The Third Option

Hope for a Racially Divided Nation

By: Miles McPherson, Drew Brees - foreword

Narrated by: Miles McPherson

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Miles McPherson, founder of The Rock Church in San Diego, speaks out about the pervasive racial divisions in today’s culture and argues that we must learn to see people not by the color of their skin, but as God sees them - humans created in the image of God.

Miles McPherson has had enough of shying away from a major problem in America today: racial tension. It’s a topic that's widely recognized, yet rarely acknowledged. Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America today, and our preference for clinging to those who are like us leads to big problems in our country as a whole. Even Christians - who, if they claim to follow God, should be the people most outspoken against racism - fall short, and many of us feel obliged to choose sides. Us vs. them. Cops vs. protestors. Blacks vs. whites.

The Third Option is a plea on behalf of a brokenhearted God who, scripture teaches, is frustrated with those of us who claim to believe in him but are really “faking the faith”. McPherson argues that we must rise above the issues that divide us and be part of something bigger. The Third Option challenges both believers and seekers to fully embrace God’s goodness and power.

As senior pastor of Rock Church in San Diego, he doesn’t shy away from core issues that have caused a great divide both within the church and across the country. He believes that instead of choosing one of two sides, there is a third option - one that’s proven to bring people together, mend relationships, and promote genuine peace in communities. Miles exposes common misconceptions that keep people at a distance and encourages us to engage with those who look different from us and expand our world.

Full of practical takeaways and exercises to help us understand the points of view of others, this audiobook inspires, encourages, and equips us to make positive changes in our country - starting with ourselves. 

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2018 Miles McPherson (P)2018 Simon & Schuster Audio

A must read! Definitely a step in the right direction.

The Third Option is an eye opening and applicable approach to help everyone repair the racial division within our nation and world today! This book is a guide for us to begin having an open dialogue in our attempt to understand the perspectives, experiences, and struggles of others in order to honor, rather than ostracize them. We must all take a step back to realize that our personal understanding of others are rarely, if ever, fully correct.

Best Book On Race Hands Down! (Right & Left Hands)

My husband and I ordered this book and listened to and or read it (we have a hard copy as well) every morning over coffee and then had a heart to heart. It was SO EYE OPENING and FUNNY! We found many blind spots we did not know were there. Gasp! We thought we were the MOST racially open couple around and yet we learned about how right-handed people do not know how difficult life can be for a left-handed person. Driving a stick shift, sports, and so many issues that we never even think about. You know "Right Privilege" ;) Ha Ha! This helped us to understand White Privilege in a fun and non-threatening way. Miles plays hardball and is direct but at the same time, you felt like you just played a game so you laugh and enjoy the process of transforming your heart in ways that you did not even realize needed transforming. Miles is an excellent communicator. I watched him speak at a conference in St. Louis over 20 years ago and I STILL remember his message! It was that good! This book is the same. I purchased it after hearing him speak at the Global Leadership Summit in New Jersey where my husband was a break-out session speaker for New York City Relief. This book is chalked full of truth that you will remember forever. I went online to buy copies for all of my family as if there was ever a time in history to buy this book, it's now. But alas, they were all sold out! Hopefully, the printer is busy and they will be available soon. Until then, Audible is always available! Highly recommend!!!!

A Must-Read

This book in timely, important, and very well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author hits on the core issues surrounding racism and provides practical, life-changing steps to grow in this area and live the life we were created to live.

One of the best books on Inclusion

Looking at every person as an image bearer of God changes perspectives about race, culture, age, gender, and ability. It is gentle and thought provoking. It is clear and gives good strategies for change. It is Biblical. Our world needs a lot of the Third Option.

Good not great

The biblical principles in this book have value but the worldly principles do not. I understand that the author has a second version of this without the biblical principles and I would find that to be completely worthless. But this book does have some value. However there are worldly principles that perpetuate pride and increase the likelihood of division in my experience. These are principles being pushed by our government currently and as usual when the government attempts to fix a problem they make it worse. This is the likely result of many of the worldly principles in this book.

Lemonade

I like the real examples, the relatable examples to build third options! The Scriptures and their intrinsic velocities!
Blessed my soul, as well as challenges there of…. Good job examining & treatment for the “mulatto culture!” Red heart red blood Donor Jesus the Christ! Exquisite Read❣️

Godly, Thought Provoking, Necessary

Although they were part of this book I didn't quite agree with, I truly appreciate the godly/pastoral/real world perspective that the book came from. It truly made me reconsider my own views in a good way.

Challenging AND Encouraging

I really enjoyed this book. It presented truth in a healthy and loving way. I was still very challenged by it, but not in a way that made me want to fight. It just made me want to learn more, be better, to love more, and lean into Jesus more. It is definitely worth the read!

Transformational

I believe all Americans should read this book. It reveals the real story about who we all are: - valuable people who were made on in God’s image. The book promotes unity, dispels discrimination and bring healing and repair to a mind tarnished society. The audible version was properly read by Miles McPherson. I liked his tone and the way he paced his reading to ensure the information is presented as a teaching discourse. I will be talking about the impact of this book for a long time.

I Embraced what I could

I embraced and learned what I could from this book however I felt there were several wrong generalized statements about other races so it lost me in the end