⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Ideas have consequences, as evidenced by the history of mankind. On that fateful day September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of New York City were hit by two planes packed to with innocent passengers and a handful of Muslim terrorists. These terrorists took their lives and those in the plane along with them all under the guise of a jihad against the Great Satan—the United States of America. Dr. R.C. Sproul, one of the greatest theologians of our day, wrote the book, The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World, to help Christians become familiar with the streams of thought that have saturated Western culture through the ages, with the goal of better equipping God’s people to influence this culture for Christ.
In this book, Dr. Sproul seeks to trace the contours of Western philosophy from the ancients (including Plato, Aquinas, etc.) to the molders of modern thought—Descartes, Kant, and Freud. Sproul proves that ideas are not just passing fads but can endure for generations to come, with wide-ranging consequences for all humanity.
As previously noted, we live in an environment in which the culture is rapidly changing. Within 24 hours of leaving one’s home, one can be almost anywhere in the world, simply by hopping on a plane. Reading Dr. Sproul’s book, The Consequences of Ideas, will help Christians to begin to understand some of the major players (the “Movers and Shakers”) and influencers of our modern Western civilization. Sproul writes in his typical easy-to-understand and helpful style. Readers will find this book to be a bit heavy, but also full of practical insight. I encourage you to check it out if you’re interested in the history of ideas, and how they have shaped our world today.
Title: The Consequences of ideas: Understanding the Concepts that shaped Our World
Author: R.C. Sproul
Publisher: Crossway (2000)
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
