Not in It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines The Church

Description

Is it possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally The reaction of evangelicals to political and cultural shifts in recent years revealed what they value most. Lurking beneath our Bible-laced rhetoric, faith claims, books, and sermons is a relentless drive to WIN! But the church is not here to win. By every human measure, our Savior lost. On purpose. With a purpose. And we are his body. We are not in it to win anything. We are in it for something else entirely. That something else is what this book is about. You'll discover: How to take a stand the right way. You'll learn how to make your case with a posture of humility and understanding, rather than being fueled by the fear of losing something. How to view politics through the lens of faith. Learn curiously, listen intentionally, and love unconditionally. How the life of Jesus and his teaching applies to modern-day challenges in a fresh way. The "biblical" stand may not be what we've been taught. Jesus never asked his followers to agree on everything. But he did call his followers to obey a new command: to love others in the same way he has loved us. Instead of asserting our rights or fighting for power, we need to begin asking ourselves: what does love require of me

Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, NPM consists of six churches in the Atlanta area and a network of more than 70 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 118,000 people weekly. As host of Your Move with Andy Stanley, which delivers over seven million messages each month through television and podcasts, and author of more than 20 books, including The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating; Ask It; How to Be Rich; Deep & Wide; Visioneering; and Next Generation Leader, he is considered one of the most influential pastors in America. Andy and his wife, Sandra, have three grown children and live near Atlanta.

'For as long as I've known Andy Stanley, he has championed the primacy of reaching people as the task of the church. As he often says (quoting James, a first-century leader of the church), 'We ought not make it hard for the gentiles who are turning to God.' I believe the issues Andy raises in this book are the most pressing questions facing the church right now, and they get at the heart of the Great Commission itself. I invite you to wrestle with them thoughtfully and prayerfully, as I have. If we are to represent Jesus in this generation, we must be people full of grace and truth, and that is no small challenge. Even in places where you come to different conclusions than Andy, you'll be richer for having wrestled through these issues.' * J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church * 'Andy is 'not in it to win it,' and I'm in it with Andy and his passion for reaching people far from Jesus. Too many Christians are fighting the wrong battle and warring against the wrong people--you can't wage war on people and reach them at the same time. Andy points us back to the mission Jesus sent us on--showing the love of Jesus to a broken and hurting world. This book is a prophetic call to a confused church, and I hope it is widely engaged and discussed.' * Ed Stetzer, dean and professor at Wheaton College * 'As someone who studies and serves churches around the world, I can confirm it. Attendance in churches is declining. Fewer people, especially in the younger generations, identify as Christians. Churches are more divided than ever. Our world seems more divided than ever. By any measure, we are not winning. But what if we're not winning primarily because we're trying to win? Once again, Andy Stanley helps us reflect on the words of Jesus and challenges us to consider a better way to live our lives and, more importantly, engage God's mission in a broken world.' * Tony Morgan, founder and lead strategist of The Unstuck Group, author of The Unstuck Church *