The Church in Exile: God's Counterculture in a Non-Christian World

Christians have become more and more a minority group in North America, and so now find themselves in a situation similar to the early Christians-facing the challenge of living as cultural exiles. The Church in Exile draws upon the epistle of 1 Peter, which was written to "exiles," to help us learn how to live faithfully when many around us do not share Christian values.

During the first four centuries, Christians met in small house churches surrounded by neighbors and even family members who scorned their beliefs and their morality. 1 Peter was written to such believers. The "alien" Christians who first read 1 Peter were not strangers in their own lands because of their skin colors or their nationalities. Their obedience to the call of Christ had made them exiles.

How do we find the resources to live as exiles today? 1 Peter was originally written to offer such resources. The Church in Exile draws upon present-day examples, cultural trends, and recent studies to make the message of 1 Peter powerfully relevant for today.