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The Party Crasher: How Jesus Disrupts Politics as Usual and Redeems Our Partisan Divide
Discover America’s four political religions and why Jesus is crashing them all!
The political divide is growing. Each side demands ultimate allegiance that’s incompatible with the Christian faith. The fervency with which so many advocate their political ideals is best described in religious terms.
Four political “religions” are rising in
• Religion of “We can change the world.”
• Religion of “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
• Religion of “Live your truth.”
• Religion of “Good fences make good neighbors.”
In this insightful, nonpartisan work, two respected pastors first expose the religious nature of these political movements and how they compete for our loyalty to Jesus, and then they prescribe ten political commandments for Christlike engagement.
Fortunately, Jesus is the ultimate Party Crasher. And he is disrupting politics-as-usual to invite us into a bold vision capable of redeeming our partisan divide.
The political divide is growing. Each side demands ultimate allegiance that’s incompatible with the Christian faith. The fervency with which so many advocate their political ideals is best described in religious terms.
Four political “religions” are rising in
• Religion of “We can change the world.”
• Religion of “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
• Religion of “Live your truth.”
• Religion of “Good fences make good neighbors.”
In this insightful, nonpartisan work, two respected pastors first expose the religious nature of these political movements and how they compete for our loyalty to Jesus, and then they prescribe ten political commandments for Christlike engagement.
Fortunately, Jesus is the ultimate Party Crasher. And he is disrupting politics-as-usual to invite us into a bold vision capable of redeeming our partisan divide.
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2024
38 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
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August 11, 2024
This book provides an insightful way to categorize today’s political viewpoints based on the two axes of Modern/Postmodern and Right/Left. This yields four “Parties”:
Progress (Modern/Left, “Change the world”): strong belief in the value of science, technology, and institutions to change the world for the better.
Responsibility (Modern/Right, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps"): strong belief in hard work, family values, and personal ownership to build flourishing communities.
Identity (Postmodern/Left, "Live your truth"): strong belief in self-expression, anti-discrimination, and a recognition of others' unique stories to tackle oppressive legacies and build a more just society.
Security (Postmodern/Right, "Good fences make good neighbors"): strong belief in loyalty, local identity, and protection from external threats to establish the conditions for a thriving community.
These categories also map fairly well onto George Packer’s Four Americas: Smart America, Free America, Just America, and Real America respectively.
Butler emphasizes that each of these four parties speaks to something important and good, but leaning too hard into any one of them can become a type of idolatry. Jesus cannot be forced into a single quadrant of this grid. He transcends them, and unifies them. And the church should help to unify its members who belong to all four groups, rather than identifying with just one. A church (or any group) that is filled only with people whose viewpoints align with one of these ideologies will trend towards more extreme positions.
Butler unpacks the thinking behind each of the categories (positive and negative), which is interesting, but even more helpfully, he outlines a number of practical ways that a church can work to transcend these political boundaries. He notes that churches shouldn’t just ignore politics, but instead, while being careful to avoid emphasizing one particular quadrant over the others, they should encourage their members to use their own political strengths for the good of their communities.
I think many of his ideas are great, even though implementing them will not be easy. Many church members will be made uncomfortable (and some will leave) since it’s natural to want to surround yourself with like-thinking people. But I believe he’s right that the church should be politically diverse—just like the early church. And Jesus’ own disciples.
Quotes:
“The right-wing temptation is generally to subordinate God to a partisan agenda, slapping him onto a preconceived political religion as if he were a bumper sticker. The left-wing temptation is generally to marginalize God from one's political vision, pretending the world runs better off without him. Both are idolatry.”
Here’s another item I’d like to save. Butler calls this the King of Kings Commitment (or Ten Political Commandments). His church’s leadership team asked its members to sign this agreement as the election season approached:
1. Worship: I commit my allegiance to King Jesus over all idols and ideologies. (Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 115:1-8; Philippians 2:9-11)
2. Love of Neighbor: I commit to participating in civic life as a means of loving and serving my neighbor rather than just serving my own interests. (Matthew 22:34-40; Philippians 2:1-11)
3. Image of God: I commit to honoring the image of God in all people by treating them with respect and abstaining from dehumanizing caricatures. (Genesis I:26; James 3:9)
4. Biblical Wisdom: I commit to having my views challenged by the biblical story rather than using the Bible to proof-text my predetermined positions. (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16)
5. Biblical Justice: I commit to understanding and pursuing justice as I engage in civic life, not minimizing Scripture's repeated call to seek justice, and allowing Scripture to critique popular conceptions of justice in our culture. (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8: Matthew 23:23)
6. Fruitful Speech: I commit to engaging in political discourse with speech that is marked by the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23; James 3)
7. Peacemaking: I commit to face-to-face conflict resolution rather than vitriolic arguments on social media or talking behind someone's back. (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:17-21)
8. Removing the Log: I commit to giving more attention to examining the potential flaws in my own political leanings, conduct, and sin than I give to scrutinizing others. (Matthew 7:1-5)
9. Humble Learning: I commit to being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger as I seek to learn from the varied perspectives within the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12-26; James 1:19)
10. Loving Enemies: I commit to loving and praying for my so-called political enemies, especially those I have the hardest time loving and praying for. This includes a commitment to praying for our government leaders regardless of who wins the election. (Matthew 5:43-44; I Timothy 2:1-4)
Progress (Modern/Left, “Change the world”): strong belief in the value of science, technology, and institutions to change the world for the better.
