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How Jesus Saves the World from Us: 12 Antidotes to Toxic Christianity
Christianity has always been about being saved. But today what Christians need saving from most is the toxic understanding of salvation we've received through bad theology. The loudest voices in Christianity today sound exactly like the religious authorities who crucified Jesus. This is a book for Christians who are troubled by what we've become and who want Jesus to save us from the toxic behaviors and attitudes we've embraced. Each of the 12 chapters proposes an antidote for the toxicity that has infiltrated Christian culture, such as "Worship not Performance, "Temple not Program," and "Solidarity not Sanctimony." Each chapter includes thought-provoking discussion questions, perfect for individual or group study. There are many reasons to lose hope about the state of our world and our church, but Guyton offers one piece of good Jesus is saving the world from us, one Christian at a time .
184 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2016
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August 4, 2016
Reviewed for THC Reviews
I’m fairly confident in my reviewing skills, except when it comes to non-fiction, especially non-fiction that’s as deep and philosophical as How Jesus Saves the World from Us. Don’t get me wrong, it was an awesome read, but one that I have a feeling I’ll have to go back and re-read a few times before everything fully sinks in. Much of it did make a huge impact on me in the moment, but since I read it only once or twice a week over the course of a month and a half in preparation for my latest church book club meeting, there are some of the earlier parts that I don’t remember as clearly. Still, each chapter had a profound statement to make and one that I think more Christians should be open to exploring.
I was particularly struck, as were others in my book club, by the sub-title of the book 12 Antidotes to Toxic Christianity. Christianity should never be toxic, and yet because imperfect people are interpreting scripture and spreading the message of God, oftentimes it can become corrupted by wrong-headed, if not outright dangerous theology. I’ve seen the effects of wrong-headed theology in some churches I’ve attended in the past, and yet in spite of that, I’ve still seen God move in those environments, so I know that the title of this book is true. As a writer, I’ve also been researching spiritual abuse for my latest novel, and in that capacity, I’ve also been exposed to an extreme form of toxic Christianity that I’m reluctant to even call Christianity. That’s because it’s so fundamentalist as to cause severe physical and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death, to many of the people who are enmeshed in it through it’s dangerous teachings. So I’m keenly aware of these perversions of Jesus’s message of love and salvation.
Morgan Guyton posits that when we’re more focused on following a set of rigid rules and regulations, we’re actually focused more on ourselves and less on God and being his hands and feet in the world, a position with which I wholeheartedly agree. He proposes twelve specific areas of our spiritual lives in which we need to take a step back, not only from this rigidity, but also from the ways in which our humanness has perverted the beautiful simplicity of God’s message. Examples of this are how worship in some churches has become more of a performance than an expression of love directed toward God, or how even if we sacrifice of our time and ourselves to do things for others, but aren’t doing it with mercy and compassion, we’re completely missing the point. The author continues throughout the book to express this dichotomy in each of the remaining ten chapters, showing the reader how to shed human authority for God’s authority, and in doing so, recapturing something of God’s message that’s been lost.
Mr. Guyton also explains why Christians should never have an “us versus them” mentality, especially when it comes to those of our own faith. There are over 43,000 Christian church denominations worldwide, which IMHO, is more a testament to human faults and foibles than anything to do with God and His message. The author demonstrates through his own story how each Christian is on his or her own unique spiritual journey, and how God can speak to us in a variety of different ways and though different people. I can personally attest to this as well, because I’ve learned things about God and my relationship to Him through some denominations which I now consider more flawed than others and of which I would no longer be comfortable being a part. It doesn’t necessarily make them wrong, just not right for me. This is my unique spiritual journey, and if someone else went on this same identical journey, they probably wouldn’t have discovered the same insights I have. For this reason, I’ve been challenged to make allowances for other church’s belief systems, even if I don’t agree, although I still won’t hesitate to call out overt abuse where I see it.
How Jesus Saves the World from Us has given me a great deal of food for thought, and as I mentioned earlier, I’m sure it’s a book that I’ll re-read multiple times. It’s also a book that’s infinitely quotable. In some ways, I wish I could quote the entire text, because it’s just that good. In any case, I hope that Christians, or anyone who reads this book, will approach it with an open mind and heart, ready to take a hard look at their own spiritual life and how they might make changes that lead them and others back to God’s simple message of salvation. Yet I hope that they will also recognize that His message is still oddly complex for the myriad ways in which God imparts it to us that is as diverse as each individual. Also, if you’re a Christian who’s been frustrated by the direction in which the church has generally been moving of late, or if you’ve fallen away from the church in disillusionment, I think you might find some comfort in this book. I wholeheartedly believe that Jesus really is still out there saving the world despite the fact that many people try to get in the way.
Note: This book contains at least one strong bad word, which readers might not expect from a Christian book and which may offend some.
I’m fairly confident in my reviewing skills, except when it comes to non-fiction, especially non-fiction that’s as deep and philosophical as How Jesus Saves the World from Us. Don’t get me wrong, it was an awesome read, but one that I have a feeling I’ll have to go back and re-read a few times before everything fully sinks in. Much of it did make a huge impact on me in the moment, but since I read it only once or twice a week over the course of a month and a half in preparation for my latest church book club meeting, there are some of the earlier parts that I don’t remember as clearly. Still, each chapter had a profound statement to make and one that I think more Christians should be open to exploring.
