You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World

A common belief among people in contemporary Western societies is that they answer only to themselves. According to this book by Noble (English, Oklahoma Baptist Univ.; Disruptive Witness), however, each person belongs to Christ and should therefore align their behavior accordingly. He writes that modern society is resplendent with examples of people driven by self-improvement or asserting their own version of personal freedom; society, after all, encourages behavior that promotes personal autonomy and individualism, his thinking goes. Noble also keenly observes that social media platforms are practical means by which people can satisfy their need for not only self-expression but also self-worth; consequently, social media provides a temporary escape from the realities of life. Noble argues that the continuing trend of personal autonomy will lead to disastrous results in society as a whole; for this he offers attainable solutions, whereby Christ becomes the focus and the way by which people can live as they were meant to live. As its title says, this book maintains that people are not their own and that they should belong wholly to Christ. One might benefit by reading this latest book in conjunction with Noble’s 2018 book Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age, although both books are standalones.