The Disparate Ones

Ranging topics from food to war to abortion to political parties to using the word "impactful," author and public theologian, Marty Duren, addresses how Christians should understand themselves in this world. What does it mean to be "in the world but not of the world"? How can Christians, especially in America, address the overwhelming influence of politics on the faith?

With biblical fidelity, cultural clarity, and unusual profundity, Duren covers a broad swath of cultural ground to show what it might look like to Christians to successfully hold the tension of living in two worlds.

In prose at that same time illuminating, scripturally careful, compassionate, and challenging, Duren addresses some of the major concerns of our day, showing that the life lived in Christ should not fall to being a mere rubber-stamp for politicals winds, whether prevailing or not. Instead, those who follow Jesus Christ should look to the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. This book will help Christians better inhabit our cities on Earth without giving up heavenly treasure for worldly kingdoms. Living in this world requires nothing less.

"As a Christian and keen social observer, Marty can be trusted to provide insights on a variety of contemporary subjects, while remaining faithful to Biblical authority and nuanced rationale. I can probably count on my hands the people I trust enough to say that. That's what this collection of well-written and deeply personal essays provided for me." Melvin E. Edwards, from the Foreword

"I have known Marty Duren for going on 20 years and I have long admired him as a voice crying in the U.S. evangelical wilderness. His words are compelling because they come from thoughtful reflection, careful research, gritty piety, and the wisdom of a life well-lived. I commend The Disparate Ones for any reader, but especially those seeking to chart a faithful Christian path through the chaos of today's American empire."

The Rev. Emily H. McGowin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theology

Wheaton College

"These essays were a breath of fresh air-challenging, insightful, and full of much-needed truth. In a day filled with hot takes and over-simplified arguments, Marty offers a thoughtful and nuanced perspective on a broad range of important issues."

Marwan Aboul-Zelof, Lead Pastor

City Bible Church

Beirut, Lebanon

"In a day past, Jesus differentiated to Pontius Pilate the cosmic difference between his kingdom and that of Rome: 'My kingdom is not of this world.' Today, as Marty makes clear, a disparate band of Jesus followers must discern between two poles embedded within a system that defines Jesus as either a community organizer or a king become the projections of our own best ideals. Marty has long wrestled with the liminal space between these two poles within our existing system. Now he has put into print what the rupture of the Kingdom of Jesus means to the questions of our day, in the systems of our own making."

Dr Todd Littleton, Pastor

Snow Hill Baptist Church

Tuttle, OK

I have long appreciated Marty Duren as a conversation partner. Even when we don't agree on every point, his thought-provoking arguments lead me to better articulate my own views. This collection of essays covers everything from hot button issues of the day to the joy of buying books, with its ode to tsundoku giving reason enough to add The Disparate Ones to your library.

Amy Whitfield, Communications Executive

Author, Lottie Moon: The Girl Who Reached the World

Marty Duren is a longtime pastor, writer, public theologian, and communications specialist. His has a special interest in Christian interaction with the culture. His several blogs, the latest of which is Kingdom in the Midst, have accumulated more than 2 million pageviews. He's the author of The Generous Soul: An Introduction to Missional Giving and co-author with Todd Wright of Journeys: Transitioning Churches to Relevance. He's the host of Uncommontary, a conversational podcast, named a Must Listen by Christianity Today. Marty is a reluctant runner, a tsundoku practitioner, a happily married husband to Sonya, Dad to four adult kids, Pawpaw to two, and co-wrangler of a collie, Watson, and a calico, Scout. Melvin E. Edwards is a 6th-generation Texan, who was an award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist before entering the colorful and ambitious world of Texas politics. He started his career writing about Texas high school football and within a few short years, he was a speechwriter for the Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Texas.He has since written two award-winning books tracing generations of his Texas family back to its Republic of Texas days, making him one of the first African American members of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. These personal stories show how generations of the family's simple faith carried on when circumstances suggested a dead-end. Mel is now the host and producer of the podcast "Stories from Real Life." You can hear new episodes of that interview-format podcast every Tuesday morning on Goodpods, Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Audible, Audacy, and Amazon Music.He has the rarest Myers-Briggs personality type in the world (INFJ), which could explain why he loves cowboy boots, hats, and baseball, and can imagine stories so big, they make even Texas seem small.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.