Responsibility (Modern/Right, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps"): strong belief in hard work, family values, and personal ownership to build flourishing communities.
Identity (Postmodern/Left, "Live your truth"): strong belief in self-expression, anti-discrimination, and a recognition of others' unique stories to tackle oppressive legacies and build a more just society.
Security (Postmodern/Right, "Good fences make good neighbors"): strong belief in loyalty, local identity, and protection from external threats to establish the conditions for a thriving community.
These categories also map fairly well onto George Packer’s Four Americas: Smart America, Free America, Just America, and Real America respectively.
Butler emphasizes that each of these four parties speaks to something important and good, but leaning too hard into any one of them can become a type of idolatry. Jesus cannot be forced into a single quadrant of this grid. He transcends them, and unifies them. And the church should help to unify its members who belong to all four groups, rather than identifying with just one. A church (or any group) that is filled only with people whose viewpoints align with one of these ideologies will trend towards more extreme positions.
Butler unpacks the thinking behind each of the categories (positive and negative), which is interesting, but even more helpfully, he outlines a number of practical ways that a church can work to transcend these political boundaries. He notes that churches shouldn’t just ignore politics, but instead, while being careful to avoid emphasizing one particular quadrant over the others, they should encourage their members to use their own political strengths for the good of their communities.
I think many of his ideas are great, even though implementing them will not be easy. Many church members will be made uncomfortable (and some will leave) since it’s natural to want to surround yourself with like-thinking people. But I believe he’s right that the church should be politically diverse—just like the early church. And Jesus’ own disciples.
Quotes:
“The right-wing temptation is generally to subordinate God to a partisan agenda, slapping him onto a preconceived political religion as if he were a bumper sticker. The left-wing temptation is generally to marginalize God from one's political vision, pretending the world runs better off without him. Both are idolatry.”
Here’s another item I’d like to save. Butler calls this the King of Kings Commitment (or Ten Political Commandments). His church’s leadership team asked its members to sign this agreement as the election season approached:
1. Worship: I commit my allegiance to King Jesus over all idols and ideologies. (Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 115:1-8; Philippians 2:9-11)
2. Love of Neighbor: I commit to participating in civic life as a means of loving and serving my neighbor rather than just serving my own interests. (Matthew 22:34-40; Philippians 2:1-11)
3. Image of God: I commit to honoring the image of God in all people by treating them with respect and abstaining from dehumanizing caricatures. (Genesis I:26; James 3:9)
4. Biblical Wisdom: I commit to having my views challenged by the biblical story rather than using the Bible to proof-text my predetermined positions. (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16)
5. Biblical Justice: I commit to understanding and pursuing justice as I engage in civic life, not minimizing Scripture's repeated call to seek justice, and allowing Scripture to critique popular conceptions of justice in our culture. (Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8: Matthew 23:23)
6. Fruitful Speech: I commit to engaging in political discourse with speech that is marked by the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23; James 3)
7. Peacemaking: I commit to face-to-face conflict resolution rather than vitriolic arguments on social media or talking behind someone's back. (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:17-21)
8. Removing the Log: I commit to giving more attention to examining the potential flaws in my own political leanings, conduct, and sin than I give to scrutinizing others. (Matthew 7:1-5)
9. Humble Learning: I commit to being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger as I seek to learn from the varied perspectives within the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12-26; James 1:19)
10. Loving Enemies: I commit to loving and praying for my so-called political enemies, especially those I have the hardest time loving and praying for. This includes a commitment to praying for our government leaders regardless of who wins the election. (Matthew 5:43-44; I Timothy 2:1-4)
May 25, 2024
This book was such a great, easy read! Lots of good info and I really appreciated the emphasis Butler puts on the juxtaposition of trying to honor one’s walk with Christ and also fulfilling civil duty and embracing our rights to vote and participate in our government. I liked that he encourages individuals to really invest their time in their local community, too.
April 12, 2024
I enjoyed this one. It is theologically sound, thought-provoking, and very practical. His teaching on how the fruit of the Spirit apply to our political life was especially edifying.
My only critique is that his imposing religious language onto a political framework (or vice versa) is a little heavy-handed. If you can get past him calling the four divisions in chapter 1 as "political religions" and the language of 10 political "commandments", then there is a wealth of wisdom to be found here.
My only critique is that his imposing religious language onto a political framework (or vice versa) is a little heavy-handed. If you can get past him calling the four divisions in chapter 1 as "political religions" and the language of 10 political "commandments", then there is a wealth of wisdom to be found here.
March 19, 2024
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a part of Christian community and has faced any type of hardship or conflict as they approached politics. The beginning of the book started rocky for me. I wasn't sure where the book was headed and I was unsure about the "Four Party's" and whether or not that was useful. (I'm not going to explain this, you have to read it). I trust Joshua Ryan Butler as an author so kept going and the more I got into it, the more I was glad I picked up this book.
