Author: Jen Oshman

Subtitle:

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

In today’s culture, women and girls are influenced by idols that promise purpose and meaning for their lives—outward beauty and ability, sex, abortion, and gender fluidity. Christian women aren’t exempt from these temptations either, and can even elevate good things like marriage and motherhood to the status of idolatry. Women may sense that these idols are hollow and leave them feeling unsettled, but where should they turn instead?

In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen Oshman encourages women to reject the empty, destructive promises these idols offer and embrace something much more satisfying. She casts a vision for women to experience real hope and peace in Jesus, calling them to recognize their unshakable and eternal identities in him. This timely and compelling resource will help women find freedom and joy as they explore God’s good design and purpose for their lives.

Culturally Relevant: Addresses current topics such as the #MeToo movement, LGBTQIA+, social media, and feminism
Explains “How We Got Here”: Gives a brief history of the sexual revolution up to today
For Group or Individual Study: Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter

Table of Contents:

Foreword by Christine Hoover
Introduction

Part 1: You Are Here
Chapter 1: Waking Up in a Far Country
Chapter 2: The Sexual Revolution Meets #MeToo
Chapter 3: A Timeless Lens for Changing Trends

Part 2: Confronting the Empty Promises of our Age
Chapter 4: Obsessed: Bodies, Beauty, and Ability
Chapter 5: Selling Out for Cheap Sex
Chapter 6: Abortion Has Not Delivered
Chapter 7: Trending: LGBTQIA+
Chapter 8: When Marriage and Motherhood Become Idols

Part 3: We Were Made for So Much More
Chapter 9: It’s Good to Be a Girl
Chapter 10: Home

General Index
Scripture Index

About the author:

Jen Oshman has been in women’s ministry for over two decades as a missionary and pastor’s wife on three continents. She’s the mother of four daughters, the author of Enough about Me: Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self, and the host of All Things, a podcast about cultural events and trends. Her family currently resides in Colorado, where they planted Redemption Parker, an Acts29 church.

Endorsements:

“In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen Oshman addresses some of the most significant and sensitive issues of our day with a combination of informed integrity, biblical insight, and godly compassion. In these pages you will find a winsome call away from the world’s false promises and toward what is real, true, and beautiful.”  ~Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden

“Jen Oshman is a clear and trusted voice of wisdom in our current age. She thinks deeply and biblically about the issues that bombard us—and helps us to do the same. In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen pulls back the curtain to reveal the empty promises offered by five idols of our day. Jen’s words are full of insight, compassion, and truth. Whether you are combating these lies in your own soul or coming alongside those you love, this book will expose how the idols not only fail us, but actually betray and harm us. She then reminds us that there is ultimately only one who can truly satisfy the longing in our souls—Jesus, the one in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found.”  ~Courtney Doctor, Coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition; author, From Garden to Glory and Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James

“This book is provocative in all the right ways. Jen Oshman wants to ensure that women don’t settle for less than God’s good and glorious intention for their life. Jen takes on some of the most pressing issues of our day, boldly proclaiming biblical truth while overflowing with gospel grace that soothes the sinner’s heart and breaks the Pharisee’s pride.”  ~Trevin Wax, Vice President of Research and Resource Development, North American Mission Board; author, This Is Our Time

“This is an important and much-needed book. With boldness and wisdom, Jen thoughtfully unpacks the prevailing cultural lies about what it means to be a woman and beautifully points to the truth of whom God created us to be. Cultural Counterfeits strikes the rare balance of grace and truth and I recommend it to anyone who is tired of the empty promises of this age and is looking for something lasting.”  ~Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author, Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption

“Jen’s voice is a herald for believers, equipping us with biblical truth to confront the unsatisfying messages of the world and the damaging lies of our enemy. She proclaims a better message, one full of abundant life in Jesus Christ. Cultural Counterfeits is a valuable read for everyone in our churches, whether men and women, young or old.”  ~Tony Merida, Lead Pastor, Imago Dei Church, Raleigh, North Carolina; author, Ordinary

“Women are confronted with all sorts of ideas in today’s culture. It’s hard to know what is true and what truth is to be believed. Jen Oshman unpacks the most common ideas women face with care, research, and a more beautiful vision of God’s plan for us. Jen has years of experience as a ministry worker of the gospel, as a student of the word, and as a mom of daughters. As a mom of sons and as someone who ministers to women, I’m thankful for her work! This is a book I plan to give to the women I minister to, and I hope you will do the same.”  ~Courtney Reissig, author, Teach Me to Feel and The Accidental Feminist