Patrick Keith Miller - Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant

What people are saying about

If you want to be a person of conviction without turning into a total jerk, read this book. If you want to have conversations with people and continue to learn and grow, read this book. If you want to find true freedom in belonging instead of the faux, enslaving community of tribalism, read this book. If you dont want these things, then you really need to read this book! Truth Over Tribe is a timely gift to the church, and I hope it is read widely.

Aimee Byrd, author of The Sexual Reformation

This book has given me a much better understanding of how and why our country has become so dangerously polarized and fractured. But even better, it presents simple, effective examples of what we as individuals can do to help stem the tide! What a great and timely reminder of the blessing that comes when we take a step back and focus on keeping first things first!

Michael Porter Jr., NBA player

I dont know if one good and timely book can compete against the algorithms that generate billions in profits by wrecking our society. But Im praying that Patrick Miller and Keith Simon succeed, for the sake of our churches, for the sake of our children, for the sake of our own spiritual health. Revival looks like Christians waking up to the ways political parties and their allied media seek to co-opt and corrupt our faith.

Collin Hansen, vice president of content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, host of Gospelbound podcast

Truth Over Tribe takes an honest look at what we are doing and why we are doing it. In a world of tribal temptations, we must be people who are true to Gods Word. We were made to belong first to God. Patrick and Keith are working to lead the way.

Kyle Idleman, bestselling author of Not a Fan and One at a Time

As a gay atheist kid who fell in love with Jesus during a raging culture war between the gays and the Christians, I know what its like to live in the no mans land between two warring tribes. Now decades later, when news and social media sell moral outrage and self-righteousness as a business model, Patrick Miller and Keith Simon offer this gift to the church. Its a beautiful call to realign our tribal loyalties to Jesus, a king whose business model is founded upon his own radical grace to sinners like us.

Greg Johnson, PhD, lead pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, author of Still Time to Care

In Truth Over Tribe, Patrick Miller and Keith Simon address polarization, the most important issue in American society, head on. But beyond just diagnosing the problem, Patrick and Keith go a step furtherproviding biblically based advice on how to navigate being a responsible and engaged citizen in the years to come.

Ryan Burge, author of The Nones and 20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America

In a time where division and quarrels are at a fever pitch, books that nudge us toward a more loving, life-giving posture are sorely needed. This is such a book. As experienced pastors and practitioners of unifying leadership around the unchanging truth of Christ, Patrick and Keith have given us a treasure in Truth Over Tribe. I cant recommend this book highly enough.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church and author of several books, including A Gentle Answer and Beautiful People Dont Just Happen

Patrick and Keith focus on critical topics that need to be discovered, debated, and understood in todays Evangelical movement. In Truth Over Tribe, it is wonderful to see their substantial research and hear their balanced reflection.

Mike Cosper, creator and voice of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast

TRUTH OVER TRIBE

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

Integrity Music Limited, a Division of David C Cook

Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

Details in some stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number 2022935639

ISBN 978-0-8307-8478-3

eISBN 978-0-8307-8479-0

2022 Patrick Keith Miller and Keith Simon

Published in association with the literary agent Don Gates @ The Gates Group, www.the-gates-group.com.

The Team: Michael Covington, Michael Ross, James Hershberger, Jack Campbell, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Micah Kandros

Cover Photo: Shutterstock

Author Bio Photos: Kassidy Frommann

Dedication and Acknowledgments

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Truth Over Tribe is dedicated to our church, The Crossing. This book tells our story. You are a shining example of what happens when a community chooses truth over tribe in a culture riven by tribalism. Jesus told us not to hide our light. We did our best not to hide yours.

We want to thank our wives, Christine Simon and Emily Miller, first and foremost. Youve supported us even when choosing the truth of Jesus cost you sleep, reputation, and more than a little anxiety. Without your companionship and prayers, this bookand the stories inside of itwould have crushed us.

Second, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Anna Lynne Frazier. She helped us frame each section and read every chapter, offering feedback that made every bit of this book better.

Third, we want to thank the pastors and staff of The Crossing. Working alongside you makes the hardest days feel easy. We love being on your team.

We also want to thank Don Gates. Writing your first book is daunting, but Dons advice and encouragement made every step easier. Likewise, thank you to Michael Covington and the editorial team at David C Cook. We arent sure why you took a risk on two unknown, first-time authors tackling a challenging topic, but were glad you did. We hope our partnership produces good fruit in the body of Christ. Lastly, thank you to our podcast family. While we love creating content for