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Are You Running With Me, Jesus?
In the middle of the turbulent 1960s Malcolm Boyd's Are You Running With Me, Jesus? appeared on the scene and broke the mold from which devotional texts had previously been made. Boyd's prayers engaged traditional Christian themes with a decidedly contemporary voice—honest, direct, insightful—while at the same time taking on issues of everyday personal freedom, racial justice, sexuality. Billed by its original publisher as a collection of “prayers for all of us today who are finding it harder and harder to pray,” this landmark book has influenced generations of Christians and seekers. This fortieth anniversary edition promises to celebrate its impact and make it available to further generations.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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100 people want to read
About the author
Malcolm Boyd
29 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
Malcolm Boyd was an American Episcopal priest and author. He was one of the prominent white clergymen in the American Civil Rights Movement in the 60s as well as the anti-Vietnam War movement. In 1977 Boyd came out of the closet, becoming the most prominent gay clergy person to come out. In the 1980s Boyd met the gay activist and author Mark Thompson, who would become his long-time partner. He is the author of more than 30 books.
Crisis in Communication (Doubleday, 1957)
Christ and Celebrity Gods (Seabury, 1958)
Focus: Rethinking the Meaning of Our Evangelism (Morehouse-Barlow, 1960)
If I Go Down to Hell (Morehouse-Barlow, 1962)
The Hunger, the Thirst (Morehouse-Barlow, 1964)
Are You Running with Me, Jesus? (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1965/40th anniversary edition, 2005), became a bestseller
Free to Live, Free to Die (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1967)
Malcolm Boyd's Book of Days (Random House, 1968)
The Fantasy Worlds of Peter Stone and Other Fables (Harper & Row, 1969)
As I Live and Breathe (Random House, 1969)
My Fellow Americans (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1970)
Human Like Me, Jesus (Simon and Schuster, 1971)
The Lover (Word Books, 1972)
The Runner (Word Books, 1974)
The Alleluia Affair (Word Books, 1975)
Christian: Its Meanings in an Age of Future Shock (Hawthorn, 1975)
Am I Running with You, God? (Doubleday, 1977)
Take Off the Masks (Doubleday, 1978; rev. ed. HarperCollins 1993, White Crane Books 2008)
Look Back in Joy (Gay Sunshine Press, 1981; rev. ed. Alyson, 1990)
Half Laughing, Half Crying (St. Martin's Press, 1986)
Gay Priest: An Inner Journey (St. Martin's Press, 1986)
Edges, Boundaries and Connections (Broken Moon Press, 1992)
Rich with Years: Daily Meditations on Growing Older (HarperCollins, 1994)
Go Gentle Into That Good Night (Genesis Press, 1998)
Simple Grace: A Mentor's Guide to Growing Older (Westminster John Knox, 2001)
Prayers for the Later Years (Augsburg, 2002)
A Prophet in His Own Land: The Malcolm Boyd Reader (edited by Bo Young/Dan Vera) (White Crane Books, 2008)
Edited by Malcolm Boyd
On the Battle Lines: A Manifesto for Our Times (Morehouse-Barlow, 1964)
The Underground Church (Sheed & Ward, 1968)
When in the Course of Human Events (with Paul Conrad, Sheed & Ward, 1973)
Amazing Grace: Stories of Lesbian and Gay Faith (with Nancy L. Wilson, Crossing Press, 1991)
Race & Prayer: Collected Voices, Many Dreams (w/Chester Talton, Morehouse, 2003)
In Times Like These…How We Pray (with J. Jon Bruno, Seabury, 2005)
Malcolm Boyd was an American Episcopal priest and author. He was one of the prominent white clergymen in the American Civil Rights Movement in the 60s as well as the anti-Vietnam War movement. In 1977 Boyd came out of the closet, becoming the most prominent gay clergy person to come out. In the 1980s Boyd met the gay activist and author Mark Thompson, who would become his long-time partner. He is the author of more than 30 books.