Butler has a way of saying something that maybe I have heard a million times before and never understood, but a light bulb will go off when it's in his words. Some of the content was perhaps things I knew already, but his format of the information made me think about it in a new way. His 10 Political Commandments are something I will reference back to even as I am finished with the book. The sections about handling conflict and peacemaking were personally challenging but insightful. This book is full of anecdotes to support Butlers vision. I've gained respect for Butler in watching the humble yet vocal way he handled public controversy with his previous book, and his Kingdom-vision approach to conflict was clear through the content of this book as well.
Ultimately, I was challenged by this book, and I am glad I was challenged. This book makes me want to be a better Kingdom representative in my political involvement.
Butler has a way of saying something that maybe I have heard a million times before and never understood, but a light bulb will go off when it's in his words. Some of the content was perhaps things I knew already, but his format of the information made me think about it in a new way. His 10 Political Commandments are something I will reference back to even as I am finished with the book. The sections about handling conflict and peacemaking were personally challenging but insightful. This book is full of anecdotes to support Butlers vision. I've gained respect for Butler in watching the humble yet vocal way he handled public controversy with his previous book, and his Kingdom-vision approach to conflict was clear through the content of this book as well.
Ultimately, I was challenged by this book, and I am glad I was challenged. This book makes me want to be a better Kingdom representative in my political involvement.
November 19, 2024
Great easy read! Gained a lot of helpful language to engage in productive political conversation. Loved the reminder that I can & should engage in local matters, too.
June 19, 2024
Joshua Ryan Butler's "The Party Crasher" has a simple premise with a nice payoff. Butler proposes that Americans are converting to four political religions. Those four religions are found in relation to individual's connection with two spheres of influence: ideology that tilts left or right and a worldview that tilts modern or postmodern (you can map this in a simple four quadrant graph).
The four American religions, then, are:
Progress: leftward leaning and modern, progressives believe in "the value of science, technology, and institutions to change the world for the better."
Identity: leftward leaning and postmodern, this group is propelled by a desire for self-expression and justice.
Security: rightward leaning and postmodern, this group has a commitment to "loyalty, local identity, and protection from external threats to establish the conditions for a thriving community."
Responsibility: rightward leaning and modern, this group has a strong belief in "hard work, family values, and personal ownership to build flourishing communities."
Butler argues that all four of these values have a good and proper place and all, to an extent, reflect biblical truth. Butler goes on to talk about the various religious expressions of each group, who their "high priests" are, what their sacred texts are, etc. It's a fun an illuminating evaluation. If you don't have time to read the whole book, the first chapter alone is well worth reading and will likely give you fresh insight into the American political landscape.
Butler moves on to explain Jesus' political claim and how it challenges each quadrant, how Jesus pulls together a group of disciples from all of the quadrants, and how he invites us to be transforming agents in our world.
Butler's "The Party Crasher" is a fairly quick and easy read that does a great job illuminating some of the significant challenges we have in our American political landscape and how Jesus confronts us and invites us in.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
The four American religions, then, are:
Progress: leftward leaning and modern, progressives believe in "the value of science, technology, and institutions to change the world for the better."
Identity: leftward leaning and postmodern, this group is propelled by a desire for self-expression and justice.
Security: rightward leaning and postmodern, this group has a commitment to "loyalty, local identity, and protection from external threats to establish the conditions for a thriving community."
Responsibility: rightward leaning and modern, this group has a strong belief in "hard work, family values, and personal ownership to build flourishing communities."
Butler argues that all four of these values have a good and proper place and all, to an extent, reflect biblical truth. Butler goes on to talk about the various religious expressions of each group, who their "high priests" are, what their sacred texts are, etc. It's a fun an illuminating evaluation. If you don't have time to read the whole book, the first chapter alone is well worth reading and will likely give you fresh insight into the American political landscape.
Butler moves on to explain Jesus' political claim and how it challenges each quadrant, how Jesus pulls together a group of disciples from all of the quadrants, and how he invites us to be transforming agents in our world.
Butler's "The Party Crasher" is a fairly quick and easy read that does a great job illuminating some of the significant challenges we have in our American political landscape and how Jesus confronts us and invites us in.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
December 18, 2024
Butler argues that there are really 4 parties or 4 americas:
1- Party of Progress: We can change the world. Smart America, Steve Jobs, Clinton, Bill Gates, CNN, NYT, TED Talks, I-phone, Kamala Harris, Ivy League Colleges, Pro Palestine
2-Party of Responsibility: Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Hard work, merit, good moral values, wall Street, Ronald Regan, Business fuels the economy, white picket fences, two-car garages,
3- Party of Identity: discover and cultivate your own truth, San Francisco, Elliot Page, Tik Tok, Instagram, dismantle oppression, AOC, Lady Gaga, resist consumerism and big business, a new consumerism (experiences), Bernie Sanders
4- Party of Security: Good fences make good neighbors, world is dangerous, we need boundaries, borders, loyalty to insiders, fear of outsiders, Sara Palin, Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump, media is deceiving, fake news, distrust of costal elites, build the wall, drain the swamp, MAGA, Sean Hannity, UFC, Joe Rogan, Fox news
There are 5 marks of the early church in Acts
1- Multiethnic Communities
2- Care for Poor
3- Sexual Ethic
4- Pro Life with children
5- Forgiveness and enemy love
Keller notes that if you lean left politically you like 1 and 2 and squirm when you hear 3 or 4.