I was particularly struck, as were others in my book club, by the sub-title of the book 12 Antidotes to Toxic Christianity. Christianity should never be toxic, and yet because imperfect people are interpreting scripture and spreading the message of God, oftentimes it can become corrupted by wrong-headed, if not outright dangerous theology. I’ve seen the effects of wrong-headed theology in some churches I’ve attended in the past, and yet in spite of that, I’ve still seen God move in those environments, so I know that the title of this book is true. As a writer, I’ve also been researching spiritual abuse for my latest novel, and in that capacity, I’ve also been exposed to an extreme form of toxic Christianity that I’m reluctant to even call Christianity. That’s because it’s so fundamentalist as to cause severe physical and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death, to many of the people who are enmeshed in it through it’s dangerous teachings. So I’m keenly aware of these perversions of Jesus’s message of love and salvation.
Morgan Guyton posits that when we’re more focused on following a set of rigid rules and regulations, we’re actually focused more on ourselves and less on God and being his hands and feet in the world, a position with which I wholeheartedly agree. He proposes twelve specific areas of our spiritual lives in which we need to take a step back, not only from this rigidity, but also from the ways in which our humanness has perverted the beautiful simplicity of God’s message. Examples of this are how worship in some churches has become more of a performance than an expression of love directed toward God, or how even if we sacrifice of our time and ourselves to do things for others, but aren’t doing it with mercy and compassion, we’re completely missing the point. The author continues throughout the book to express this dichotomy in each of the remaining ten chapters, showing the reader how to shed human authority for God’s authority, and in doing so, recapturing something of God’s message that’s been lost.
Mr. Guyton also explains why Christians should never have an “us versus them” mentality, especially when it comes to those of our own faith. There are over 43,000 Christian church denominations worldwide, which IMHO, is more a testament to human faults and foibles than anything to do with God and His message. The author demonstrates through his own story how each Christian is on his or her own unique spiritual journey, and how God can speak to us in a variety of different ways and though different people. I can personally attest to this as well, because I’ve learned things about God and my relationship to Him through some denominations which I now consider more flawed than others and of which I would no longer be comfortable being a part. It doesn’t necessarily make them wrong, just not right for me. This is my unique spiritual journey, and if someone else went on this same identical journey, they probably wouldn’t have discovered the same insights I have. For this reason, I’ve been challenged to make allowances for other church’s belief systems, even if I don’t agree, although I still won’t hesitate to call out overt abuse where I see it.
How Jesus Saves the World from Us has given me a great deal of food for thought, and as I mentioned earlier, I’m sure it’s a book that I’ll re-read multiple times. It’s also a book that’s infinitely quotable. In some ways, I wish I could quote the entire text, because it’s just that good. In any case, I hope that Christians, or anyone who reads this book, will approach it with an open mind and heart, ready to take a hard look at their own spiritual life and how they might make changes that lead them and others back to God’s simple message of salvation. Yet I hope that they will also recognize that His message is still oddly complex for the myriad ways in which God imparts it to us that is as diverse as each individual. Also, if you’re a Christian who’s been frustrated by the direction in which the church has generally been moving of late, or if you’ve fallen away from the church in disillusionment, I think you might find some comfort in this book. I wholeheartedly believe that Jesus really is still out there saving the world despite the fact that many people try to get in the way.
Note: This book contains at least one strong bad word, which readers might not expect from a Christian book and which may offend some.
September 10, 2017
"How Jesus Saves the World from Us" explores how as Christians we may be living by the law and not under Grace. It highlights the various ways we are being toxic in a world that calls for love and understanding. While I don't necessarily agree with everything Guyton says, I will say this book is well put together, cohesive and practical.
As a Christian who is starting her walk with God, this book really does highlight the roads I am NOT to go down on and shows me ways I can become a better follower of Christ. As I said earlier, I do not agree with everything but I do take parts and apply it to my relationship with God.
Great read.
As a Christian who is starting her walk with God, this book really does highlight the roads I am NOT to go down on and shows me ways I can become a better follower of Christ. As I said earlier, I do not agree with everything but I do take parts and apply it to my relationship with God.
Great read.
June 10, 2016
Christianity would be a great religion, if only there weren't any Christians. That's a rather common observation. We who are Christians wish it weren't so, but the reality is that we don't always represent Jesus very well. Many books have been written decrying this reality and offering solutions. Some are more helpful than others. Morgan Guyton offers his take on our situation in "How Jesus Saves the World from Us (WJK, 2016). It is a first book, and an effective one.
Guyton is a United Methodist pastor/campus minister, who grew up Southern Baptist. His response to this question of Christian toxicity brings together an evangelical theology with a progressive social vision. Like many young post-evangelical mainliners he has a strong commitment to social justice and to the relational nature of the faith. He's not ready to jettison traditional Christian doctrine, but he insists that relationships are prior to doctrine.
The foundational question of the book is stated in the opening paragraph of the introduction: "Have Christians become what Jesus came to stop us from being?" That is, have we lost our way by trying to fight doctrinal and cultural wars at the expense of the people whom Jesus loves?
The book is composed of twelve chapters, each of which identifies a toxic attitude and its antidote. He writes from a social location that includes being a "middle-class, straight, white male." It's a social location that I share with him. He notes that the book documents his own journey from a narrow vision to a much broader one.
The best way to introduce the book is to simply list the twelve chapter titles: 1) "Worship, Not Performance;" 2) "Mercy, Not Sacrifice;" 3) "Empty, Not Clean;" 4) "Breath, Not Meat;" 5) "Honor, Not Terror;" 6) "Poetry, Not Math" (this chapter deals with reading the Bible); 7) "Communion, Not Correctness" (doctrine); 8) "Temple, Not Program" (I found this a helpful reminder that the church building is first and foremost is a place of worship of God not simply programs); "Solidarity, Not Sanctimony" (dealing with sin); "Outsiders, Not Insiders;" 11) "Servanthood, Not Leadership;" 12) "Kingdom, Not Stadium" (he takes notice of the outsize influence of megachurches on the church).