Crisis in Communication (Doubleday, 1957)
Christ and Celebrity Gods (Seabury, 1958)
Focus: Rethinking the Meaning of Our Evangelism (Morehouse-Barlow, 1960)
If I Go Down to Hell (Morehouse-Barlow, 1962)
The Hunger, the Thirst (Morehouse-Barlow, 1964)
Are You Running with Me, Jesus? (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1965/40th anniversary edition, 2005), became a bestseller
Free to Live, Free to Die (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1967)
Malcolm Boyd's Book of Days (Random House, 1968)
The Fantasy Worlds of Peter Stone and Other Fables (Harper & Row, 1969)
As I Live and Breathe (Random House, 1969)
My Fellow Americans (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1970)
Human Like Me, Jesus (Simon and Schuster, 1971)
The Lover (Word Books, 1972)
The Runner (Word Books, 1974)
The Alleluia Affair (Word Books, 1975)
Christian: Its Meanings in an Age of Future Shock (Hawthorn, 1975)
Am I Running with You, God? (Doubleday, 1977)
Take Off the Masks (Doubleday, 1978; rev. ed. HarperCollins 1993, White Crane Books 2008)
Look Back in Joy (Gay Sunshine Press, 1981; rev. ed. Alyson, 1990)
Half Laughing, Half Crying (St. Martin's Press, 1986)
Gay Priest: An Inner Journey (St. Martin's Press, 1986)
Edges, Boundaries and Connections (Broken Moon Press, 1992)
Rich with Years: Daily Meditations on Growing Older (HarperCollins, 1994)
Go Gentle Into That Good Night (Genesis Press, 1998)
Simple Grace: A Mentor's Guide to Growing Older (Westminster John Knox, 2001)
Prayers for the Later Years (Augsburg, 2002)
A Prophet in His Own Land: The Malcolm Boyd Reader (edited by Bo Young/Dan Vera) (White Crane Books, 2008)
Edited by Malcolm Boyd
On the Battle Lines: A Manifesto for Our Times (Morehouse-Barlow, 1964)
The Underground Church (Sheed & Ward, 1968)
When in the Course of Human Events (with Paul Conrad, Sheed & Ward, 1973)
Amazing Grace: Stories of Lesbian and Gay Faith (with Nancy L. Wilson, Crossing Press, 1991)
Race & Prayer: Collected Voices, Many Dreams (w/Chester Talton, Morehouse, 2003)
In Times Like These…How We Pray (with J. Jon Bruno, Seabury, 2005)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 18, 2016
circa 1965, I categorize this book sort of as Episcopal Beat Poetry. I haven't followed Boyd in any of his other books so I wouldn't consider myself a follower or even a fan, I haven't scrutinized any of his theological stances or political positions- but I do enjoy this book.
It's refreshing in it's raw openness and honesty about doubts and feelings and modern social concerns, from race, gender and poverty, to movies, academia, and stress. These prayers are touching and remind the reader that God is interested in our mundane and our intimate, our profound and our profane. Jesus is not just divine, but also human, He's experienced our struggles and understands us.
Where are books like this today? Why hasn't some pastor or minister or poet taken to writing a book of personal prayers in common language? Why not?
It's refreshing in it's raw openness and honesty about doubts and feelings and modern social concerns, from race, gender and poverty, to movies, academia, and stress. These prayers are touching and remind the reader that God is interested in our mundane and our intimate, our profound and our profane. Jesus is not just divine, but also human, He's experienced our struggles and understands us.
Where are books like this today? Why hasn't some pastor or minister or poet taken to writing a book of personal prayers in common language? Why not?
May 13, 2015
I came across the Revd Malcolm Boyd when I read a small book of poetry and prose on gay couples.
Malcolm Boyd died earlier this year at the magnificent age of 91. He was an Episcopalian/Anglican priest with a long history of human rights and civil rights advocacy stretching back to the sixties when he participated in the civil rights movements and freedom rides.
He came out in 1977 and became a spokesman for gay rights risking his position and career. He was ordained in 1954 and wrote many books. He also knew how to reach people. In the 1960's he became known as 'the Espresso Priest' for his religiously themed poetry reading sessions at a night club in San Francisco.
I am a romantic and it was his story about his partner that attracted me to this man. He met his partner, Mark Thompson, in the 1980's and they remained together until he died.
This book was first published in 1965 the year of my birth. It was considered ground breaking at the time because it was different to the formal prayers said in church. These prayers broke boundaries because they tackled gritty problems head on and are raw and urgent. These days this kind of prayer probably wouldn't raise any eyebrows (not in my church) because this kind of prayer is encouraged and appreciated but back in the sixties it was considered radical and gritty.
And these prayers are radical and gritty still, some of them written in the midst of the fire of the civil rights movement with honesty and emotion.
When he came out Malcolm Boyd had difficulty finding work at a church. He called it his 'wilderness time' but he didn't give up and spent his life teaching and preaching and ministering to all. In 1984, he helped organise one of the first Christian masses for people with AIDS.
Desmond Tutu said that Boyd's genius was to illustrate the presence of God 'even for those who say they do not believe in God.'
And I have to say his life intrigues me because he was so radical and courageous and compassionate, and he also wrote about thirty books.
So I read this book of prayers as a way of beginning my study of this man's life. I believe there is much that I will learn from his life and perhaps things I can pass on to others as I continue to minister to people on the margins, but perhaps as well truths and lessons for people who aren't marginalised.
This volume of prayer doesn't shock me the way it would have done people in 1965, but it encourages me to pray and to pray any where, any how and from who I really am. This book reminds me to pray.
So for me it is inspirational. Any life that is lived with such authenticity and courage is a life worth studying and I intend to do so.
Starting as I mean to go on!!
Malcolm Boyd died earlier this year at the magnificent age of 91. He was an Episcopalian/Anglican priest with a long history of human rights and civil rights advocacy stretching back to the sixties when he participated in the civil rights movements and freedom rides.
He came out in 1977 and became a spokesman for gay rights risking his position and career. He was ordained in 1954 and wrote many books. He also knew how to reach people. In the 1960's he became known as 'the Espresso Priest' for his religiously themed poetry reading sessions at a night club in San Francisco.