If you lean right politically you emphasize 3 and 4 but get uncomfortable with 1 and 2 and talk of social justice. #5 neither political party likes.
This book was better than I thought 4 stars. Engaging and relevant.
1- Party of Progress: We can change the world. Smart America, Steve Jobs, Clinton, Bill Gates, CNN, NYT, TED Talks, I-phone, Kamala Harris, Ivy League Colleges, Pro Palestine
2-Party of Responsibility: Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Hard work, merit, good moral values, wall Street, Ronald Regan, Business fuels the economy, white picket fences, two-car garages,
3- Party of Identity: discover and cultivate your own truth, San Francisco, Elliot Page, Tik Tok, Instagram, dismantle oppression, AOC, Lady Gaga, resist consumerism and big business, a new consumerism (experiences), Bernie Sanders
4- Party of Security: Good fences make good neighbors, world is dangerous, we need boundaries, borders, loyalty to insiders, fear of outsiders, Sara Palin, Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump, media is deceiving, fake news, distrust of costal elites, build the wall, drain the swamp, MAGA, Sean Hannity, UFC, Joe Rogan, Fox news
There are 5 marks of the early church in Acts
1- Multiethnic Communities
2- Care for Poor
3- Sexual Ethic
4- Pro Life with children
5- Forgiveness and enemy love
Keller notes that if you lean left politically you like 1 and 2 and squirm when you hear 3 or 4.
If you lean right politically you emphasize 3 and 4 but get uncomfortable with 1 and 2 and talk of social justice. #5 neither political party likes.
This book was better than I thought 4 stars. Engaging and relevant.
May 31, 2024
4.4/5 - Terrific book. I really enjoyed this one. Butler put together a fine work, a scriptural, practical, and political treatise that’s both helpful and wise. I appreciate his prose and especially the heart behind it. This will be challenging to anyone who reads it with the humble intention to learn and change anything in our lives that don’t align with the King and his kingdom. Bowing to any of the 4 political religions is damaging and idolatrous, so we need to adjust our approach to political engagement to ensure it’s of the Lord and that we’re keeping the bigger picture (the story of God) at the forefront of our minds.
Great job, Mr. Butler! ◡̈
Great job, Mr. Butler! ◡̈
November 20, 2024
Incredibly helpful. Wish I’d read this earlier - it would have really informed a lot of conversations over the last several months. Even so, the categories and applications will be helpful moving forward.
March 2, 2025
It took me a minute to really get into it, but this book does a great job of helping Christians really understand how to be politically active, but stay true to their faith. Christianity and politics don’t have to be incompatible.
October 3, 2024
Excellent! Butler is a gift to the church and this book was a tremendous help in thinking biblically about the political landscape we find ourselves in.
September 5, 2024
This one took me a while to get through but I am glad I stayed the course. The last chapter really gave some good wisdom on how to make an impact.
****HINT: it’s not social media.
****HINT: it’s not social media.
March 28, 2024
If there’s one thing I don’t generally talk about, it is politics. I have very strong opinions on certain candidates and I’m not overly fond of our two-party political system. Joshua Ryan Butler has a different take on our political system. He admits to its corruption and issues. He also admits to the fact that even in Christian circles, we belong to different political “religions”.
He defines four political religions into which people fall. He shows how these political religions shape us and how we react and respond when it comes to church, secular politics, and more. He reminds us that we shouldn’t be making our political leanings our idols. Because unfortunately, that’s something we do, even if we don’t realize it.
But he doesn’t just tell us what is wrong and what we may be doing wrong. No, he gives us solutions. He gives us ideas. He even states that we don’t have to follow these ideas to the letter – they’re there for us to take inspiration from and get creative with.
I sincerely thought that I would end up intensely disliking this book because of the political content. I thought it would “step on my toes” and convict me. But I found this book to be very informative and interesting, not at all convicting, because he admits that most people do these things without actually realizing they’re doing it. It gives solid options for how to stop ourselves from compromising our Christianity or even forgoing it in favor of our political religions and idols.
I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was an excellent book for those who are Christians trying to navigate a political world.
He defines four political religions into which people fall. He shows how these political religions shape us and how we react and respond when it comes to church, secular politics, and more. He reminds us that we shouldn’t be making our political leanings our idols. Because unfortunately, that’s something we do, even if we don’t realize it.
But he doesn’t just tell us what is wrong and what we may be doing wrong. No, he gives us solutions. He gives us ideas. He even states that we don’t have to follow these ideas to the letter – they’re there for us to take inspiration from and get creative with.
I sincerely thought that I would end up intensely disliking this book because of the political content. I thought it would “step on my toes” and convict me. But I found this book to be very informative and interesting, not at all convicting, because he admits that most people do these things without actually realizing they’re doing it. It gives solid options for how to stop ourselves from compromising our Christianity or even forgoing it in favor of our political religions and idols.
I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was an excellent book for those who are Christians trying to navigate a political world.
