The Gift of the Outsider

Description

Embracing the Spiritual Lessons of Unbelonging Too often, division and tribalism replace the unity God desires for humankind. Belonging becomes a battle, and its winners gain the world: access, comfort, safety, community. Yet for those on the margins—set apart from their culture by differences such as ethnicity, class, ability, and faith—God offers something even greater. The Gift of the Outsider celebrates the unexpected spiritual blessings found in unbelonging—and calls Christians of all backgrounds to love and listen to the outcasts in their community. Author Alicia J. Akins offers heartfelt reflections on her own experiences of as a Christian, a Black American, a woman, and an expatriate as she illuminates how readers can • cherish gifts like sight, dependence, and freedom that God bestows to those who endure vulnerability, loneliness, and adversity • encourage and humbly receive the invaluable perspectives outsiders of all kinds bring to the church body • delight in how the differences within God’s people reflect his majesty—and how Christ’s overarching supremacy unifies all believers Compassionately written and biblically grounded, The Gift of the Outsider is a thoughtful, uplifting compliment to today’s broader conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion, sure to encourage and challenge outsiders and insiders alike.