the parents refused to let the Mangalwadis rescue their daughter because their fatalistic, karma-based worldview taught them that their daughter had no hope for a happy, successful life.

The tragic story illuminates the importance of the biblical worldview, which sees all people as valuable because they are made in the image of God. And because we are made in the image of Him who freely chose to create the world, we are free to work to change our lot in life, not bound by fate or karma to a life of misery.

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My husband and I have two children with big dreams.  As any parent would, we will fight for them to realize these dreams, sacrificing whatever is needed.  But if they only strive towards their own goals, they will fall far short.  Professional success does not equal contentment.  We want to raise children to change the world.  We know that we are not alone.

There are many parents like us out there.  It is our commitment and challenge to, “Tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”  (Psalm 78:4) We would all claim that we want our children to know Christ and to make Christ known in their world, but there is a grave problem staring back at us.

Julie Ferwerda documents this problem in her book One Million Arrows.The Barna Group’s statistical findings state that today’s Christian parents rely on the church to do most (if not all) of their children’s religious training.  Not only that, but they have no plan for the spiritual development of their children; they do not consider it a priority in their homes and daily lives; they do not have any spiritual goals for their families.

While submitting her manuscript to publishers for consideration, Julie received a rejection letter from a prominent Christian family ministry. While this publishing house loved the concept of the book, they stated that Christian parents seldom follow through in their commitment to “real life” spiritual training.  Therefore, the book would not have a market in publication.
Not a market for publication?  You have got to be kidding me!  Parents, if we are not committed to developing spiritual leaders in the home, then who is?  The next generation is going to be spiritually bankrupt if we do not start putting actions to our words.  And just for the record, I am speaking as much to myself as to anyone else out there.

We have got some prioritizing to do.  Is the world going to change our children?  Or are they going to change the world?  Without question, One Million Arrows is one of the best books that I have ever read on parenting.  It is a call to action for parents to be deeply committed to the spiritual training of their children and to live beyond individualistic mediocrity. (Review by Kristen Charles- Ministry-to-Children)