March 10, 2024
The Party Crasher: A survival guide for toxic political conversations
I really liked this book. I really DON’T like how nasty our political conversations have become especially around the presidential election so it’s great timing to release this now.
BTW if you’re looking for a book that tells you how to vote if you’re a Christian, this isn’t the book for you.
But if you’ve asked yourself the question “how did our political conversations become so toxic?” Or “why is this dividing Christian churches so much?” then this IS your book.
I found it tremendously insightful. For starters there aren’t just two political ‘religions’, there are at four (at least!). Butler boils down the key components of each, understanding them makes things less stressful right out of the chute. But that’s only the first chapter, the rest of the book moves on to very practical things each of us can do to help us not only survive the election season but also engage in conversation while not torpedoing our relationships. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Ten Commandments for political discussions? Guess what? It’s in the book!
My stress meter came down several notches after reading The Party Crasher. I feel so much better!
I really liked this book. I really DON’T like how nasty our political conversations have become especially around the presidential election so it’s great timing to release this now.
BTW if you’re looking for a book that tells you how to vote if you’re a Christian, this isn’t the book for you.
But if you’ve asked yourself the question “how did our political conversations become so toxic?” Or “why is this dividing Christian churches so much?” then this IS your book.
I found it tremendously insightful. For starters there aren’t just two political ‘religions’, there are at four (at least!). Butler boils down the key components of each, understanding them makes things less stressful right out of the chute. But that’s only the first chapter, the rest of the book moves on to very practical things each of us can do to help us not only survive the election season but also engage in conversation while not torpedoing our relationships. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Ten Commandments for political discussions? Guess what? It’s in the book!
My stress meter came down several notches after reading The Party Crasher. I feel so much better!
August 2, 2024
Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, this book promises a faith-based political middle ground but clearly has an agenda. You cannot “call people together” and celebrate Jenny McCarthy and her “crusade” against autism or endorse “Pray the Gay Away” tactics. There’s reality and then there’s what this book attempts to sell you. You cannot claim to be on neutral ground and yet have foundational members of your church quoted by Breitbart.
It does have some brief moments of clarity, however, so it wasn’t entirely a loss.
It does have some brief moments of clarity, however, so it wasn’t entirely a loss.
October 24, 2024
A very important read with a ton of practical advice for Christians during this contentious time. The concept of politcal leans vs bows was especially helpful and should be shared among churches. I found it refreshing that Butler does not promote one political side, centrism, or an apolitical stance; rather, he stresses the strength and importance of diverse political ideologies within a church community while warning of the dangers of political idolatry. Great book.
December 26, 2023
Transformative Yet Still A Touch Myopic. In centering this book around a grid that combines the traditional left/ right spectrum with "Modernity" and "Post-Modernity" as its up and down, Butler does an interesting and even transformative job of showing Americans that no matter what they think about politics and the church... they likely have some form of idolatry at play. The weakness here is the exact framing - in limiting himself to just the traditional left vs right and modern vs post-modern, Butler does in fact speak to a large swath of the majority. However, as Jason Blakley's Lost In Ideology - which will release almost a full month *after* this particular book hits bookshelves - shows, there is actually quite a bit more nuance and flux within the "traditional" ideologies than many - including, clearly, Butler here - think. So one can't really fault Butler for not having read a book at the time of writing this one that won't even be published until *after* this book itself is. ;) But the point remains, for those of us able to read both books close together, as I have been even months before either releases to the public. (Yes, making these Advance Reader Copies.) Furthermore, this framing also largely excludes more minority political views that don't abide by the usual L/R spectrum nor the up/ down system Butler uses here.
Overall though, this is yet another of those books that, particularly going into a Presidential election year with all of the hand-wringing, arguments, and outright vitriol that includes in the modern era of American politics (and every era, according to other works I reviewed a few years ago such as James Morone's Republic Of Wrath), every single member of every single American Church - no matter the individual's politics or the church's faith traditions - *needs* to read. Short at just 220 or so pages - over 22% of that being bibliography and discussion questions - this is written in a fairly conversational style such that one could easily envision Butler speaking this entire book into existence over the course of probably a couple of months or so of sermons. The included discussion questions, both at the end of each chapter and at the end of the book, foster a great deal of introspection and, in the case of groups, discussion, and could genuinely go quite a way to at least moderating the vitriol of this and hopefully future campaigns.
Ultimately truly a remarkable work, one that sadly will likely be review bombed by haters of Butler's (also excellent, fwiw) prior work (and indeed already has a one star on Goodreads from a known review bomber who could not possibly have read this book, yet which Goodreads refuses to remove for several weeks now prior to the writing of this review). But read it for yourself, and make your own conclusions. Very much recommended.
Overall though, this is yet another of those books that, particularly going into a Presidential election year with all of the hand-wringing, arguments, and outright vitriol that includes in the modern era of American politics (and every era, according to other works I reviewed a few years ago such as James Morone's Republic Of Wrath), every single member of every single American Church - no matter the individual's politics or the church's faith traditions - *needs* to read. Short at just 220 or so pages - over 22% of that being bibliography and discussion questions - this is written in a fairly conversational style such that one could easily envision Butler speaking this entire book into existence over the course of probably a couple of months or so of sermons. The included discussion questions, both at the end of each chapter and at the end of the book, foster a great deal of introspection and, in the case of groups, discussion, and could genuinely go quite a way to at least moderating the vitriol of this and hopefully future campaigns.
