Kevin KB Burgess - Dangerous Jesus: Why the Only Thing More Risky than Getting Jesus Right Is Getting Jesus Wrong

We are in dire need of authors who will write brave, truth-filled books. KB is one of those writers. Few voices are as courageous, clear, relevant, and necessary as his. In a world that seeks to water down the gospel and sugarcoat its Christ, his words provide a critical compass pointing us back home. The volume you are holding in your hands is personal and powerful. Once I started reading, I could not stop. Each chapter unveils the caricature that culture has painted of our Savior and presents a rich reminder of who He truly isa revolutionary who challenged systems, shifted culture, and inaugurated a new paradigm for living. KBs vulnerability, humility, and theological acumen shimmer on these pages. And, in the end, he extends to his readers an invitation to dive deeper into the surrendered life, which is an abundant life. Read this book slowly, prayerfully, and with holy expectation.

PRISCILLA SHIRER, bestselling author and Bible teacher

KB is one of the most poignant and unique voices of our time. He finds a way to weave unapologetic truth into relatable stories that shine a light on the goodness of God.

LECRAE, Grammy-winning recording artist and New York Times bestselling author

KB has issued a powerful call for us to meet the real Jesus and be changed by him. Dangerous Jesus is a book soaked in Scripture with an eye towards the pressing concerns of the culture, especially those issues driving young believers away from the faith and hindering skeptics from considering the claims of Jesus. In this book he has done work needed in every age: to scrape away the lies and distortions the culture (and sometimes even, sadly, elements of the church) tells us about the Messiah Jesus so as to be challenged by a God that demands our allegiance.

ESAU M C CAULLEY, P H D, author of Reading While Black and associate professor at Wheaton College

With an eagle-eyes view, KB locates the core problem areas with contemporary Christianity. Not only does he rightly assess ways weve drifted, but he astutely systematizes the way back to a healthy expression of our beloved faith. Follow KBs words back to the Jesus of Scripture.

FLAME, Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist

Ever since Jesus walked this earth, you had everyone from laymen, bureaucrats, and even the religious establishment seeking to appropriate Him and His influence for their own purposes and interestspainting Him as the paragon of their own cause. However, Jesus never gave Himself over to any to be used in such a way; His Kingdom ethic and mission always transcended mans attempts to conflate Him with their own selfish ends. In his amazing debut book, KB helps us understand what it means to not only see Jesus aright but to live for Him in such a way that aligns our goals and vision with His will. This work will help guide us to not only love Christ with a pure heart but to also sacrificially love our neighbor as we love ourselves, encouraging us to bring a true representation of heaven to the public square.

AMEEN HUDSON, writer, speaker, and cohost of the Southside Rabbi podcast

Ive had the privilege of knowing KB since he was in his early twenties, freshly signed to Reach Records and still finding his voice. His evolution from rapper to thought leader and author has been nothing short of spectacular. His demeanor is always humble, and his voice is always full of grace and truth. Dangerous Jesus is an extension of ideas KB has shared with me over the years, and Im so excited that the general public is tuning in. I believe this is work that will shape the culture around Christianity for decades to come.

RUSLAN, hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and content creator

Jesus has been wrongly portrayed by many in society, and sadly, even in the pulpit. That misconception has led many away from the faith. In this book, KB reintroduces us to what the Bible says about Jesus. A fierce yet loving Savior who desires a walk with you that will radically change your life.

TOVARES GREY, founder and author of Godly Dating 101

Visit Tyndale online at tyndale.com.

Visit Tyndale Momentum online at tyndalemomentum.com.

Tyndale, Tyndales quill logo, Tyndale Momentum, and the Tyndale Momentum logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Ministries. Tyndale Momentum is a nonfiction imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois.

Dangerous Jesus: Why the Only Thing More Risky than Getting Jesus Right Is Getting Jesus Wrong

Copyright 2023 by Kevin KB Burgess. All rights reserved.

Designed by Dean H. Renninger

Edited by Jonathan Schindler

Published in association with the literary agency of The Fedd Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 341973, Austin, TX 78734.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are 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.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Tyndale House Publishers at , or call 1-855-277-9400.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4964-5948-0

Build: 2023-03-21 15:14:58 EPUB 3.0

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THE ONES SEARCHING FOR JESUS AND THOSE WHO HAVE FOUND HIM BUT ARE GROWING WEARY OF HIS MISREPRESENTATIONS.

Somewhere along the way we traded following Jesus for creating a tame, moldable, silent Jesus who doesnt mind following us.

The churchs waning influence on the culture is directly connected to Jesus waning influence on the church.

Allow me to reintroduce this Jesus.

To recast Christianity in a land of so many misrepresentations makes the truth sound like a reinterpretation.

But dangerous impostors will give way to whats more dangerous: the real Jesus.

KB

I have one story to share. Its a dangerous one, I suppose. I learned about it in a car ride through Nashville while being driven by a woman that couldve been a martyr. She and her family were new transplants to the city after living as missionaries for twenty-plus years in Istanbul, Turkey. I wanted to know the differences between the Christians here, as in America, and the Christians there, as in Turkey, so I asked. She answered with a story about Easter.

Anti-Christian groups were threatening to storm certain churches on Easter Sunday with their weapons and their rage. Upon arrival, they would put bullets in every baptized body. One of the congregations under threat included my Nashville friend, her husband, and her two children.

They all gathered one night to discuss the danger. The weapons. The organized rage headed their way. Naturally fear was felt, and as it usually does, it instigated them into being strategic. The easiest strategy was to simply stay home on Sunday. If on that day, when the sun rose and after breakfast was made, nobody decided to change out of their pajamas and into their best, head to the church, and await the word, then nobody would be there when the rage arrived.

Nobodys body would catch a bullet in it. No child would lose a parent. No parent would lose a child. No spouse would weep and no friend would mourn.