As Western culture continues in its post-Christian trajectory, with growing hostility to Christian values and biblical orthodoxy, how can communities of Christ-followers stay faithful? This is a question of immense importance and much debate, especially for a community like Biola University. Several recently released books have tackled this question and sparked broad discussion, none more than Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option, released in March.
Now, two Biola professors — Richard Langer, professor of biblical and theological studies at Talbot School of Theology, and Tim Muehlhoff, professor of communication — are proposing their own “option” for effective Christian influence in a post-Christian culture. They detail their approach in a new book, Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post-Christian World, published in June by IVP Academic. Biola Magazine sat down with Langer and Muehlhoff to discuss the book, the culture and “the counterpublic option.”