Platforms to Pillars by Mark Sayers challenges the notion of celebrity while calling Christians to pass on what is of utmost importance, and it is not to be missed in today's age of social media and influencers. This book takes readers from a mindset of "validation and visibility" to one that models faithfulness and preservation, giving Christians a tangible image of how we can order our lives.
Many thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
A biblical response to living in a platform society.
Platform: A mentality, a way of approaching life, which promises to reinforce our uniqueness, deliver on our desires, and offer validation and visibility.
A platform society emphasizes individualism and performance. It’s rooted in the belief that self and personal desires are preeminent. In Platforms to Pillars, cultural expert Mark Sayers explores how platform mentality is misshaping our contemporary world and contrasts this to the biblical call of Christians to live as pillars.
By looking at the ancient world—a world remarkably similar to our own—Sayers explores the flaws of a platform society. Sayers takes a deep dive into the influence and allure of digital platforms on individuals and society, and he invites readers to envision a legacy that lives beyond themselves. Like columns in buildings, human pillars provide support and strength. They work together to create space for others, partnering with God as He advances His kingdom in the world. Human pillars fortify and protect community through virtue and character and pass these values to others.
Sayers shows us how to delight in God’s presence, enjoying the freedom that flows from belonging to Him. A much-needed corrective, Platforms to Pillars models a biblical and better way for Christians to live.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
A fantastic and incisive look at our society through the lens of history and sociology, this book provides a thought-provoking analysis of why we behave the way we do in a world that elevates platforms, whether physical or digital. Based on presentations that the author has delivered on this topic, this is a message that is meant to be chewed on, not rushed through. In examining what it means to live life through the lens of self and a culture that props up performance, Mark Sayers demonstrates that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Ancient society and social media surprisingly have much in common in that, "We are made to feel like we can live like a pharaoh atop the social pyramid, our desires fulfilled, and our fantasies satiated; however, in reality, we live exploited at the bottom" (pg. 115). Today, our information and our data transform us into becoming the commodity, benefitting others at our expense as our time, finances, and pursuits enslave us to the things of the world.
Nothing is out of bounds in this book as political and economic systems are scrutinized, providing context for how we have landed in a place where platforms can easily crumble. The alternative presented is that of pillars, which hold enduring strength as a result of being based in God. In documenting the necessary process of experiencing exile and deliverance to enter into what can ultimately last, the image of standing firm on the mountain of God is an encouraging hope and promise for Christians. Readers who want to understand biblical parallels between what the Israelites faced and what Christians can glean from the lessons they learnt will appreciate the journey of moving from a platform mentality to one that is disenchanted with existing systems while longing for pillars that withstand societal whims and sins.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📖
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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