Ultimately truly a remarkable work, one that sadly will likely be review bombed by haters of Butler's (also excellent, fwiw) prior work (and indeed already has a one star on Goodreads from a known review bomber who could not possibly have read this book, yet which Goodreads refuses to remove for several weeks now prior to the writing of this review). But read it for yourself, and make your own conclusions. Very much recommended.
July 3, 2025
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The Party Crasher is the latest title by pastor and author Joshua Ryan Butler, and it has quickly and easily become my favorite Christian book on politics. I do believe this book is especially helpful for American readers, yet it offers biblical wisdom that transcends cultural boundaries.
The book begins with Butler identifying four political camps that people are generally committed to. He then discusses important issues for Christians to consider in the conversation about politics, including idolatry, worship, and peacemaking. I appreciated the portion on peacemaking because this often seems to be absent from Christian discussions on politics. The anecdotes included in the book are intriguing and relatable. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions that are challenging and encouraging.
Butler's tone in The Party Crasher radiates joy and encouraged me to continue hoping in God while viewing the things of earth as strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Butler does an excellent job of helping Christians to view politics through the lens of Scripture rather than the other way around. The Party Crasher is a wonderful book to read for navigating the tension of living on earth while ultimately possessing citizenship in heaven.
I was challenged, convicted, and deeply encouraged by this book, and I'm pleased to give it my highest recommendation. I eagerly anticipate reading more by Butler and look forward to his forthcoming title, God Is On Your Side: How Jesus Is for You When Everything Seems Against You.
The Party Crasher is the latest title by pastor and author Joshua Ryan Butler, and it has quickly and easily become my favorite Christian book on politics. I do believe this book is especially helpful for American readers, yet it offers biblical wisdom that transcends cultural boundaries.
The book begins with Butler identifying four political camps that people are generally committed to. He then discusses important issues for Christians to consider in the conversation about politics, including idolatry, worship, and peacemaking. I appreciated the portion on peacemaking because this often seems to be absent from Christian discussions on politics. The anecdotes included in the book are intriguing and relatable. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions that are challenging and encouraging.
Butler's tone in The Party Crasher radiates joy and encouraged me to continue hoping in God while viewing the things of earth as strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Butler does an excellent job of helping Christians to view politics through the lens of Scripture rather than the other way around. The Party Crasher is a wonderful book to read for navigating the tension of living on earth while ultimately possessing citizenship in heaven.
I was challenged, convicted, and deeply encouraged by this book, and I'm pleased to give it my highest recommendation. I eagerly anticipate reading more by Butler and look forward to his forthcoming title, God Is On Your Side: How Jesus Is for You When Everything Seems Against You.
March 6, 2024
In "The Party Crasher," Josh invites readers into a much-needed discussion on the modern challenges of maintaining a loving community and respectful dialogue in our current era marked by polarization. Josh identifies the four different forces vying for our allegiance and seeking to divide what should be a united body of believers. This notion is particularly resonant as we head into a presidential election cycle, where billions are spent on shaping ideologies that often lead to discord rather than understanding.
Josh’s book helps contextualize these challenges within the framework of Christian faith, arguing for a return to a sense of belonging rooted in Christ rather than in the fleeting allegiances of the political or social spheres. Josh does not shy away from addressing the inflexibility found within many communities, including religious ones, that set rules and expectations which tend to exclude rather than embrace. This critical examination prompts readers to reflect on the essence of true community—one that brings people to the table, is forgiving, and is anchored in love.
Josh’s call to resist the divisive tendencies that besiege us and to find our belonging and identity in something greater is both timely and timeless.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how to keep people at the table of discussion during contentious times. Josh’s thoughtful insights offer a roadmap for rejecting the impulse to distance ourselves from our neighbors and instead, embracing the challenging but rewarding task of building bridges in an increasingly fragmented world.
Josh’s book helps contextualize these challenges within the framework of Christian faith, arguing for a return to a sense of belonging rooted in Christ rather than in the fleeting allegiances of the political or social spheres. Josh does not shy away from addressing the inflexibility found within many communities, including religious ones, that set rules and expectations which tend to exclude rather than embrace. This critical examination prompts readers to reflect on the essence of true community—one that brings people to the table, is forgiving, and is anchored in love.
Josh’s call to resist the divisive tendencies that besiege us and to find our belonging and identity in something greater is both timely and timeless.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how to keep people at the table of discussion during contentious times. Josh’s thoughtful insights offer a roadmap for rejecting the impulse to distance ourselves from our neighbors and instead, embracing the challenging but rewarding task of building bridges in an increasingly fragmented world.
April 17, 2024
Like many, I feel uncomfortable with either major U.S. political party. Butler explains the political creeds and political religions and idols involved. Being devoted to a political ideology competes with allegiance to Christ. “Politics has become the new religion,” he says. (588/3309)
After describing the values driving the political division today, Butler gives suggestions for Christian political involvement, such as being peacemakers. We are to follow the way of Jesus and do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Christians can be involved in politics but it is not to be everything. If your side loses, God is still in charge. I really like his distinction between leanings and bowing. We have political leanings but we only bow to God.
