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Beautiful Resistance

The Joy of Conviction in a Culture of Compromise

Jon Tyson

About Beautiful Resistance

In a time of compromise and disillusionment, God is calling his people to a movement of beautiful resistance.
 
We live in a time when our culture is becoming increasingly shallow, coarse, and empty. Radical shifts in the areas of sexuality, ethics, technology, secular ideologies, and religion have caused the once-familiar landscape of a generation ago to be virtually unrecognizable.
 
Yet rather than shine as a beacon of light, the church often is silent or accommodating. This isn’t a new phenomenon. During World War II, pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was deeply troubled by the compromise in the German church. Their capitulation to the Nazi party brought shame and dishonor to the gospel. In response, he helped create an underground movement of churches that trained disciples and ultimately sought to renew the church and culture of the day.
 
In our compromised church, we need new underground movements of discipleship and resistance. Widely respected New York pastor Jon Tyson unveils a revived vision for faithful discipleship—one that dares to renew culture, restore credibility, and replace compromise with conviction.
 
For all who have felt this conflict in the soul between who we are and who God calls us to be, Beautiful Resistance is a bold invitation to reclaim what’s been lost—regardless of the cost.

Praise for Beautiful Resistance

Beautiful Resistance is one of the most compelling and defiant books I’ve read in a long time. I love Jon’s radical, no-messing vision of the church as a prophetic community. This is a wake-up call for us all from the heart of a man who lives his message, loves his city, and serves his Lord with a passion and intelligence destined to become less rare.”—Pete Greig, founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement

Praise

“I believe Jon is one of the great prolific and prophetic voices of our generation. He’s been a pastor in my life for over a decade, starting with my years in New York. Jon casts a timely and compelling vision in his latest work, Beautiful Resistance. He writes with such astute analysis and poignant clarity that several times throughout these pages, I wanted to stand and shout, ‘I’m in!’ May these words be a clarion call to the church to fortify our faith through sacrifice and love.”—Rebekah Lyons, bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal and You Are Free

“Western culture is increasingly hostile to the teachings and ways of Jesus. The pressure to compromise is the highest it’s been in my lifetime. The urge to back down on Jesus’s compelling vision of life in the kingdom is greater than ever. This book comes at just the right time—a pastoral, yet prophetic call from one of our generation’s greatest leaders. I was moved in my heart to trust Jesus’s vision of life over that of my culture’s.”—John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

“It’s one thing to write on the beauties of the kingdom and how the way of Jesus must be esteemed as better and stronger than the kingdom of this world; it’s another thing altogether to live this. Jon Tyson lives this. He writes and preaches with a uniquely compelling conviction, because it flows from a figure that truly believes that the words and ways of Jesus are better than all this world has to offer. By the end of this book, you will find yourself compelled to join with the likes of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who knew that the beauties of the kingdom of heaven are better than the allure of this world.”—Dr. Bryan Loritts, author of The Dad Difference

“Jon challenges us to boldly live without compromise, and he gives us the practical tools to do it. This book is incisive, challenging, and daring. It will stay with you.”—Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water, and author of Thirst

“I have witnessed Jon live out this unflinching message in the heart of New York City while he leads a thriving community, disciples his children, and inspires the church around the world to radically commit to the gospel. Few people stir my spirit to the depths that Jon does. Whether it’s sitting across the table at a diner talking with him
about all God is doing, reading something he has written, or hearing one of his sermons, my heart is awakened once again to the radical call to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. The message found in the pages of Beautiful Resistance is one needed at this very hour. In a way that only Jon Tyson can, with such brilliance and eloquence, he paints a picture of what the true disciple’s life looks like in a culture that is longing to see the beauty of Jesus manifested in the lives of his followers.”—Banning Liebscher, founder and pastor of Jesus Culture 
and author of Rooted

About Jon Tyson

Jon Tyson is a pastor and church planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States over two decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden Is Light. He serves as the lead pastor of Church of the City New York.

Product Details

256 pages | Published by Multnomah

On Sale Date: Jul 21, 2020

Trim Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4

Carton Quantity: 24

Sneak Peek

Read the first chapter of Beautiful Resistance. In a time of compromise and disillusionment, a New York City pastor sounds the call for a movement of beautiful resistance. We live in a time when our culture is becoming increasingly shallow, coarse, and empty. Radical shifts in the areas of sexuality, ethics, technology, secular ideologies, and religion have caused the once-familiar landscape of a generation ago to be virtually unrecognizable. Yet rather than shine as a beacon of light, the church often is silent or accommodating. This isn’t a new phenomenon. During World War II, pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was deeply troubled by the compromise in the German church. Their capitulation to the Nazi party brought shame and dishonor to the gospel. In response, he helped create an underground movement of churches that trained disciples and ultimately sought to renew the church and culture of the day. In our compromised church, we need new underground movements of discipleship and resistance. Widely respected New York pastor Jon Tyson unveils a revived vision for faithful discipleship—one that dares to renew culture, restore credibility, and replace compromise with conviction. For all who have felt this conflict in the soul between who we are and who God calls us to be, Beautiful Resistance is a bold invitation to reclaim what’s been lost—regardless of the cost.

