It's an Either-Or world. We find ourselves caught between competing factions, secular or religious, conservative or liberal. We are pulled between extremes on one side or the other. But the Christian faith holds together seemingly contradictory ideas: Jesus is both human and divine; God is both three and one. There is a paradoxical power in the both-and. Rich Nathan and Insoo Kim show how Christians can live out the fullness of the gospel through the both-and. They affirm that we believe in both proclamation and demonstration of the gospel, justice and mercy, and unity and diversity as one body with many parts. The answer is not to choose one or the other, but to hold both together for a richer, more holistic experience of Christianity. Then we will live into the realities of the kingdom of God, both now and not yet, on earth as it is in heaven. Both-And Christians are both timeless and timely, hewing to the orthodoxy of traditional belief while always contextualizing our witness in a rapidly changing world. Discover how you can deepen your discipleship with the larger vision of the both-and.
"Rich Nathan is one of the great communicators of his generation--and he is also a practitioner. The extraordinary development of the Vineyard church he leads in Columbus, Ohio, with its outreach programs to help the poorest and most marginalized in that city, is testament to his visionary leadership."
Nicky Gumbel, pastor and pioneer of the Alpha Course
"Fearlessly, Rich Nathan and Insoo Kim speak truth to culture and church. Calling their readers to a mature and robust faith, they attack simplistic binary thinking such as 'healing vs. suffering,' 'love vs. holiness' and 'evangelism vs. social justice.' Rather than avoiding such theological tensions, they call us to embrace them. Why? Because it is at the nexus of these polarities that we best experience the grace and wisdom of God."
Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
"Our world is increasingly polarized, even among the followers of Jesus. Rich Nathan and Insoo Kim, using Scripture and illustrations from their own life and leadership, patiently explain a way forward through the tensions for believers who must live in this world. Read it a chapter at a time and reflect how your life and leadership can be more true to God's desires."
Dave Travis, CEO for Leadership Network and coauthor of Beyond Megachurch Myths
