Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't

by Stephen McAlpine

How to have confidence in the gospel, even when Christian values clash with secular ones. The church used to be recognised as a force for good, but this is changing rapidly. Christians are now often seen as the bad guys, losing both respect and influence. In our post-Christian culture, how do we offer the gospel to those around us who view it as not only wrong but possibly dangerous? And how do we ensure that the secular worldview does not entice us away with its constant barrage, online and elsewhere, of messages about self-determinism? Author Stephen McAlpine offers an analysis of how our culture ended up this way and explains key points of tension between biblical Christianity and secular culture. He encourages Christians not to be ashamed of the gospel as it is more liberating, fulfilling and joyful than anything the world has to offer. He also offers strategies for coping in this world, with its opposing values, and for reaching out to others wisely with the truth.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Cultural, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith

143 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2021

About the author

Stephen McAlpine is the Director for Cultural Engagement at City to City Australia. A former pastor, he now writes and speaks on theology, church, and culture.

Reviews

[Lachie Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracious but honest evaluation of shifting cultural values. Not the searing indictment of all things secular some may hope it to be, nor a call to passivity and full endorsement. Rather, a balanced and patient exploration of life as a Christian in a world that needs Christ and desperately wants what he can offer, but despises his authority.
The catch-cry of this book should really be 1 Peter 2:12.

[Eliza Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have benefited from reading McAlpines diagnosis of our post christian society today and how we are christians can live in a world where we are seen as the bad guys. Offers biblical wisdom and practical tips. Would recommend.

[Tom Creek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Drives home why we need a mindset shift from thinking that Christianity is just one of many viable alternatives on the 'market place of ideas', to being viewed as 'part of the problem' by our culture.

I also found helpful the concept of 'surplus-building' at work and uni: living exemplary, grace-filled and generous lives that challenge allegations that following Jesus leads us to be hostile and mean. If I am scorned or isolated for holding to biblical views on sex, will it be in spite of the way I live, or because of it? Praying I can think this way so that I cherish winning over people to the gospel, rather than winning the culture war.

Lots of food for thought!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, pastor and author Stephen McAlpine explains how Western culture came to view Christianity as repressive and dangerous, rather than simply one option among many others in a pluralistic society. He shows how progressive causes have co-opted Christian concepts such as freedom, equality, and dignity, while removing them from their original context, and explains the basis for believing in biblical sexual ethics. He says that even though Christians are often accused of being obsessed with sex, it is vital to discuss these issues, because sexuality is a major preoccupation for Western culture. However, instead of simply emphasizing what is wrong with postmodern society, he also challenges Christians to consider what is wrong with their own behavior.

McAlpine understands that Christians who hold to biblical sexual ethics will face contempt, pressure, and potential loss of jobs and influence, but he also addresses some of the ways that Christians have been the bad guys throughout history. Because he writes from an Australian context, he does not address issues of Christian nationalism in the United States, but he speaks to how Christians have historically used power to silence others. He points out that because the tables have now turned, Christians often believe that they are oppressed and try to gain status by claiming to be a victimized group. He challenges Christians to understand what true persecution is and recognize how their side once treated people with limited social power.

Although people who disagree with McAlpine’s views will not be interested in this book, it is a solid resource for Christians who are navigating how to hold to traditional biblical views without being hostile or defensive. The last chapters focus on how Christians can maintain healthy church involvement, reach out to people who feel lost, isolated, and purposeless in the postmodern world, and deal with ideological challenges in the workplace. McAlpine’s tone is consistently realistic and hopeful, and he encourages his readers to accept their new status as “bad guys” without capitulating to pressure or falsely claiming persecution as they move to the fringes of what is accepted and popular in Western society.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve McAlpine delivers an incredibly accurate diagnosis of today’s society- where another gospel is being offered, one that places ultimate meaning in the individual, rather than in Jesus Christ- and provides practical ways for Christians to boldly live out the gospel of Jesus in this post-Christian age.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! It didn’t take forever to read, and is full of wisdom, encouragement and challenge.

