Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made for So Much More

“Faithful followers of Jesus must make a difficult but necessary decision as to who they will follow: the strong cultural current of our day or the risen Jesus” (142).Jen Oshman delivers a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips in ‘Cultural Counterfeits.’ Jen explores the false hopes provided by the idols we set up in society: our body image and abilities, sexual promiscuity, bodily-autonomy, changing gender spectra, and motherhood and marriage. Jen filters all of these “identity questions and burdens through the lens of our unchanging and good Creator and Savior” (132). Jen opens the book with the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) which she weaves from start to finish in order to show us how our own hearts mirror not just the younger son, but also the older son in the parable.After seeing the topics Jen covers, you may be hesitant, like I first was, to suggest this for a book club. But let me push “play” where we pause—Jen’s tone is very-matter-of-fact with sundry statistics, but she is not lacking in compassion, gentleness, or warmth in her words. If you have ever listened to her podcast “All Things,” you know exactly what I mean. Jen has a compelling way of gently stepping on your toes in the most needed ways, while simultaneously extending the remedy of the gospel. She has one of the most balanced voices when it comes to cultural issues and how believers are called to live out truth in our postmodern world. That’s why I am confident that you would have fruitful discussion at the end of each chapter; because though Jen is incredibly passionate about rightly viewing cultural trends through Biblical lenses, she is not rash nor emotional in her writing. This is helpful, because it allows the reader to stay level-headed and think logically, calmly, and biblically through the already super-charged issues she calls to attention.“We want to control our lives and outcomes, so we use the idols of our age to bring about the results we’re looking for. But they end up controlling us because we keep looking to them, making offerings to them, putting our hope in them. But they never really deliver. They never fully satisfy” (29-30).I wish I could share every quote with you. I wish I could adequately express the urgency with which I know this book was written. Better yet, just read and think critically through what Jen presents. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal sons, our loving Father is actively running toward us with his arms open. “Whether we search for meaning, significance, and identity in reckless living or in our own righteous behavior—Jesus sees and intervenes. He is not ashamed of us, but runs to us and reconciles us to the Father through the cross.” Oh may you know that no matter what you have done in your life, “Jesus stands ready to forgive you, as you receive him. He already paid the prices in full to bring you all the way home” (195).

This book was exactly what I needed to help me navigate tricky discussions with friends, neighbors, and my own children. It has been so hard for me to put into words why the world’s promises continue to come up short and disappoint. Jen Oshman does an excellent job of addressing each of these idols, explaining what God says is true and backing it up with facts and data from a variety of sources showing that God’s way is in fact the best way to live! This book is engaging, helpful, and informative to read on your own, but it also lends itself really well to group discussion. Going through it with friends or a small group at church will prove to be a blessing and encouragement to anyone who feels overwhelmed every time they look at the news. This book also provides a great platform for discussions with a a teenage daughter who is starting to encounter the heartbreaking effects of the pull of these idols on her friends, classmates, and even herself.

This book certainly takes you on a journey of tough topics that many are so often afraid to open up. Things that are so easily put on the back burner or dismissed in our day to day conversations. But Jen’s ability to interweave hope & truth in the midst of some really tough subject matter is incredibly well done. Her depiction of the two brothers in the Prodigal son story is incredibly well done and makes you think time & time again about the ‘not so bad’ sins and idols we all experience in our daily life. I highly recommend reading this book!!

Every woman in the church needs to read this book. It was challenging and refreshing in so many ways. Jen Oshman confronts idols head on with the truth of the gospel. I appreciated her fierce dedication to scripture and the gospel while navigating tough cultural topics and issues that are close to the heart. She writes with both grace and truth. This book taught me a lot about each topic and it fostered deep conversation among women in my church. I am so grateful that Jen Oshman chose to write this book in this cultural moment.

WOW—what a powerful and timely book!! With all of the messages that parade themselves as freeing and true in today’s culture, Jen Oshman reveals the need for a discerning lens in navigating them all.She specifically addresses five of these messages, exposing them for the counterfeits they are.I loved the first few chapters that were dedicated to laying the groundwork with history. Here, she helped the reader understand how we got to where we are in our current cultural moment. It was one of my favorite things about the book!I also found Oshman’s skillful avoidance of using a judgmental or condemnatory tone throughout the book so refreshing! There is no calling out or finger pointing—just plain facts and biblical truth.My favorite chapter was the one on marriage and motherhood idolatry. As a single woman, I’m so grateful that she included it!Y’all, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of our culture with discernment. This was a 4.5 star read for me—highly recommend!!!

Jen is incredible. Her time and attention to studying culture while also combatting the lies we all face with the Bible is nothing short of brilliant. I am grateful for her wisdom + bravery to tackle these topics head on. Well done!

This book covers several difficult topics with truth and grace. It's well-researched, well-written, and deeply rooted in Scripture. Highly recommend it!

Jen is always hitting on tough topics with the truth seasoned with love.