Over all, I found the book to be spot on. He has diagnosed problems that continually plague the church, offers solutions, but does so in a way that doesn't throw out the church as an institution or dismisses the importance of theology. He understands that if we're to follow Jesus we need to encounter him, and that involves have some touchstones.
I found the book intriguing because of the strong evangelical ethos present in the book. In fact, theologically he's pretty conservative. He's not averse to affirming, for instance, the virgin birth. He doesn't make it a test of fellowship, but he's not ready to jettison it. I found it interesting as well that when he used the Pastoral Epistles he assumed Pauline authorship. That is to say, this is an evangelical book that should appeal to liberals and progressives. So, take and read!!
Guyton is a United Methodist pastor/campus minister, who grew up Southern Baptist. His response to this question of Christian toxicity brings together an evangelical theology with a progressive social vision. Like many young post-evangelical mainliners he has a strong commitment to social justice and to the relational nature of the faith. He's not ready to jettison traditional Christian doctrine, but he insists that relationships are prior to doctrine.
The foundational question of the book is stated in the opening paragraph of the introduction: "Have Christians become what Jesus came to stop us from being?" That is, have we lost our way by trying to fight doctrinal and cultural wars at the expense of the people whom Jesus loves?
The book is composed of twelve chapters, each of which identifies a toxic attitude and its antidote. He writes from a social location that includes being a "middle-class, straight, white male." It's a social location that I share with him. He notes that the book documents his own journey from a narrow vision to a much broader one.
The best way to introduce the book is to simply list the twelve chapter titles: 1) "Worship, Not Performance;" 2) "Mercy, Not Sacrifice;" 3) "Empty, Not Clean;" 4) "Breath, Not Meat;" 5) "Honor, Not Terror;" 6) "Poetry, Not Math" (this chapter deals with reading the Bible); 7) "Communion, Not Correctness" (doctrine); 8) "Temple, Not Program" (I found this a helpful reminder that the church building is first and foremost is a place of worship of God not simply programs); "Solidarity, Not Sanctimony" (dealing with sin); "Outsiders, Not Insiders;" 11) "Servanthood, Not Leadership;" 12) "Kingdom, Not Stadium" (he takes notice of the outsize influence of megachurches on the church).
Over all, I found the book to be spot on. He has diagnosed problems that continually plague the church, offers solutions, but does so in a way that doesn't throw out the church as an institution or dismisses the importance of theology. He understands that if we're to follow Jesus we need to encounter him, and that involves have some touchstones.
I found the book intriguing because of the strong evangelical ethos present in the book. In fact, theologically he's pretty conservative. He's not averse to affirming, for instance, the virgin birth. He doesn't make it a test of fellowship, but he's not ready to jettison it. I found it interesting as well that when he used the Pastoral Epistles he assumed Pauline authorship. That is to say, this is an evangelical book that should appeal to liberals and progressives. So, take and read!!
January 16, 2017
Do you think sin is accurately defined as the failure to love?
The premise of this book is the above statement. When you take only portions of God word by your experience, you don't have the gospel. You have chaos and everything goes because it's all about the love. Don't get me wrong. Jesus commands us to love God and others. By loving God first. Take the first 3 commandments and you will be able to do the 7. But it's not that easy. That is why we need the righteousness of Christ. Our faith is based on what he has done and is doing. It is the only way we be righteous. Without the sovereignty of God, we have a God made in our own image.
Guyton does say some compelling ways that keeps us from loving others but nothing about how we keep from loving Jesus. By going our own way in the name of love.
I will always process the world as someone who grew up a moderate Southern Baptist, got saved by little girt in Mexico, learned social justice in dying mainline churches, received the gospel from an ordained lesbian Methodist minister, got my first prayer beads from an Orthodox priest, learned to fast from Thomas Merton, and started speaking in tongues at a Catholic mass, after thinking all my life that people who did were faking it. This is my journey
He claimed that God woke him up to social justice when a man using the "f" word. The word was typed completely which is the first for me reading a Christian book. God may get our attention in profound ways and maybe God is calling this guy an ass. But I don't think he would use the "f" word to do it. He doesn't need to. Because He is God and doesn't lower himself to our profanity. I don't get offended by others using profanity because that is the world we live in. But don't say God uses profanity. His example of the prosperity gospel in Bruce Wilkinson was a poor example when we have the likes of Joel Olsteen.
Don't waste your time and money on this.
A Special Thank You to Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The premise of this book is the above statement. When you take only portions of God word by your experience, you don't have the gospel. You have chaos and everything goes because it's all about the love. Don't get me wrong. Jesus commands us to love God and others. By loving God first. Take the first 3 commandments and you will be able to do the 7. But it's not that easy. That is why we need the righteousness of Christ. Our faith is based on what he has done and is doing. It is the only way we be righteous. Without the sovereignty of God, we have a God made in our own image.
Guyton does say some compelling ways that keeps us from loving others but nothing about how we keep from loving Jesus. By going our own way in the name of love.
I will always process the world as someone who grew up a moderate Southern Baptist, got saved by little girt in Mexico, learned social justice in dying mainline churches, received the gospel from an ordained lesbian Methodist minister, got my first prayer beads from an Orthodox priest, learned to fast from Thomas Merton, and started speaking in tongues at a Catholic mass, after thinking all my life that people who did were faking it. This is my journey
He claimed that God woke him up to social justice when a man using the "f" word. The word was typed completely which is the first for me reading a Christian book. God may get our attention in profound ways and maybe God is calling this guy an ass. But I don't think he would use the "f" word to do it. He doesn't need to. Because He is God and doesn't lower himself to our profanity. I don't get offended by others using profanity because that is the world we live in. But don't say God uses profanity. His example of the prosperity gospel in Bruce Wilkinson was a poor example when we have the likes of Joel Olsteen.