There are reflective questions at the end of each chapter and additional Discussion Questions at the end. This would be a good book for a Sunday School class or small group to read and discuss. Here is an example of the thought provoking ideas Butler suggests: Do you pay more attention to political pundits than to the word of Scripture? How about re-prioritizing the reading of Scripture?
Christians are not going to fit into this world system. Jesus wants us to embrace the weirdness of His kingdom. (1745/3309) “Let's keep Christianity weird,” he suggests. (2544/3309) Let's show the world the Christlike people we are becoming.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an honest and independent review.
After describing the values driving the political division today, Butler gives suggestions for Christian political involvement, such as being peacemakers. We are to follow the way of Jesus and do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Christians can be involved in politics but it is not to be everything. If your side loses, God is still in charge. I really like his distinction between leanings and bowing. We have political leanings but we only bow to God.
There are reflective questions at the end of each chapter and additional Discussion Questions at the end. This would be a good book for a Sunday School class or small group to read and discuss. Here is an example of the thought provoking ideas Butler suggests: Do you pay more attention to political pundits than to the word of Scripture? How about re-prioritizing the reading of Scripture?
Christians are not going to fit into this world system. Jesus wants us to embrace the weirdness of His kingdom. (1745/3309) “Let's keep Christianity weird,” he suggests. (2544/3309) Let's show the world the Christlike people we are becoming.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an honest and independent review.
March 7, 2024
My read through Joshua Ryan Butler’s book might have been my own personal record for how quickly I’ve finished an entire text. The points that the book contains are necessary ideologies that all Christians should atleast be confronted with when engaging in politics. Although, this book’s principles shouldn’t be just confined to the political realm. Joshua’s wisdom towards how to engage in community and dialogue with people who share a diverse worldview is transformational in all spheres of life for the Christian, and should be put into practice whenever we encounter anyone who views the world differently than we do.
I recommend this to almost anyone and everyone who claims they are in hopes of the kingdom of God invading the earth. I believe Joshua helps us think about how we can do that well.
I read this book in preparation for Joshua and my conversation for my podcast, “Theology Re-Examined”, so if you’re interested in hearing him talk about these ideas and answer my follow up questions that weren’t explicitly mentioned in the book, be sure to check out this episode anywhere you listen to podcasts.
I recommend this to almost anyone and everyone who claims they are in hopes of the kingdom of God invading the earth. I believe Joshua helps us think about how we can do that well.
I read this book in preparation for Joshua and my conversation for my podcast, “Theology Re-Examined”, so if you’re interested in hearing him talk about these ideas and answer my follow up questions that weren’t explicitly mentioned in the book, be sure to check out this episode anywhere you listen to podcasts.
October 31, 2024
As a purple voting religious person, ugh I hate politics. So many people and churches are one issue voters, and the hatred and vitriol if you dare to buck that line is real.
So a book like this is what I need to know that I'm not alone, probably in the silent/frustrated majority actually.
Jesus was not a Democrat. Jesus was not a Republican. Jesus has his own party.
The book gives some tips and discussion points, could make for a very interesting church small group. But the overall message is, you are probably a member of the religion of progress, responsibility, identity or security and that sways your beliefs. All are good....all are bad. It is a little uncomfortable to read how easy it is to get carried away into these groups...which is also not what Jesus wanted.
Am I going to go and rock the vote? Am i going to run for a local election? Am I going to withdraw from the world and only read the bible after reading this book? No. But It was very timely during this season, and it did remind me of things I already know.
So a book like this is what I need to know that I'm not alone, probably in the silent/frustrated majority actually.
Jesus was not a Democrat. Jesus was not a Republican. Jesus has his own party.
The book gives some tips and discussion points, could make for a very interesting church small group. But the overall message is, you are probably a member of the religion of progress, responsibility, identity or security and that sways your beliefs. All are good....all are bad. It is a little uncomfortable to read how easy it is to get carried away into these groups...which is also not what Jesus wanted.
Am I going to go and rock the vote? Am i going to run for a local election? Am I going to withdraw from the world and only read the bible after reading this book? No. But It was very timely during this season, and it did remind me of things I already know.
October 2, 2024
My husband and I read this for an upcoming teaching that he is doing on politics at our church. Whereas Jonathan Leeman’s book is more theoretical in nature, Butler gives a great practical guide for operating in American politics as a Christian. I loved the “Four Political Religions.” I thought the diagram was very accurate and helpful. I also loved chapter 7 and eight about being an outpost for the kingdom and spiritual formation practices that are actually political statements. The example of Sebastian exploding at his small group, but then later studying James and repenting was such a beautiful example of how the Holy Spirit works in people. Butler did have a biblical interpretation error. He referenced Luke 7:47 in the context of people forgiving each other. However, this passage actually represents God for giving us. Overall a good and helpful book.
October 30, 2025
incredibly helpful framework here to explain why people vote the way they do and what Jesus has to do with it.
Quotes:
The Church’s prophetic cry is not “God bless America,” but rather “America bless God.”
In Joshua 5, when Joshua encounters a heavenly man with sword drawn on the threshold of Canaan, and asks “Are you for us or our enemies?” To which the man replies, “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord.” And “Joshua fell down and worshipped.”
