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

by James W. Thompson Description Christians have become more and more a minority group in American culture, 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. Because Christians in America now belong to a distinctly minority group, their behavior will increasingly be considered strange to the majority of the population. This new situation presents Christians with demanding tests--on the job, at school, and in our relationships with neighbors. We are now discovering the challenge of being Christians when that is not a popular identity. 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