Don't waste your time and money on this.
A Special Thank You to Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
July 25, 2016
How Jesus Saves the World from Us Morgan Guyton Westminster John Knox Press
In the 1970’s work began on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Over the centuries the painting of Michelangelo had changed. Dust, smoke and time had taken a toll on his beautiful painting and a push to restore the work to the original was first investigated and then begun. Over a period of 10 years layers of dust and grim were removed and the painting began to come to life again. People were able to see a work more like that of the original.
I think a similar restoration is necessary for the Bible and its story. We are two thousand years removed from the stories of the New Testament. Those who live in the United States are living in a different culture than the first readers, reading a different language and are divided by denominational influences so often the picture we have of Jesus is not clear. The picture we have of Jesus is obscured by the dust of culture, language and “private” interpretation.
I welcome any attempt to get us to see Jesus as he is and not as he looks to us obscured by doctrine or denomination, etc. Where Morgan Guyton in his recent book accomplishes this in his book How Jesus saves the World from Us the church can benefit.
One of the clarifications he offers is about what it means to take up the cross. Like Morgan, I have heard that phrase used in ways Jesus never intended. It means we should be willing to die, not that we may be stuck in a bad marriage.
However, I think that the author too often has moved from restoration to painting his own picture loosely based on the original.
While I appreciate Mr. Guyton’s desire to challenge some of the shabby paintings the church has produced of Jesus I think he seems to have become so critical of the church that he has little good to say about the church. Jesus established the church. It is Jesus’s idea and I don’t think Jesus needs to save the world from the church since the church is God’s choice (as strange as that may be) to reach the world.
The author’s chapter on the Kingdom does help us see a bigger picture, something bigger than the church, but the church fits into the Kingdom that God has established. To talk about the Kingdom, to see a bigger picture is fine, well and good but we can’t kick the church out of the Kingdom and work for the Kingdom without the church.
My biggest concern about this book is the author’s view of Scripture itself. It does matter whether Noah built an ark. When we begin to call a story like Noah and the Ark a parable than everything is up for grabs. I would refer the writer and those are reading this review to a scholar like N.T. Wright for more on this. I can add this note regarding the Bible being appropriated from ancient myths. Ancient myths may in fact be reflecting the real story instead of the other way around. On this point I suggest reading N.T. Wright, especially “How God Became King”.
In response to the quote by Peter Rollins, “that a mystery-free Bible would actually suffocate its divinity” I would say the Bible can be read as fact and still leave plenty of room for mystery. If it is not factual it has no authority.
There were two comments the author made that were just plain wrong. Admittedly the first may be just my opinion. But as Anne Lamott says “we think our opinions are right or we would change them”. That being said, in my opinion, the author wanders beyond Scripture when he says the rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus didn’t invite a beggar to eat at his table and that is why he went to hell. First there is no explicit or implicit statement that supports that conclusion. Secondly, the point of the story was much bigger than a rich man ignoring a poor man.
The point the author makes in chapter 10 about insiders and outsiders is an important corrective for the church but to make his case by implying a person may go to hell for not sharing a meal with a beggar is going too far. That sounds like something a fundamentalist would say.
There is one other comment made by the author that is wrong, not just in my opinion but in the opinion of Greek scholars around the world. In the Conclusion of the book the writer talks about repentance/metanoia. Repentance is certainly something we all need to do. I have no problem with the idea of repentance, even though I resist the practice. The problem I have with the emphasis on metanoia is that the author appears to have made up his own definition.
“The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means to “see beyond””. No, the Greek word metanoia means to change one’s mind. See the entry below from Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon
A.change of mind or heart, repentance, regret, Batr.70, Th.3.36, Philem.198, Plb.4.66.7, LXXPr.14.15, Aristeas 188, Plu.2.712c (pl.), etc.; “ἀνίατος γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων μ.” Antipho 2.4.12; “γαμεῖν ὁ μέλλων εἰς μ. ἔρχεται” Men.Mon.91; “ἡ εἰς τὸν θεὸν μ.” Act.Ap.20.21; “μ. ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων” Ep.Hebr.6.1.
Is this a big deal? If this were just one thing in the whole book it would not be a big deal but to me it illustrates that in the effort to get the church to look at the influences that have brought the church to such a sad, needy place the author has replaced one picture in need of restoration with another.
Is there anything in the book worth reading? Well, it certainly would generate some discussion at the pastoral book club meeting!
I was given a copy of this ebook by netgalley.com with the sole understanding that I would write an honest review.I think I accomplished that.
In the 1970’s work began on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Over the centuries the painting of Michelangelo had changed. Dust, smoke and time had taken a toll on his beautiful painting and a push to restore the work to the original was first investigated and then begun. Over a period of 10 years layers of dust and grim were removed and the painting began to come to life again. People were able to see a work more like that of the original.
I think a similar restoration is necessary for the Bible and its story. We are two thousand years removed from the stories of the New Testament. Those who live in the United States are living in a different culture than the first readers, reading a different language and are divided by denominational influences so often the picture we have of Jesus is not clear. The picture we have of Jesus is obscured by the dust of culture, language and “private” interpretation.
I welcome any attempt to get us to see Jesus as he is and not as he looks to us obscured by doctrine or denomination, etc. Where Morgan Guyton in his recent book accomplishes this in his book How Jesus saves the World from Us the church can benefit.
One of the clarifications he offers is about what it means to take up the cross. Like Morgan, I have heard that phrase used in ways Jesus never intended. It means we should be willing to die, not that we may be stuck in a bad marriage.
