The Party Crasher - by Joshua Ryan Butler (Paperback)

About the Book

"In this insightful, nonpartisan work, two respected pastors diagnose the roots of political conflict tearing apart the church and prescribe a practical and prophetic way toward faithful political engagement and ultimate allegiance to Jesus"--

Book Synopsis

In this insightful, nonpartisan roadmap toward faithful political engagement and ultimate allegiance to Jesus, pastor Joshua Ryan Butler diagnoses the roots of political conflict tearing apart the church and prescribes a practical and prophetic way forward.

"A must-read for any and all who seek the way of Jesus."--Jay Kim, pastor and author of Analog Christian

Have you noticed a deeper level of political division in your community or church? If so, you're not alone. This powerful, accessible book exposes the religious nature of modern political movements and how they compete with faithfulness to Christ.

Rather than retreat from the political realm, The Party Crasher will help you understand the politics of our age and equip you with the wisdom to faithfully navigate them. Key takeaways include:

- How to develop a Christian posture for political life and promote unity in the church.
- When to be bold.
- How to identify and repent from our political idols.
- How the way we worship can help us avoid division.

This is not a book about putting politics aside, it's a book about putting politics in their place so that we might be better disciples of Jesus in whichever party or place we find ourselves.

Review Quotes

"The Party Crasher is a must-read for any and all seeking the way of Jesus amid the fractured mess we find ourselves in today. I love the prayer that Josh invites us into--God, give us soft hearts and steel spines--in this timely and all-important book."--Jay Kim, pastor of WestGate Church (San Jose, California) and author of Analog Christian

"Politics is the new religion. In the first century, no one separated politics and religion. In the twenty-first century, we assume they're divided. But they're not. Josh Butler explores the culture war as a religious war, driven by idols and ideologies, showing how kingdom-centered peacemaking could transform our tribalized moment."--Patrick Miller, co-host of the Truth Over Tribe podcast, co-author of Truth Over Tribe, and pastor at The Crossing (Columbia, Missouri)

"The Party Crasher boldly and compassionately addresses the pain and tension political division has wreaked upon our country, churches, and interpersonal relationships. Josh casts a gripping vision of what it looks like to live with conviction in our cultural moment, by exposing the core ideologies of the political religions which call for the allegiance of our hearts, to subvert our bow and pledge loyalty to Jesus as the Ultimate King."--Bre Golden, pastor of community care at Park Hill Church (San Diego, California) and co-founder of Waves Ministries

"The Party Crasher is a clarion call for the church to be the church, not a chaplain to the empire, not a partisan puppet, but the body of Christ on earth. Josh blends practical pastoral care with theologically incisive observations that lead to deeper devotion to Jesus in an era when everything is politicized. This book is absolutely necessary reading for anyone who is trying to love God and love their neighbor in a polarized world."--Tony Scarcello, author of Regenerate: Following Jesus After Deconstruction and pastor of Open Table Church

"We all give our allegiance to something or someone. For many of us, our allegiance is not inherently or naturally to Christ. So how do we, with our different political leanings, come to the table of Christ and sit in unity? The Party Crasher serves as a guide to answering this question that all followers of Christ should wrestle with."--Brenna Blain, Bible teacher, author of Can I Say That?, and host of the Can I Say That? podcast

"Goodness gracious, this book is wildly needed right now. It challenges our false religions, idolatrous ideologies, and misappropriated loves with Christ's expansive kingdom. Josh has written a book that should shape the church for years to come. Highly recommended."--A. J. Swoboda, Ph.D., associate professor of Bible, theology, and world Christianity at Bushnell University and author of After Doubt

About the Author

Joshua Ryan Butler is a pastor and the author of Beautiful Union, The Skeletons in God's Closet, and The Pursuing God. He and his wife, Holly, along with their three children, live in Portland, Oregon.