Not My Circus - by Mark Batterson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The pressure is unmistakable--conform or get cancelled. New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson invites you into a different way of living in the digital age with a call to Christlike nonconformity that doesn't withdraw from the world but transforms it.

"In Not My Circus, Mark Batterson pastors us through a cultural moment and relational challenges with wisdom, kindness, and conviction."--Annie F. Downs, author of That Sounds Fun

Social media rewards outrage and punishes nuance. Algorithms decide what you see and who you hear. Mob culture stands ready to silence anyone who steps out of line. And the pressure to pick a side--and stay there--has never been greater.

No one is immune from conformity bias, including those who follow Jesus. Somewhere along the way, many have traded holy courage for social comfort, spiritual discernment for tribal loyalty, and amazing grace for the same culture of cancellation they claimed to oppose. The result is a faith that looks less like Jesus and more like whatever side of the aisle we happen to sit on.

Mark Batterson issues a rallying cry for a different kind of nonconformity--not withdrawal from culture but engagement with it on entirely different terms. In Not My Circus, he draws on Romans 12:2--"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed"--to show how to resist cultural pressure without retreating from cultural engagement.

After nearly thirty years pastoring just steps away from the halls of power in Washington, DC, Batterson brings hard-won wisdom to the defining challenge of our moment. You'll learn how to cultivate a non-anxious presence by developing

- holy courage--the boldness to stand firm in your convictions without being controlled by others' opinions
- spiritual discernment--the sense to know which battles are yours to fight and which ones aren't
- amazing grace--the ability to engage those you disagree with, maintaining your witness without taking on their anxiety

For anyone ready to stop reflecting culture and start transforming it, Not My Circus offers a road map to escape the cult of conformity--and live for the applause of nail-scarred hands.

Review Quotes

"In Not My Circus, Mark Batterson pastors us through a cultural moment and relational challenges with wisdom, kindness, and conviction. This is an important read for anyone pursuing the space where grace and truth meet."--Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

"I've been lamenting the fact that we've lost giants like Tim Keller, Dallas Willard, and Eugene Peterson, who knew what to say as the culture raged on. I was thrilled to see Mark Batterson enter the conversation with Not My Circus. If you, like me, are looking for guidance on how to respond as a Christian in an increasingly crazy world and a disheartening culture, Batterson is here as a helpful, trustworthy guide. This book is exactly what we need in this moment."--Carey Nieuwhof, bestselling author, podcaster, and speaker

"Mark Batterson has the rare gift of writing and preaching to large groups while making each person feel like he's writing and speaking to them alone. Every word, every chapter, and every section of this book feels like compassionate conviction from God, who loves us too much to leave us the same. Get ready to say goodbye to conformity to this world and hello to transformation through Christ!"--Nicole Martin, author of Nailing It

"In this cultural moment of division and performative virtue signaling, Not My Circus is a powerful road map for living with holy courage. If you've ever been tempted to people-please, stay silent, or conform under pressure, this book is for you. With captivating storytelling, Mark Batterson weaves together theology, history, science, psychology, and personal confession--inviting you to evict the worldly voices living rent-free in your head so you can hear God's voice more clearly."--Heather Rice-Minus, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship

"In an age of endless distraction, constant conflict, and competing claims on our attention, it is easy to mistake urgency for importance and reaction for responsibility. In Not My Circus, Mark Batterson offers a refreshing vision of faithful living, calling readers to cultivate the discernment to distinguish what is truly theirs to carry from what belongs to others. As he memorably puts it, the journey begins by 'minding your own dang business . . . so you can be about the Father's business. Anything else, everything else, is monkey business.' Wise, engaging, and deeply practical, this book is an invitation to recover clarity, freedom, and purpose by attending to the work God has entrusted to us."--Cherie Harder, president of The Trinity Forum

About the Author

Mark Batterson is the lead visionary of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with a network of churches, National owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center, the Culturehouse, and the Capital Turnaround. Batterson holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including Win the Day, A Million Little Miracles, and Gradually Then Suddenly. He also authored the children's books The Best Worst Day Ever and God Speaks in Whispers with his daughter Summer Batterson Dailey. He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.