Joyful Outsiders

Christians in the West are asking themselves what faithfulness looks like in an increasingly hostile world. Patrick Miller and Keith Simon are two pastors who do not merely theorize about this tension but live it out as local church pastors. What you'll find in Joyful Outsiders is a road map for living as Christian exiles who love their community, city, and country. They advocate neither withdrawal nor rage for rage's sake. Instead, the reader is given helpful, scriptural tools for when to fight, when to build bridges, and, most importantly, how to represent Christ well in this moment to which we are called. Pastors and lay leaders will want this book both to better lead the people they serve and to give to those confused by life in America in the twenty-first century. * Daniel Darling, director, The Land Center for Cultural Engagement; author, Agents of Grace *
Following and embodying the way of Jesus in our fractured world often feels like a futile, fruitless endeavor. But as Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded us, 'When Christ bids a man come, he bids him come and die.' How do we do this? Joyful Outsiders offers us a prophetic and pragmatic way forward. Rather than providing a rigid set of to-dos, Miller and Simon remind us that '[Our] exile is creative tension. It is holy improvisation.' This culturally astute and pastorally sensitive book is an important resource for all those who long to live the way of Jesus amid the idolatry of our modern Babylon. * Jay Y. Kim, pastor; author *
How should Christians navigate the uncertain waters of late modern culture? This is one of the most pressing questions facing the church today. Should we critique, or should we cultivate? Should we resist, or should we seek to serve? Enter Patrick Miller and Keith Simon's Joyful Outsiders: a practical, elegant handbook to help everyday Christians chart a course marked by faithfulness, discernment, and joy. Wisely rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach to cultural engagement, Miller and Simon present six complementary models, drawing profound lessons from figures like Esther, Daniel, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This book is a rich resource for Christians who want to live well in our complex cultural moment. * Christopher Watkin, associate professor of European languages, Monash University, Australia; author, Biblical Critical Theory *
I'm unusually excited about this book. We need this. Read it. Think about it. Share it. Discuss it. Above all: Let's do it. And thank you, Patrick and Keith. Now I don't have to write this book, and mine wouldn't have been this good. * Brant Hansen, radio/podcast host; bestselling author, Unoffendable *
Joyful Outsiders is the book the church needs right now. In a deeply divided society, many Christians feel torn. Should they retreat, relent, or rage against the culture? Patrick and Keith show why there are far better options on offer for Christ followers. Compelling biblical insights are matched by practical examples of how Christians can live faithfully for God in the midst of Babylon. I hope every pastor, leader, and congregant will read this book and put it into practice. * Justin Brierley, broadcaster; speaker; author, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God *
Living as an outsider may not seem to spark joy. But Patrick Miller and Keith Simon show us how we find joy when we follow Jesus on the margins of our disorienting culture. Their message counters so much of the fear and loathing perpetuated in politics and media. They offer practical hope for every Christian in this engaging, accessible book. * Collin Hansen, vice president for content/editor-in-chief, The Gospel Coalition; host, Gospelbound podcast *
Patrick Miller and Keith Simon have written a timely and practical book for readers to embrace living in the unresolved tension of our present-day metaphorical Babylon. Joyful Outsiders offers a fantastic way to engage the culture around us--not by becoming 'insiders' but by in fact becoming more like Jesus in his role as an outsider. I found myself excited to consider how I could move into the various outsider roles of the trainer, the advisor, the artist, the ambassador, the protester, or the builder while learning the pitfalls of each. This book will fortify your spirit and invite you to reframe cultural tension as beautifully ripe with possibility. As Miller and Simon tell us, 'Babylon is everywhere, and Jesus has given you the responsibility of cultivating good within it.' You'll love this book and will want to read it with others as you seek to cultivate good right where you are. * Heather Holleman, PhD, speaker; professor; author, The Six Conversations: Pathways for Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility *
This is a much-needed book! As Christians, we are living as exiles in Babylon, and there are many reasons why we should not feel at home in the world. Miller and Simon remind us that we are called to be good citizens, to love our neighbors and enemies, but we should never be shocked when our values are considered strange or even offensive to the world around us. Joyful Outsiders is soaked with biblical truth, and it's presented with much pastoral wisdom gained from lived experience. If you want help living in the tension of resisting worldly values while graciously reaching the world, then this book is a must-read. * Preston Sprinkle, host, Theology in the Raw podcast *
This is a needed book in our day. In a time when Christians are often unaware of our own gifts and callings or find it easy to chastise brothers and sisters with different gifts and callings, this book provides helpful handles--a broad overview of orientations and traits--that can help God's people together fulfill our mission. A resource full of wisdom and grace. * Trevin Wax, vice president of research and resources, North American Mission Board; visiting professor, Cedarville University; author, The Thrill of Orthodoxy *