However, I think that the author too often has moved from restoration to painting his own picture loosely based on the original.
While I appreciate Mr. Guyton’s desire to challenge some of the shabby paintings the church has produced of Jesus I think he seems to have become so critical of the church that he has little good to say about the church. Jesus established the church. It is Jesus’s idea and I don’t think Jesus needs to save the world from the church since the church is God’s choice (as strange as that may be) to reach the world.
The author’s chapter on the Kingdom does help us see a bigger picture, something bigger than the church, but the church fits into the Kingdom that God has established. To talk about the Kingdom, to see a bigger picture is fine, well and good but we can’t kick the church out of the Kingdom and work for the Kingdom without the church.
My biggest concern about this book is the author’s view of Scripture itself. It does matter whether Noah built an ark. When we begin to call a story like Noah and the Ark a parable than everything is up for grabs. I would refer the writer and those are reading this review to a scholar like N.T. Wright for more on this. I can add this note regarding the Bible being appropriated from ancient myths. Ancient myths may in fact be reflecting the real story instead of the other way around. On this point I suggest reading N.T. Wright, especially “How God Became King”.
In response to the quote by Peter Rollins, “that a mystery-free Bible would actually suffocate its divinity” I would say the Bible can be read as fact and still leave plenty of room for mystery. If it is not factual it has no authority.
There were two comments the author made that were just plain wrong. Admittedly the first may be just my opinion. But as Anne Lamott says “we think our opinions are right or we would change them”. That being said, in my opinion, the author wanders beyond Scripture when he says the rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus didn’t invite a beggar to eat at his table and that is why he went to hell. First there is no explicit or implicit statement that supports that conclusion. Secondly, the point of the story was much bigger than a rich man ignoring a poor man.
The point the author makes in chapter 10 about insiders and outsiders is an important corrective for the church but to make his case by implying a person may go to hell for not sharing a meal with a beggar is going too far. That sounds like something a fundamentalist would say.
There is one other comment made by the author that is wrong, not just in my opinion but in the opinion of Greek scholars around the world. In the Conclusion of the book the writer talks about repentance/metanoia. Repentance is certainly something we all need to do. I have no problem with the idea of repentance, even though I resist the practice. The problem I have with the emphasis on metanoia is that the author appears to have made up his own definition.
“The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means to “see beyond””. No, the Greek word metanoia means to change one’s mind. See the entry below from Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon
A.change of mind or heart, repentance, regret, Batr.70, Th.3.36, Philem.198, Plb.4.66.7, LXXPr.14.15, Aristeas 188, Plu.2.712c (pl.), etc.; “ἀνίατος γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων μ.” Antipho 2.4.12; “γαμεῖν ὁ μέλλων εἰς μ. ἔρχεται” Men.Mon.91; “ἡ εἰς τὸν θεὸν μ.” Act.Ap.20.21; “μ. ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων” Ep.Hebr.6.1.
Is this a big deal? If this were just one thing in the whole book it would not be a big deal but to me it illustrates that in the effort to get the church to look at the influences that have brought the church to such a sad, needy place the author has replaced one picture in need of restoration with another.
Is there anything in the book worth reading? Well, it certainly would generate some discussion at the pastoral book club meeting!
I was given a copy of this ebook by netgalley.com with the sole understanding that I would write an honest review.I think I accomplished that.
August 14, 2016
In How Jesus Saves the World from Us Morgan Guyton proposes a provocative theme: that in its misinterpretations and misapplications of the Bible, the church has become oppressor, and it is from this kind of oppressive theology that the world needs saving.
In each of the twelve chapters, Guyton pairs a misinterpretation with a corresponding corrective. The discussion uses current themes and issues, including a number of recent, current events as examples.
Guyton writes from a Wesleyan perspective (in contrast to Calvinist), which I find refreshing. I find that far too many popular Christian books today come from a Calvinist (some more strict than others) perspective, with which I personally disagree to a great degree. So this discussion of theology and application to today's world from a Wesleyan perspective I found to be very helpful to my own life.
I found the chapters discussing theology and social justice issues to be the strongest. It may quite likely be my own personality and temperament, but I just didn't resonate as strongly with the ones discussing spirituality and worship.
Christians who have a problem reconciling a God of love with theologies found in some of the more dominant, popular, and prominent churches and pastors will find the contents of this book helpful. Guyton offers another way of interpreting the text of the Bible where God's power is found in his love for and empowering of people, rather than a strict demand of obedience and harsh judgment for disobedience. The social justice discussions help bridge the gap between abstract theology and what we can begin doing in our lives to address the divisions and hate rising up today.
In each of the twelve chapters, Guyton pairs a misinterpretation with a corresponding corrective. The discussion uses current themes and issues, including a number of recent, current events as examples.
Guyton writes from a Wesleyan perspective (in contrast to Calvinist), which I find refreshing. I find that far too many popular Christian books today come from a Calvinist (some more strict than others) perspective, with which I personally disagree to a great degree. So this discussion of theology and application to today's world from a Wesleyan perspective I found to be very helpful to my own life.
I found the chapters discussing theology and social justice issues to be the strongest. It may quite likely be my own personality and temperament, but I just didn't resonate as strongly with the ones discussing spirituality and worship.
Christians who have a problem reconciling a God of love with theologies found in some of the more dominant, popular, and prominent churches and pastors will find the contents of this book helpful. Guyton offers another way of interpreting the text of the Bible where God's power is found in his love for and empowering of people, rather than a strict demand of obedience and harsh judgment for disobedience. The social justice discussions help bridge the gap between abstract theology and what we can begin doing in our lives to address the divisions and hate rising up today.