Chapter 6 (“Don’t renovate the wrong house”) was a highlight for me! Stephen draws on the book of Haggai and the mobilisation of God’s chosen people to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, and draws parallels by calling Christians to prioritise community, praise God and share his promises (instead of rushing off to our own self-construction project).

Favourite quote: “Our hope is not winning the culture war. Our hope is the One who has defeated our true enemies - Satan, sin and death.”

[Peter Yock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian should read this.

This book deservedly won Christian book of the year in Australia this year. Excellent cultural analysis and sensational application of the gospel amidst it. I found it both easy to read and constantly compelling. Love it. Benefited from it. And so will you.

[Sarah Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great (and short!) book which articulates what is going on in our culture from a Christian perspective. Relevant and practical advice about how to stand for Jesus in a loving and Christ-like manner.

[Alex Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative - a must read

[Christopher Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, well-written little book that's especially significant for today's world. It goes in-depth and is easy to understand, and the messages are clear. I was a little sceptical when I began reading it, but as I read further in I was able to understand where the author was coming from. There were one or two things that I didn't fully agree with personally, but they were a welcome challenge.

Being the Bad Guys dives well into topics of how we can - and should - live in a society that opposes much of what we believe, and I appreciate McAlpine's perspective of "in this world, but not of it".

At times it was difficult to see how some of the content related to the title of the book. However, the conclusion and Afterword pulled it together really well, which is something I admire in authors, especially with nonfiction books.

All in all, Stephen McAlpine has done well with this little book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Christian living when the secular world opposes it.

[Alex]

A clear, concise, and thorough dissection of where our culture is at, which offers a hope-filled, but realistic, vision of the future of Christianity in the public square. I was encouraged to reassess my reflex responses to the changing attitudes of the world to the Christian message, and to repent where I have been sucked into the worldly thinking of "winning the culture war." Jesus has already won, and the power of the Christian message, the goodness of God's ways, and the coming of his Kingdom, are not dependent on keeping our "place at the table." Being the new villains is a tough pill to swallow, but Stephen constantly reminds us of Jesus, who in his life and ministry pioneered for us the natural dwelling place of the Christian in the cultural margins; "if the world hates you, remember it hated me first."

While not offering any specific practical advice (how can you in such a short book), the principles Stephen suggests of being faithful, faultless, and fearless for Jesus in our public and private lives is a challenging call that I hope will shape the way I think about all of my relationships.

[Andrew Roycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise and deeply encouraging examination of how Christianity has ended up on 'the wrong side of history', how we are to understand that reputational shift, and how we are to live in a world with whose values we cannot biblically line up. Stephen McAlpine writes with clarity and plain conviction about positive and powerful ways in which we can face into our world, seek to live faultlessly and faithfully, while being fearless in our proclamation of the truth. This is a great primer on Christian living in a complex world, and is highly recommended. Extra kudos goes to the author for managing to weave in a helpful and enlightening China Miéville analogy!

[Nathanael Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful little book indeed. McAlpine addresses well the culture we find ourselves in, and the changes it is undergoing. McAlpine makes clear that Christians ought to find our identity ultimately in Christ, and he helpfully guides us through how that will strengthen and aid us as we journey through these changing days we find ourselves in. Citing several biblical examples, McAlpine shows that, though our culture is different, the challenges it poses for us are not unlike those faced by our heroes of the faith. I will definitely be recommending this.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate Stephen McAlpine's balance, conviction, use of scripture and cultural clarity.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a book I’ve heard a lot about lives up to the hype - this “Australian Christian Book of the Year” winner certainly deserves its award in my little opinion!

McAlpine’s book is timely and helpful, identifying and exploring cultural shifts in the post-Christian era (which he explains really clearly), especially in regard to identify and ethics. I particularly valued his reflections on how followers of Jesus have responded to the world in both negative and positive ways (and how they can do better!) The book is easy to read, insightful, gracious, compassionate and hopeful. And happily from an Australian perspective! 😉

What I loved was McAlpine’s refusal to fall for victim politics in the church, while still acknowledging the difficulties of ‘being the bad guys’ and calling and encouraging us to loving faithfulness. There is certainly a focus on sexual ethics, but it is not exclusive and I think he is spot on in calling out other areas where we have failed to find our identity in Jesus.