Abraham Lincoln perhaps had this scene in mind when asked whether God was on the side of the Union, and famously responded:
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
We want to summon God onto our side; but God instead summons us onto his.
Quotes:
The Church’s prophetic cry is not “God bless America,” but rather “America bless God.”
In Joshua 5, when Joshua encounters a heavenly man with sword drawn on the threshold of Canaan, and asks “Are you for us or our enemies?” To which the man replies, “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord.” And “Joshua fell down and worshipped.”
Abraham Lincoln perhaps had this scene in mind when asked whether God was on the side of the Union, and famously responded:
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
We want to summon God onto our side; but God instead summons us onto his.
March 28, 2024
I love the title - The Party Crasher
In this case Joshua is talking about the Kingdom crashing the party - the political parties.
He lays out 4 different political religions in the US that have shaped the current culture in churches throughout the US.
The Religion of Progress
The Religion of Identity
The Religion of Responsibility
The Religion of Security
I like the area in the book that talked about how to stop our lean becoming a bow and how to live a faithful Christian life in today's political landscape.
Be a party crasher.
Highly recommended. Especially with politically fractured families.
In this case Joshua is talking about the Kingdom crashing the party - the political parties.
He lays out 4 different political religions in the US that have shaped the current culture in churches throughout the US.
The Religion of Progress
The Religion of Identity
The Religion of Responsibility
The Religion of Security
I like the area in the book that talked about how to stop our lean becoming a bow and how to live a faithful Christian life in today's political landscape.
Be a party crasher.
Highly recommended. Especially with politically fractured families.
March 31, 2024
As is his way, JRB again sheds light on a truer Gospel than our modern culture of self-righteousness will allow: one where all fall short, and need the beautiful life-giving grace and correction of Christ; One where our own idolatry and not our cultural enemies prevent us knowing the joy and freedom of the Kingdom come.
In The Party Crasher Butler confronts all worldly philosophies and enclaves, rather than preaching to the choir in one and receiving their accolades. As such, I predict this book will please no one. No one that is, but those truly called by the Father to be citizens of His Kingdom.
If we His people, called by His name, would humble ourselves…
In The Party Crasher Butler confronts all worldly philosophies and enclaves, rather than preaching to the choir in one and receiving their accolades. As such, I predict this book will please no one. No one that is, but those truly called by the Father to be citizens of His Kingdom.
If we His people, called by His name, would humble ourselves…
June 10, 2024
rooted in God’s word, a perspective that is freedom inspiring,
My pastor recommended this book to our church and I’m a reader but not very much in the political scene. This book brought up so many thoughts and moments of prayerfully reflecting on how to be following Jesus is to be politically aligned, just not in any way I had ever thought. I love the unity, peace, love for God and neighbor Joshua brings to light. His quadrant of political alignment brought light to so many concepts I have hidden from and now I feel like I can engage in politics at least a touch more than before in a way that honors God and shows love for Him and all people. 10/10 book.
My pastor recommended this book to our church and I’m a reader but not very much in the political scene. This book brought up so many thoughts and moments of prayerfully reflecting on how to be following Jesus is to be politically aligned, just not in any way I had ever thought. I love the unity, peace, love for God and neighbor Joshua brings to light. His quadrant of political alignment brought light to so many concepts I have hidden from and now I feel like I can engage in politics at least a touch more than before in a way that honors God and shows love for Him and all people. 10/10 book.
August 28, 2024
I have had the pleasure of sitting under Josh’s pastoral leadership (and Jim whom the book is dedicated to) and the way they have implemented these has equipped me and many others in our congregation to be faithful witnesses to Jesus in the midst of this polarized and idolatrous time.
These practices have also helped me to engage in political conversations with those who don’t know Jesus and share the good news of His kingdom! In addition this framework has also helped to gently confront idolatry and blind spots from my own political leanings for which I am grateful.
This is a must read for every Christian in my opinion.
These practices have also helped me to engage in political conversations with those who don’t know Jesus and share the good news of His kingdom! In addition this framework has also helped to gently confront idolatry and blind spots from my own political leanings for which I am grateful.
This is a must read for every Christian in my opinion.
October 21, 2024
I read a lot on politics and political theology this fall. And while Oliver O'Donovan's The Desire of the Nations is still the standard, it's a very difficult book to wade through. And David Koyzis' Political Visions and Illusions is my favorite on the topic, but it's a 30,000 foot view and doesn't give a lot in the way of practical applications.
Joshua Ryan Butler's book snuck on me, as I did not expect to like it as much as I did. It's really good, and probably the one I'm most likely to give out to folks looking for a solid take with practical applications.
Joshua Ryan Butler's book snuck on me, as I did not expect to like it as much as I did. It's really good, and probably the one I'm most likely to give out to folks looking for a solid take with practical applications.
October 30, 2024
This was a good book (actaully 3.5 stars) with a lot of practical examples and wisdom on how to navigate the political landscape we are currently living in. I don't personally agree with everything that was presented, but this book did give me language around why and language on how to be more gracious with those that I disagree with. The groundwork is the beginning chapters was very helpful and informative.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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