December 29, 2016
This theological wrangling with scripture, tradition, experience, and reason is a part of who Morgan is, and is captured in his first book, How Jesus Saves the World from Us. His writing aims to answer the question, “Have Christians become what Jesus came to stop us from being?”
Tapping into his own evangelical roots, Morgan proposes that there are twelve toxic attitudes that Christians today have adopted. In response to these behaviors, Morgan presents twelve antidotes. These include, for example, “Worship, Not Performance,” “Honor, Not Terror,” “Communion, Not Correctness,” and “Outsiders, Not Insiders.”
Read more at http://jasoncstanley.com/book-review-....
Tapping into his own evangelical roots, Morgan proposes that there are twelve toxic attitudes that Christians today have adopted. In response to these behaviors, Morgan presents twelve antidotes. These include, for example, “Worship, Not Performance,” “Honor, Not Terror,” “Communion, Not Correctness,” and “Outsiders, Not Insiders.”
Read more at http://jasoncstanley.com/book-review-....
July 16, 2016
Guyton is a genuine writer who isn't afraid to show his underbelly as he critiques Christianity as we've come to know it today. Ultimately, I find his words as gentle exhortations to the Church. My book is littered with dog ears, highlights and underlining...
"It is frightening to call the Bible poetry, because poetry cannot be mastered. Submitting to poetry is an art rather than a science, which makes it impossible to guarantee yourself an A+... Those who have embodied God's poetry in their lived experience do not have easy answers. They often stumble over their words, because they know they can never do justice to the mysterious whirlwind of light that is God's truth."
"It is frightening to call the Bible poetry, because poetry cannot be mastered. Submitting to poetry is an art rather than a science, which makes it impossible to guarantee yourself an A+... Those who have embodied God's poetry in their lived experience do not have easy answers. They often stumble over their words, because they know they can never do justice to the mysterious whirlwind of light that is God's truth."
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2022Abandoned within the first chapter, maybe it was the introduction even. Here's why...
"I've identified twelve toxic Christian attitudes from which Jesus needs to save us and twelve antidotes that Jesus uses to save us. He's saving the world from our disingenuous posturing, our exhibitionist martyrdom, our isolationism, our disembodiment, our moral cowardice, our ideological certitude, our divisiveness, our anxious overprogramming, our moralistic meritocracy, our prejudice, our pursuit of celebrity, and our quest for uniformity."
YES. I nodded my head so hard while reading the above that it almost fell off. I agree so hard, so soundly with the above that I thought, "Okay, okay, okay. I'm going to like this book." And then the very next sentence with his list of antidotes made me grimace and abandon the book just like that, with no hesitation but with disappointment that this book that started so promising had literally turned into the same drivel evangelicals use and have been using for all of time (it feels like) to discuss the attitudes the world needs to be saved from. Morgan Guyton's antidotes?
"He's saving us by filling our hearts with genuine worship, wounding us with his mercy, emptying our spiritual clutter, breathing vitality into our bodies, awakening our sense of honor, captivating us with his poetry, letting us taste true glory, showing us the beauty of his temple, sticking up for the people who screw up, liberating us from social conventions, modeling his way of servanthood, and calling us deeper into his kingdom."
Gross. Just gross. Newsflash: those antidotes are NOT antidotes but instead feed the beast of bad behavior evangelicals live by. I'm out.
"I've identified twelve toxic Christian attitudes from which Jesus needs to save us and twelve antidotes that Jesus uses to save us. He's saving the world from our disingenuous posturing, our exhibitionist martyrdom, our isolationism, our disembodiment, our moral cowardice, our ideological certitude, our divisiveness, our anxious overprogramming, our moralistic meritocracy, our prejudice, our pursuit of celebrity, and our quest for uniformity."
YES. I nodded my head so hard while reading the above that it almost fell off. I agree so hard, so soundly with the above that I thought, "Okay, okay, okay. I'm going to like this book." And then the very next sentence with his list of antidotes made me grimace and abandon the book just like that, with no hesitation but with disappointment that this book that started so promising had literally turned into the same drivel evangelicals use and have been using for all of time (it feels like) to discuss the attitudes the world needs to be saved from. Morgan Guyton's antidotes?
"He's saving us by filling our hearts with genuine worship, wounding us with his mercy, emptying our spiritual clutter, breathing vitality into our bodies, awakening our sense of honor, captivating us with his poetry, letting us taste true glory, showing us the beauty of his temple, sticking up for the people who screw up, liberating us from social conventions, modeling his way of servanthood, and calling us deeper into his kingdom."
Gross. Just gross. Newsflash: those antidotes are NOT antidotes but instead feed the beast of bad behavior evangelicals live by. I'm out.
December 31, 2016
Morgan Guyton is a fairly popular online presence, blogging for years under the title Mercy Not Sacrifice, now part of the Progressive Christian Channel at Patheos.com. Some will immediately balk at the word "progressive," but, although Guyton can be very political at times, his writing does not always fit the typical rhetoric of the Left. As Edwin Tait asserts in his review of Guyton's new book on Amazon.com, "the book is far more than yet another attack on the distortions of conservative Protestantism, and the Christianity it offers should challenge anyone who thinks that 'progressive Christianity' is just a watered-down, culturally accommodated version of the real thing. This is a winsome, beautifully written, passionate presentation of the central truths of Christianity."
"Mercy Not Sacrifice" is, of course, based on Hosea 6:6, which reads in the NIV: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings." Jesus quotes this passage in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7, telling his critics they have not understood the significance of the passage in Hosea. In Chapter two of How Jesus Saves the World from Us (Mercy, not Sacrifice: How We Love People), Guyton points out the word "mercy" in Hosea could be translated "steadfast love" (as in the New Revised Standard Version) or "loyalty"—"the kind of unconditional love that people have within a family." In verse four, God compares Israel's love to morning mist or dew which quickly disappears. God wanted people to be loyal to him instead of going after other gods. The Pharisees thought they were being loyal to God by judging Jesus and his disciples for eating with sinners and plucking grain on the Sabbath. But Jesus says they are not understanding loyalty to God involves how they treat others. "Jesus' interpretation means that the best way to show God steadfast love is not through a stringent life of sacrifice, but by extending mercy to other people."