I love this book and highly recommend it - my only complaint is that the audio narration isn’t Australian! 😉

[Thaddeus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely did not expect to finish this book in one sitting - but I did - it was such a compelling and well-written book! I've been reading a lot of books on Christianity and culture lately in prep for teaching a workshop at our church. This one is definitely one of the top ones which stood out in my research.

The title of the book caught my attention (as I'm sure it did yours) - however, it's more than just 'click-bait' (read-bait?). This title aptly underlines the main thesis of this book - that we now live in a post-Christian culture in the West, and Christians find themselves made out to be the 'bad guys' after decades of enjoying the cultural/moral majority in the 'Christianized' societies. As a result, many have been caught off-guard at this sudden shift. Furthermore, many feel ill-equipped to deal with this strange new dynamic tension in the culture we live in. What are we to do?

The book is laid out very clearly - moving the reader from Part One: How did we get to be the bad guys? to Part Two: What being the bad guys looks like and Part Three: Being the best bad guy you can be.

Instead of trying to fight the new status as the 'bad guys' McAlpine encourages us to embrace it - especially in light of the fact that this has been the experience of the majority of the church throughout history and geography. However, McAlpine does not encourage us towards a retreat of monastic withdrawal from culture - nor to a angry fundamentalist adversarial approach to culture either. This book navigates the tension we feel of being citizens of two cities and having to live in the middle of that. It does a good job of not falling into the dualism of Two Kingdoms theology (those who have read VanDrunen will know what I'm talking about), but also does not come off as super-triumphalistic as some forms of PostMillennial Theonomy can sound. Instead, it is a balanced but realistic view of where we are and what we ought to do.

The book helps us look squarely at the fact that such resistance and even persecution should not come as a surprise to us. It also focuses quite a bit on the conflict that the sexual and moral revolutions of our day have brought upon orthodox Christians wanting to stay faithful to Jesus and the Bible. It warns us against taking up the narrative of a victim mentality as Christians - always crying foul and pointing out our perceived oppression. However, it does not deny that those things really do happen. It also encourages us to embrace a cruciformed life - that takes the road of self-denial that leads to true joy instead of accepting the culture's narrative of self-actualization.

The last section of the book has three helpful chapters on what this means for churches, for you in your workplace and living in the two cities.

I highly recommend this book! It's definitely going to be on the recommended reading list in the workshop I teach and I'll surely keep recommending it. It is a much needed word to us as Christians struggling how to live faithfully in our culture.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

In style, this is a GCSE revision guide of a book, with lots of oversimplification and ice-thin brevity.

But there are some serious slivers of gold here too, and lots that’s thought-provoking:

- our current culture is not post-modern, with a level playing field for ideas, but post-transcendental: there is no concept of a spiritual realm at all. Christianity is not one currency among many; it is an unacceptable enemy worldview.

- we should be the best bad guys we can be, faithful to truth but faultless and above reproach in all other areas

- “If anyone wants to save their life they must lose it” - replace life with ‘self’ and you realise what Jesus is saying. Rather than pursuing some imaginary, shifting authentic self, we will find our true selves by being united to Jesus and by denying ourselves in the service of others.

- pursuing an authentic ‘self’ unrelated to the material world (such your sex chromosomes) elevates the self to some kind of soul - the very kind of mystical thing secularists deny we have

- our world makes a binary distinction between victims and perpetrators. Victims are seen as beyond reproach. Perpetrators are unsalvageable and must be cancelled. In reality, the lines are far more blurred. The church is and has been both.

- We are not (yet) persecuted. Don’t overuse this term.

- MacAlpine argues for creative engagement and compelling community from the margins, rather than trying to retake the central/dominant narrative in a kind of zero-sum culture war. I know others disagree, saying shaping our generation’s worldview is too important to abandon. And truth has benefits for all of society; we shouldn’t give up on holding out this blessing. The danger is the debates get increasingly acrimonious and ineffective.

