Trading FOMO for JOMO: Keith and Patrick's New Book, Joyful Outisders, Coming Soon!
Nov 23, 2024
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Navigating the complexities of modern Christianity feels challenging, but embracing an outsider status can offer joy. The hosts share insights from their upcoming book, suggesting six unique roles for Christians to engage with culture rather than conforming or retreating. They discuss cultural shifts in American morality, revealing how societal acceptance has changed over the years. The concept of JOMO—finding joy in missing out—offers a refreshing perspective, especially during the busy holiday season.
The podcast emphasizes the need for practical resources to help everyday Christians navigate their role as outsiders in a disorienting culture.
Keith and Patrick introduce six unique engagement strategies for Christians, encouraging them to embrace their strengths while responding to cultural challenges.
Deep dives
Navigating Cultural Challenges as Christians
Christians often face complex situations where the cultural norm contradicts their faith, leaving them feeling like outsiders. For example, a family dealt with the unexpected revelation of their child wanting to marry a gay partner, leading to intense pressure from relatives and societal expectations to accept this new dynamic despite their uncertainties. Similarly, a young employee was thrust into the spotlight on a diversity board, where discussions pointed towards ousting Christian members, forcing him to weigh the decision of whether to speak up or remain silent. These situations illustrate the struggle Christians experience in determining how best to respond without compromising their beliefs in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
The Purpose and Need for Practical Guidance
The podcast emphasizes the lack of practical resources aimed at everyday Christians managing cultural engagement, as many existing books are tailored for pastors and scholars. This gap in literature became a catalyst for the creation of a new book titled 'Joyful Outsiders', intended to provide relatable advice and actionable steps for individuals facing real-world challenges. The hosts recognize the urgent need for accessible guidance that resonates with the daily experiences of average Christians, helping them navigate their faith amid societal pressures. They designed the content to reflect the practical concerns that ordinary people encounter, through firsthand experiences from various communities.
Understanding the Historical Shift of Christian Outsiderness
The transformation in the cultural perception of Christianity is evident, with statistics showcasing a significant decline in church attendance, dropping from 70% to just 34% in recent decades. This shift signifies that many Christians now experience feelings of isolation and disconnection from a society that seems increasingly hostile to their beliefs. The discussion highlights how even notable past figures in society, such as Billy Graham, experienced changing levels of acceptance and visibility in public life, underscoring that Christians have historically been outsiders, regardless of the era. The speakers argue that acknowledging this outsider status can empower Christians to embrace their divine calling and respond appropriately to the cultural dissonance they face.
Strategies for Joyful Engagement in a Disorienting Culture
The podcast outlines six distinct ways Christians can engage with a culture that feels disorienting and at odds with their values. These strategies include being trainers who foster spiritual habits, protesters challenging injustices, builders who establish institutions, ambassadors who evangelize, artists who create beauty, and advisors who influence those in power. The aim is to illustrate that every individual has a unique role in this engagement, encouraging listeners to identify their strengths and God-given gifts in serving their communities. By understanding and embracing these roles, Christians can find meaning and fulfillment in their response to cultural challenges while nurturing a profound connection with their faith.
For many Christians, fitting into the current cultural moment just feels…hard! From 40 million people having left the church in the last 25 years to less than half of U.S. adults identifying as Protestants or church attendees, one thing is clear: Christians are outsiders. But is that such a bad thing? Should we fear missing out, or consider it a joy? On today’s episode, Keith and Patrick make a special announcement: They wrote another book! Coming in January 2025, Joyful Outsiders: 6 Ways to Follow Jesus in a Disorienting Culture will explore six unique ways that Christians can joyfully accept their calling to change culture without being changed by culture. Today, they explain the story behind writing this book and why they believe it will be a practical resource for “everyday Christians needing everyday answers to face everyday problems.” They break down the three ways Christians typically respond to a tense culture: combat, conform, or cloister. Then they present a more godly approach: Six unique types of outsiders that lend themselves to a person’s God-given strengths and abilities. Are you a trainer, protestor, builder, ambassador, artist, or advisor? We hope this sneak peek gives you a glimpse of the joy that’s possible when Christians embrace their role as outsiders.
Interested in joining our book launch team and helping us spread this important message? Learn more here.
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