This is reminiscent of what the Apostle John writes in his first epistle: "...if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?" [1 John 4:20 NLT] We too often forget our love for God is demonstrated in how we treat people. Our devotion to God is shown, not by being nit picky and critical of what people do – as if God needs us to keep people perfectly in line, but by showing mercy. Isn't that how we would want to be treated? As the master in one of Jesus' parables puts it, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" [Matthew 18:33 NIV]
The first chapter of the book describes how we are able to love God because of the mercy he has shown us. If conservative Christians have any doubts about the gospel Morgan is promoting in his book, they should be relieved by what he says in the chapter: Worship, Not Performance: How We Love God. There can be no doubt about the author's commitment to justification by grace through faith. He writes, "God loves it when we do our best. god loves hearing us sing our hearts out and watching us perform the deeds of our lives with excellence. But God doesn't want us to do anything out of an anxious need to justify ourselves.... the Christian gospel teaches that instead of being justified by our good deeds or right answers, we are justified by God's grace." He goes back to the beginning with Adam and Eve and discusses how the Fall caused them to lose their innocence and become self-conscious. Humans now learn to hide under "masks of social performance" in order to look good to other people – and to God. Jesus can to save us from that so we could freely worship him instead of trying to perform well enough to be accepted.
Many conservative Christians have forgotten their roots and what the gospel is really about. This comes out in our judgmental spirit and self-righteous attitude toward others. Morgan would call this toxic Christianity. But he doesn't exclude himself as part of the problem, as implied by the "us" in the book's title, "How Jesus Saves the World from Us: Antidotes to Toxic Christianity." In a recent blog post, he gives this humble assessment of himself: "A wicked thought came into my mind when I learned about the shootings in Orlando: This is why people need to read my book. Thankfully, before I could post anything stupid on Facebook, the Holy Spirit convicted me with a second thought: This is why you’re still toxic."
Morgan would be the first to admit he is not perfect. His book is not perfect. But hopefully people will give his book a try in the same spirit of humility he tries to bring to his blog. There are twelve total chapters which follow the same pattern: This, Not That: How We... He describes what he believes are toxic attitudes, what these attitudes should be replaced with, and how we should live. You may not agree with everything he says, but, as someone wisely said, in order to grow, read those with whom you disagree.
"Mercy Not Sacrifice" is, of course, based on Hosea 6:6, which reads in the NIV: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings." Jesus quotes this passage in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7, telling his critics they have not understood the significance of the passage in Hosea. In Chapter two of How Jesus Saves the World from Us (Mercy, not Sacrifice: How We Love People), Guyton points out the word "mercy" in Hosea could be translated "steadfast love" (as in the New Revised Standard Version) or "loyalty"—"the kind of unconditional love that people have within a family." In verse four, God compares Israel's love to morning mist or dew which quickly disappears. God wanted people to be loyal to him instead of going after other gods. The Pharisees thought they were being loyal to God by judging Jesus and his disciples for eating with sinners and plucking grain on the Sabbath. But Jesus says they are not understanding loyalty to God involves how they treat others. "Jesus' interpretation means that the best way to show God steadfast love is not through a stringent life of sacrifice, but by extending mercy to other people."
This is reminiscent of what the Apostle John writes in his first epistle: "...if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?" [1 John 4:20 NLT] We too often forget our love for God is demonstrated in how we treat people. Our devotion to God is shown, not by being nit picky and critical of what people do – as if God needs us to keep people perfectly in line, but by showing mercy. Isn't that how we would want to be treated? As the master in one of Jesus' parables puts it, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" [Matthew 18:33 NIV]
The first chapter of the book describes how we are able to love God because of the mercy he has shown us. If conservative Christians have any doubts about the gospel Morgan is promoting in his book, they should be relieved by what he says in the chapter: Worship, Not Performance: How We Love God. There can be no doubt about the author's commitment to justification by grace through faith. He writes, "God loves it when we do our best. god loves hearing us sing our hearts out and watching us perform the deeds of our lives with excellence. But God doesn't want us to do anything out of an anxious need to justify ourselves.... the Christian gospel teaches that instead of being justified by our good deeds or right answers, we are justified by God's grace." He goes back to the beginning with Adam and Eve and discusses how the Fall caused them to lose their innocence and become self-conscious. Humans now learn to hide under "masks of social performance" in order to look good to other people – and to God. Jesus can to save us from that so we could freely worship him instead of trying to perform well enough to be accepted.
Many conservative Christians have forgotten their roots and what the gospel is really about. This comes out in our judgmental spirit and self-righteous attitude toward others. Morgan would call this toxic Christianity. But he doesn't exclude himself as part of the problem, as implied by the "us" in the book's title, "How Jesus Saves the World from Us: Antidotes to Toxic Christianity." In a recent blog post, he gives this humble assessment of himself: "A wicked thought came into my mind when I learned about the shootings in Orlando: This is why people need to read my book. Thankfully, before I could post anything stupid on Facebook, the Holy Spirit convicted me with a second thought: This is why you’re still toxic."
Morgan would be the first to admit he is not perfect. His book is not perfect. But hopefully people will give his book a try in the same spirit of humility he tries to bring to his blog. There are twelve total chapters which follow the same pattern: This, Not That: How We... He describes what he believes are toxic attitudes, what these attitudes should be replaced with, and how we should live. You may not agree with everything he says, but, as someone wisely said, in order to grow, read those with whom you disagree.
