Outlaw Christian
Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the "Rules"
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Nelson Books (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
Winner of the 2017 Illumination Award Jacqueline Bussie knows that too many Christians live according to unspoken “laws” that govern the Christian life: #1: Never get angry at God; #2: Never doubt; #3: Never question; #4: Never tell your real story; #5: Always speak in clichés about evil and suffering; and #6: Always believe hope comes easy for those who truly love God. Living according to these rules is killing real Christian life; Outlaw Christian proposes a rebellious, life-giving, authentic alternative. Through captivating stories and with disarming honesty, Bussie gives concrete, practical strategies to help readers cultivate hope, seek joy, practice accompaniment, compost their pain, and rediscover the spiritual practice of lament. Tackling difficult questions without political divisiveness, Bussie speaks to both progressive and conservative Christians in ways that unite rather than divide. And in doing so, she provides a new way to handle the most difficult and troubling questions of life in a broken world that God will never abandon.
Endorsements (5)
“Praise for Outlaw Christian What impresses me most about this remarkable book is its absolute clarity. You don’t have to be a theologian to understand this book; you don’t have to be a Christian—you just have to be a thoughtful and open-minded human being who wants to have a richer, deeper, more meaningful life. Jacqueline Bussie not only tells us what we need to do, but she also illustrates what we need to do with marvelous examples from her life, her teaching, and the lives and experiences of her students. The final chapter on hope is absolutely stunning in its concreteness. If Sir Thomas More was “the man for all seasons,” then this is “the book for all seasons.” A life changing book.”
“Reading Outlaw Christian was like having a late-night conversation with a dear friend. The experience is filled with deep confessions, refreshing honesty, and new grace. I hope readers take away the same thing I did—a rekindled love for the God who finds us and frees us.”
“While this is a Christian book, its gifts are available to anyone who has ever wrestled with the seemingly impossible task of making sense of suffering, loss, evil, inequity, and loneliness—including including atheists like me. Reading Dr. Bussie’s call to reject clichés and sit with uncertainty, I found myself hoping this book makes its way into the hands of every Christian who has ever had their questions or pain shut down by a platitude or an easy answer.”
“blasphemy. Quite the opposite, Dr. Bussie argues, doubt and anger are real expressions of a living faith. Outlaw Christian might break the rules, but it opens up the possibility of deeper faith.”
Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
“There’s nothing fluffy about this book. It is raw, sassy, and from the heart. Bussie reminds us that God is not scared of our doubts, fears, and darkness—God even experienced them in Jesus. This is a fresh invitation to the faith for skeptics, doubters, seekers, and even folks who like that old-time-religion. Become an outlaw Christian. God likes holy rebels.”
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