No Not to be blunt, but it’s up to you what happens with this book. I’ve done everything I can to promote it. And now I have to step back and see whether it will take a life of its own or not. Everything is contingent upon the enthusiasm level of my readers. This is like the scary moment when you have to take the lighter away from the fire you’re trying to start with wet wood because your thumb... Read more
I was going to write a nanny-nanny boo-boo post about Donald Trump becoming the Republican nominee, basically arguing that the toxic theology of my adversaries was entirely to blame for his rise to power. I figured I could cash in on the trending topic for some easy traffic and promote my book about antidotes to toxic Christianity. But it didn’t feel right. At a book event last night, I was talking about my final chapter “Kingdom not Stadium” where I... Read more
The culture wars have reached a new low. At a Horry County school board meeting in South Carolina held to discuss transgender bathroom policies, the only woman to speak in favor of transgender rights was drowned out by Christian parents singing “Jesus loves me.” I never thought I would see the sweetest children’s song ever written being used to make somebody shut up. It was a very apt metaphor for what the culture wars are really about. The culture wars... Read more
Conservative United Methodist scholar Ben Witherington’s recent rant in the United Methodist Clergy group was the latest volley in our denomination’s escalating battle over LGBT issues. Witherington accuses Adam Hamilton of “setting our house on fire with bad theology and bad ethics.” He then proceeds to use Matthew 19 as a proof-text against LGBT identity, which I consider to be a move of exegetical malpractice. Though we often have to extrapolate scripture to address ethical considerations that it doesn’t confront explicitly,... Read more
I just finished breakfast with a man who has been one of my most important influences, Brian Zahnd. He is at the forefront of what I see as one of the most exciting movements in the American church, what might be called ecumenical charismatic sacramentalism. I’ve already blogged about Brian’s story as he tells it in his latest book Water to Wine. Over breakfast today, he made a profound prophetic statement that I believe to be true: “Religion is the only... Read more
Drew McIntyre is not a bad person. I got to know him on a mission trip to Peru eight years ago. He has a different set of things that push his buttons and a different sense of his role as a United Methodist elder than I do. But that doesn’t make him any more self-righteous than I am. Every time I’ve interacted with Drew in person, he has listened to other people and expressed himself with humility and thoughtfulness. Nevertheless,... Read more
Last night, I went to a screening of the film “Act of Love” about the trial of Rev. Frank Schaefer, who was defrocked for performing his son’s same-sex wedding. One thing I appreciated about the film was the way that it tried to let both sides have a voice. I thought that Rob Renfroe and Thomas Lambrecht of the Good News movement did a good job of representing their perspective. I decided to presume they were being sincere when they said they hated... Read more
One of my favorite parishioners at my last church was a Tea Party Republican. He would share quotes with me from Robert E. Lee. In his basement, he had displays of rifles from the confederacy. He was also my dentist. His dental office was decorated with beautiful artwork. He would play classical music while we were getting our teeth cleaned. It was the most relaxing dental experience I’ve ever had. He was the opposite of a utilitarian. He appreciated beauty.... Read more
Here are my May book tour dates. Please reach out to me in the comments or by email (maguyton _at_ gmail) if you’re in a city where I don’t have the exact time and location of an event set. I can’t wait to see you! May 1st 3:00 pm Hiawatha, KS First United Methodist Church May 3rd 7:00 pm Dallas, TX Union Coffeehouse May 4th 12:00 pm Dallas, TX The Mix at White Rock United Methodist Church May 4th ... Read more
For several years, Diana Trautwein has been a wise aunt to many of us in the progressive contemplative Christian blogger community. So I was tremendously honored when she agreed to review my book How Jesus Saves The World From Us. She offered some feedback that I wanted to ponder on my chapter “Empty Not Clean,” because I think it’s critically important to understand in what sense we are called to be empty. Specifically, Diana wrote the following very gentle articulation... Read more
Mercy Not Sacrifice
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