Press Release

 
Widely Respected NYC Pastor Jon Tyson Urgently Calls Believers to Replace Compromise with Conviction & Return to Biblical Discipleship

“We must call our generation to loyalty to Christ. We must live with devotion and conviction regardless of what they cost us.” –Jon Tyson
 
Fifteen years ago, New York City pastor and church planter Jon Tyson followed God’s call to move to the U.S. from his native Australia to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western church. Since that time, the culture has become increasingly shallow, coarse, and empty. Radical shifts in ethics, technology, and secular ideologies, have caused the once-familiar landscape of a generation ago to be virtually unrecognizable. Yet, rather than shine as a beacon of light, the church often is silent or accommodating.
 
This isn’t a new phenomenon. During World War II, pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was deeply troubled by the compromised German church. Their capitulation to the Nazi party brought shame and dishonor to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In response, Bonhoeffer helped create an underground movement of churches that trained disciples, seeking to renew the church and culture of the day.
 
Now, in Beautiful Resistance: The Joy of Conviction in a Culture of Compromise (a Multnomah Paperback on-sale July 21, 2020) in-demand speaker and pastor Jon Tyson urgently calls Christians to a similar movement of faithful discipleship, marked by wholehearted devotion to Christ, that firmly resist the enchanting pressures of the culture. Writing with the same passion that Tyson’s preaching is known for, Tyson challenges readers to

   • embrace unconditional love instead of hate 
   • embrace authentic hospitality and resist fear
   • replace idolatry with a lifestyle of worship
   • embrace sacrifice and resist privilege
   • embrace a sacred pace of rest, resisting exhaustion
   • replace cynicism with celebration
   • be devoted to honor instead of contempt

Tyson’s hope is for Christ followers to live out these foundational biblically-based rhythms and find themselves spiritually strengthened. The spiritual fruit that will develop will lead to robust communities of faith that will bring kingdom renewal to the culture, making the world a better place. 
 
Beautiful Resistance includes a robust study guide to help individuals and groups incorporate these life-changing principles into their daily lives.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jon Tyson is a pastor and church planter who serves as the lead pastor of Church of the City New York. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, he moved to the United States over two decades ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western church. The author of The Burden Is Light and Beautiful Resistance (7/21/20), Jon has been interviewed on many outlets including Christianity Today, “The Eric Metaxas Show,” “The Holy Post Podcast,” “The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast,” Focus on the Family’s “Boundless” podcast and “That Sounds Fun with Annie Downs.”
Visit him online at:
https://www.instagram.com/JonTyson
https://twitter.com/JonTyson
 

Praise for Beautiful Resistance:
“Western culture is increasingly hostile to the teachings and ways of Jesus. The pressure to compromise is the highest it’s been in my lifetime. The urge to back down on Jesus’s compelling vision of life in the kingdom is greater than ever. This book comes at just the right time—a pastoral, yet prophetic call from one of our generation’s greatest leaders. I was moved in my heart to trust Jesus’s vision of life over that of my culture’s.”
John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
 
“I believe Jon is one of the great prolific and prophetic voices of our generation. He’s been a pastor in my life for over a decade, starting with my years in New York. Jon casts a timely and compelling vision in his latest work, Beautiful Resistance. He writes with such astute analysis and poignant clarity that several times throughout these pages, I wanted to stand and shout, ‘I’m in!’ May these words be a clarion call to the church to fortify our faith through sacrifice and love.”
Rebekah Lyons, bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal and You Are Free
 
“Jon challenges us to boldly live without compromise, and he gives us the practical tools to do it. This book is incisive, challenging, and daring. It will stay with you.”—Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water, and author of Thirst
 
“It’s one thing to write on the beauties of the kingdom and how the way of Jesus must be esteemed as better and stronger than the kingdom of this world; it’s another thing altogether to live this. Jon Tyson lives this. He writes and preaches with a uniquely compelling conviction, because it flows from a figure that truly believes that the words and ways of Jesus are better than all this world has to offer. By the end of this book, you will find yourself compelled to join with the likes of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who knew that the beauties of the kingdom of heaven are better than the allure of this world.”
Dr. Bryan Loritts, author of The Dad Difference
 
Beautiful Resistance is one of the most compelling and defiant books I’ve read in a long time. I love Jon’s radical, no-messing vision of the church as a prophetic community. This is a wake-up call for us all from the heart of a man who lives his message, loves his city, and serves his Lord with a passion and intelligence destined to become less rare.”—Pete Greig, founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement
 
“In every generation, the church is called to resist powerful spiritual and cultural forces that wreak havoc in our lives and communities. Sadly, the depth of life that makes resistance possible often goes missing, resulting in our ongoing capitulation to various powers. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Jon Tyson offers us a compelling vision of resistance. It’s one marked not by fear butby joy. I’m grateful for this wonderful resource.”
Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship

Contact Publicist

Brett Benson