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Steve’s blog intermittently over the last few years I was expecting more from this book. I’ve often found his analysis and insights helpful. It could just be the fact that I’m reading this with a two week old baby that means that I missed the nuances here but I didn’t find anything necessarily new or insightful. The analysis of our current culture probably took up too much of the book and more time could have been spent on the response of the church to it.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

At what point did Christians become the "bad guys" in our culture? Can we actually own that we're responsible for this understanding in some ways? And when it comes to those points where we sit at odds to the modern "sexular" culture, can we advocate for our beliefs in a winsome way, and/or challenge the presuppositions that others base their present values on in a generous and thoughtful way?
McAlpine does a great job of presenting how the church might consider moving forward in a cultural context where we find ourselves further on the fringe than we have been for some time. But maybe that is a good thing, and as our world finds new ways to "cancel" people, maybe we can be a place of refuge and new hope for others who find themselves there!

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very timely book for 2021. While it would be unfair to say that everyone in society consider Christians to be bad guys, there certainly is a worrying trend to view what would normally be standard Christian belief as being something bad. (And, as is dealt with in the book, some of the criticism is warranted.)

So Stephen McAlpine's short book navigates a path through that and both encourages Christians in an era where their faith is more likely to be misunderstood and - most importantly - encourages those in the faith to show love to those who disagree. If we'd followed this path in the past, perhaps a book like this would never have been necessary.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely message and a needed encouragement for believers in the West to navigate the challenges of our rapidly changing culture. McAlpine advocates for the Biblical path, renouncing both angry, shake-our-fists, culture war tactics and withdrawing and isolating retreats. Using Biblical examples like Daniel and the situation in Haggai, this book gives a viable, Christ-honoring way to represent our King well and faithfully while also loving those who would be our enemies. In my opinion, this should be required reading for all who want to live faithfully in our modern Babylon.

[Rachel Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me that when we find chaos in this world, we can know that there is deeper, more secure and truer hope and freedom in God's promises for our world. As Christians, we're called to share our confidence in the good news of God's plan and this book has helped me consider how to future proof my convictions in the church, work and community settings. I would recommend this book if our quickly changing culture concerns you, as it sets out how we can be distinctive for Christ as the good bad guys.

[Brandon H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Christians, of all people, should have no fear of being viewed as wrong. We are not self-justified people. We are Jesus-justified people."- Stephen McAlpine

This is an encouraging book written to Christians who find themselves on the defensive in a rapidly changing culture that is growing more and more hostile towards them for not embracing a secular perspective on identity and other values. It's an easy read and it's full of encouraging and practical reminders on how to live in such a world without losing your hope or forsaking the truth of the gospel.

4 stars!

[Amber Odom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing was fine. Maybe my age made a lot of this information feel not new/ kind of repetitive. I was hoping for a some more practical help for how to engage the culture.

[Craig Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book but Stephen McAlpine has given us a really timely resource to help us navigate this post-Christian age with confidence.

Examining Scripture and history, he presents an informative and honest assessment of how we got to the point where Christians have become the titular bad guys and how we shouldn't really be that surprised by it.

What I found most striking though was the counter-intuitive call to embrace the cultural margins and the possibilities that come with it.

A challenging yet enjoyable read.

[Rach Mav · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘This is not about keeping Christians busy. It is about first defining ourselves as the gathered people of God, and then shaping our lives around that commitment.’

This was a short and practical book that had applicable advice on living in a secular world. Both convicting and encouraging, I appreciated how practical it was.

[Luke Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding book which I found both encouraging and convicting at times. Appreciated the way he gave really practical advice on how to live in a world increasingly hostile towards Christianity which avoids assuming a victim mentality but at the same time not being a doormat. The Gospel is the answer that trumps the other “gospels” presented in the world around us and provides solid hope in the reality of a shifting world. We are heading back to life on the margins, a situation we should embrace rather than mourn with hearts full of faith and hope!

[James Bunyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good title; not sure it was particularly clear in its argument but well written.

[Leo Elbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of helpful reflections and good food for thought on being the most loving bad guys you can be. More ordered content and chapters would have been useful.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! One of the best books I’ve read!