I am a romantic and it was his story about his partner that attracted me to this man. He met his partner, Mark Thompson, in the 1980's and they remained together until he died.
This book was first published in 1965 the year of my birth. It was considered ground breaking at the time because it was different to the formal prayers said in church. These prayers broke boundaries because they tackled gritty problems head on and are raw and urgent. These days this kind of prayer probably wouldn't raise any eyebrows (not in my church) because this kind of prayer is encouraged and appreciated but back in the sixties it was considered radical and gritty.
And these prayers are radical and gritty still, some of them written in the midst of the fire of the civil rights movement with honesty and emotion.
When he came out Malcolm Boyd had difficulty finding work at a church. He called it his 'wilderness time' but he didn't give up and spent his life teaching and preaching and ministering to all. In 1984, he helped organise one of the first Christian masses for people with AIDS.
Desmond Tutu said that Boyd's genius was to illustrate the presence of God 'even for those who say they do not believe in God.'
And I have to say his life intrigues me because he was so radical and courageous and compassionate, and he also wrote about thirty books.
So I read this book of prayers as a way of beginning my study of this man's life. I believe there is much that I will learn from his life and perhaps things I can pass on to others as I continue to minister to people on the margins, but perhaps as well truths and lessons for people who aren't marginalised.
This volume of prayer doesn't shock me the way it would have done people in 1965, but it encourages me to pray and to pray any where, any how and from who I really am. This book reminds me to pray.
So for me it is inspirational. Any life that is lived with such authenticity and courage is a life worth studying and I intend to do so.
Starting as I mean to go on!!
January 6, 2016
When I first read this book I fell in love, I had already fallen in love with Malcolm Boyd because of the cover.The prayers are so simple but somehow so poignant. I really like the simplicity of what he has to say.
June 26, 2013
I loved this book. The prayers are raw and honest. I've written a full review here: http://www.daveenjoys.com/2013/06/25/...
August 20, 2017
I find this book a little self-centered but then I believe that he points that out in the title. So since I have never been one for pre-scripted prayers I don't know that I would reference this book again. However, it is a glimpse into honest feelings and I believe that God once us to admit our feelings to him and yes I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ is God so I don't have a problem with that. I did however find this book a little and interesting though I tried to stick with it. Everyone has a story and I am glad that he wrote his story.
July 5, 2018
Prayers of Real Life
Malcolm Boyd writes from his heart exposing the anguish and the questions that all of us experience. These are not feel good prayers these are the prayers of the questioning soul.
Malcolm Boyd writes from his heart exposing the anguish and the questions that all of us experience. These are not feel good prayers these are the prayers of the questioning soul.
October 18, 2021
This book was a gift from my Mother. I loved it, loved everything about it. Real prayer. True and honest prayer. Read so many of these to my children in the hopes that it inspires them to greater honesty and intimacy with their Lord and Savior.
September 4, 2020
Well done! Such relevant prayers for our world today! Very inspiring.
November 1, 2020
a beautiful collection of modern prayers that read more like poems/beat poetry
May 14, 2025
what a cool guy
February 5, 2015
These were some of the most authentic prayers that I have ever read. I found Boyd's willingness to go to God completely as himself even when he was feeling irreverent so encouraging for my own relationship with God. It felt validating to see someone else express the idea that our prayers need not be perfect Christian pictures of piety in order to arouse the interest of God. The confirmation that God can run with us even in our messy not-so-Christian feelings and ways of being was my biggest takeaway from this book. My only major issue with this book was the inclusion of an Afterword which seemed pointless after a collection of prayers that really spoke for themselves.
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February 3, 2015This book had a powerful influence on me when it was given to me, at 15 y/o, by the family I babysat for. Thanks to Matt and Sue for this powerful book on being a radical Christian, and all the other books and music you used to be of help to me in surviving my teen years. Though I am not a Christian the way most of this country views what it is to be a "Christian". I still go to it, in times I need that push to keep going, as well as when I am struggling with my life's problems.
Read
December 31, 2015I've picked this up and put it down several times now, so into the donation pile it goes.
Malcolm Boyd would have made a good blogger, and probably would have been great at Twitter. Alas, he was born 70 years too early.
Malcolm Boyd would have made a good blogger, and probably would have been great at Twitter. Alas, he was born 70 years too early.
March 21, 2016
Wise Words
I love this author. The Church and society tried to stop him from being Malcolm Boyd. He held on tight to Christ and survived all attempts to shut him up. Yes, Jesus ran with him while others ran against him.
I love this author. The Church and society tried to stop him from being Malcolm Boyd. He held on tight to Christ and survived all attempts to shut him up. Yes, Jesus ran with him while others ran against him.
January 27, 2015
I feel late to this party, but I am so happy I've arrived. This is truly life-changing. I really want to hear the Charlie Byrd record that goes with it!
January 25, 2008
I loved this book. And can't believe I had never heard of it before...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews