Jesus Outside the Lines: Review

Title: Jesus Outside the Lines: a way forward for those tired of taking sides

Author: Scott Sauls

Date Completed: 22 March 2016

Jesus Outside the Lines was one of several books recommended by one of our pastors in a sermon recently on Culture and the Gospel. It sounded like a highly relevant book to read in a big election year, and it did not disappoint. When can I start handing it out to people? (only partially kidding)

Sauls touches on a wide variety of culturally relevant topics outside the lines of one's "Christian Tribe" and outside the lines of Christianity. Conservative vs. liberal, unborn vs. the poor, money, sex, hypocrisy, self-esteem, and much more in between. He guides discussion through these divisive issues, asks good questions, and challenges his readers to engage with the "gray."

I'll just quote part of his opening thoughts here to give a taste:

"What matters more to us--that we successfully put others in their place, or that we are known to love well? That we win culture wars with carefully constructed arguments and political power plays, or that we win hearts with humility, truth, and love? God have mercy on us if we do not love well because all that matters to us is being right and winning arguments. Truth and love can go together. Truth and love must go together."

I naively thought I would read it without marking it up, but I highlighted far too much instead. I'll definitely be re-reading portions of this book over the next few months as a good reminder that Jesus sides with Himself and that the question "is not whether Jesus in on our side, but whether we are on his." Which aligns nicely with the lesson I've been learning the past few years that following Jesus will make me politically inconsistant if you try to pin me on the right-left spectrum of modern politics.

If I haven't convinced you to read the book, at least listen to Scott Sauls speak on the same subject on youtube.