Bussie - Outlaw Christian: finding authentic faith by breaking the rules

Praise for Outlaw Christian

What impresses me most about this remarkable book is its absolute clarity. You dont have to be a theologian to understand this book; you dont have to be a Christianyou just have to be a thoughtful and open-minded human being who wants to have a richer, deeper, more meaningful life. Jacqueline Bussie not only tells us what we need to do, but she also illustrates what we need to do with marvelous examples from her life, her teaching, and the lives and experiences of her students. The final chapter on hope is absolutely stunning in its concreteness. If Sir Thomas More was the man for all seasons, then this is the book for all seasons. A life changing book.

TONY ABBOTT, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENGLISH, DAVIDSON COLLEGE; AUTHOR OF THE ANGEL DIALOGUES; AND WINNER OF THE 2015 NORTH CAROLINA AWARD IN LITERATURE

Reading Outlaw Christian was like having a late-night conversation with a dear friend. The experience is filled with deep confessions, refreshing honesty, and new grace. I hope readers take away the same thing I dida rekindled love for the God who finds us and frees us.

SARAH THEBARGE, AUTHOR OF THE INVISIBLE GIRLS

While this is a Christian book, its gifts are available to anyone who has ever wrestled with the seemingly impossible task of making sense of suffering, loss, evil, inequity, and lonelinessincluding atheists like me. Reading Dr. Bussies call to reject clichs and sit with uncertainty, I found myself hoping this book makes its way into the hands of every Christian who has ever had their questions or pain shut down by a platitude or an easy answer.

CHRIS STEDMAN, AUTHOR OF FAITHEIST AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YALE HUMANIST COMMUNITY

I served as a parish pastor for twenty-five years. Walking with my people in times of crisis and deep pain I came to realize that some of their deepest struggles were not about loss nor about making sense out of what had happened, but finding the space within themselves and within their faith communities to speak honestly and openly about their doubt and anger toward God. Now Jacqueline Bussie, a theologian of the church, shares her experience and gives voice to all who have been caught in the belief that doubt is faithlessness and anger toward God is blasphemy. Quite the opposite, Dr. Bussie argues, doubt and anger are real expressions of a living faith. Outlaw Christian might break the rules, but it opens up the possibility of deeper faith.

REV. ELIZABETH A. EATON, PRESIDING BISHOP, EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

Theres nothing fluffy about this book. It is raw, sassy, and from the heart. Bussie reminds us that God is not scared of our doubts, fears, and darknessGod even experienced them in Jesus. This is a fresh invitation to the faith for skeptics, doubters, seekers, and even folks who like that old-time-religion. Become an outlaw Christian. God likes holy rebels.

SHANE CLAIBORNE, AUTHOR OF THE IRRESISTIBLE REVOLUTION, JESUS FOR PRESIDENT, AND EXECUTING GRACE

Dr. Jacqueline Bussie has written this book for those Christians who crave the honest Gospel, stripped of deceptive prettiness and unreal promises; one that acknowledges our pain, welcomes our doubts, legitimizes our anger and insists that only when we are able to witness to the entire truth of our lives can we truly understand what the Good News means for us and for the world. Outlaw Christian invites us to step out of bounds again and again in search of an authentic faith with the end result being that we encounter our most authentic self.

PAUL RAUSHENBUSH, HUFFINGTON POST EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF GLOBAL SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

2016 by Jacqueline A. Bussie

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ePub Edition April 2016 ISBN: 9780718076658

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bussie, Jacqueline Aileen.

Title: Outlaw Christian : finding authentic faith by breaking the rules / Jacqueline A. Bussie.

Description: Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015036333 | ISBN 9780718076641

Subjects: LCSH: Christian life.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .B897 2016 | DDC 248.4--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015036333

16 17 18 19 20 RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my studentspast, present, and future

In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes] or [Your Response]. Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).

Contents

Chapter One: Tired of Dishonesty?
Become an Outlaw Christian

Chapter Two: Angry at the Almighty?
Tell God the Truth

Chapter Three: Doubting Your Faith?
Learn to Lament

Chapter Four: Sick of Hearing God Has a Plan?
Surprise! God Is Too

Chapter Five: Scared to Tell Your Real Story?
Compost Your Pain

Chapter Six: Longing for Hope?
Seven Ways to Find It

Outlaw Christianity: (noun)

1. a new, life-giving faith for those who ache for a more authentic relationship with God and other people by no longer having to hide their doubt, anger, grief, scars, or questions

2. an honest, outside-the-law faith for those seeking a hope that really speaks to the worlds hurt

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacobs hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, Let me go, for the day is breaking. But Jacob said, I will not let you go, unless you bless me.

GENESIS 32:2526

M y mother was my best friend, until the day she forgot who I was. On that day, my own mom looked at me with kind eyes and asked, Who are you? Are you my mom? For the next sixteen years, early-onset Alzheimers made sure my mother had no idea who anyone was, let alone me. On most days, this made me feel like one of the outcasts in ancient India whom the gods required to crawl backward out of the room, broom in hand, sweeping away her own footprints behind her. Parts of myself began to disappear, destined for the dust heap.