October 10, 2017
The christianity that much of the world is familiar with looks nothing like the life of faith found in scripture, particularly the life of faith exemplified by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. As the very cornerstone of the Christian faith, the life of Jesus Christ would seem to be both the model and aspiration for every follower of this faith, yet, as Guyton points out in each chapter, we far too often not only fail to follow his example but often seem to be heading in the opposite direction.
What christianity is not, that it has become.
Jesus Christ rejected the ways of power and influence - yet the church today focuses on both as a way of establishing their beliefs as the only acceptable beliefs.
Jesus Christ emphasized mercy over judgement - yet the church today is much more known for what it condemns than what it loves.
Jesus Christ was drawn to the outcast, the suffering, the marginalized, and, as a result, those same people were incredibly attracted to him - yet the church today refuses to defend the oppressed, refuses to hear the cries of the outcast, and, in many cases, perpetuates the marginalization of those who are not sufficiently like themselves.
Guyton's book is a call to the church, yet also a call to those who have suffered at the hands of the church. It is a call to return to the example of the one we call Lord, a call to recognize our own lostness and insufficiency - a reminder of the truth that it is only by God's grace that we stand. At the same time, the message of this book serves as a call to hope - that it is possible to return to ways of Christ and once again be a church that honors God above all, and others more than ourselves.
What christianity is not, that it has become.
Jesus Christ rejected the ways of power and influence - yet the church today focuses on both as a way of establishing their beliefs as the only acceptable beliefs.
Jesus Christ emphasized mercy over judgement - yet the church today is much more known for what it condemns than what it loves.
Jesus Christ was drawn to the outcast, the suffering, the marginalized, and, as a result, those same people were incredibly attracted to him - yet the church today refuses to defend the oppressed, refuses to hear the cries of the outcast, and, in many cases, perpetuates the marginalization of those who are not sufficiently like themselves.
Guyton's book is a call to the church, yet also a call to those who have suffered at the hands of the church. It is a call to return to the example of the one we call Lord, a call to recognize our own lostness and insufficiency - a reminder of the truth that it is only by God's grace that we stand. At the same time, the message of this book serves as a call to hope - that it is possible to return to ways of Christ and once again be a church that honors God above all, and others more than ourselves.
January 21, 2018
I picked up this book with a heavy heart because I'd been utterly sickened by the way mainline evangelical variants of Christianity seem more preoccupied with maintaining their comforts and status than really living out the gospel. I was too used to being dismissed as rebellious and overly confrontational as I wrestled with fundamental interpretations of scripture as well as congregations whose idea of living out God's word starts and ends with quoting petty platitudes.
While I've had my reservations about more progressive/post-evangelical traditions, I think Guyton supersedes that and presents himself as an earnest seeker and fellow pilgrim. There's no pretense, no hostility, and much love in the way he invites us all to the table of Christ. With great insight and experience among the broken and oddballs of society, he sifts through the cultural baggage of the many arms of Christian tradition and uncovers its raw essence – a breath of fresh air to all believers alike.
All in all, a great encouragement to those struggling to remain in the church yet still believing in the validity of Jesus' gospel. I encourage all Christians to read this with an open mind and heart, and, despite your frustrations with the church and confusions about faith, allow God's grace to find you wherever you are.
While I've had my reservations about more progressive/post-evangelical traditions, I think Guyton supersedes that and presents himself as an earnest seeker and fellow pilgrim. There's no pretense, no hostility, and much love in the way he invites us all to the table of Christ. With great insight and experience among the broken and oddballs of society, he sifts through the cultural baggage of the many arms of Christian tradition and uncovers its raw essence – a breath of fresh air to all believers alike.
All in all, a great encouragement to those struggling to remain in the church yet still believing in the validity of Jesus' gospel. I encourage all Christians to read this with an open mind and heart, and, despite your frustrations with the church and confusions about faith, allow God's grace to find you wherever you are.
January 11, 2018
Jesus Christ is the heart of God’s Good News for the world. Yet churches and individual are often toxic, driving folks away from God and into despair. Morgan Guyton explores ways in which Christians have missed Jesus’ call. We strive to keep ourselves clean as a path to purity rather than emptying ourselves to let the Spirit cleanse us as the way to purity. We follow Jesus as leaders rather than as servants. These and 10 similar distortions are ways we become toxic. Jesus wants to save the world from folks like us and taught better ways to love and serve God and to love and serve our neighbors. Guyton lifts up 12 such ways with careful Bible study, personal stories, and gentle humor. Warning: this book may be good for your soul and painful for your ego. And that might be just what your world is hoping for.
June 29, 2016
In this book Morgan Guyton identifies many different "toxic" behaviors that are hurting the Church and Christianity today. He then suggests behaviors that can help to change this. Based in scripture, the book was very thorough in making the arguments against the toxic behavior and for the helpful ones.
While I enjoyed the book, there are many aspects of it that were very particular to his evangelical upbringing; something I never really experienced. His biases (which he acknowledges) such as stadium preachers sometimes also came off as bitter instead of constructive. Overall, it was a very good read
While I enjoyed the book, there are many aspects of it that were very particular to his evangelical upbringing; something I never really experienced. His biases (which he acknowledges) such as stadium preachers sometimes also came off as bitter instead of constructive. Overall, it was a very good read
June 3, 2017
As I started to read this book, I was five pages in when I found it on Goodreads and read the reviews there. Many people did not sit well with this book. I was gearing up to toss it in the trash on my tablet when I really started to identify with the ideas Guyton was discussing.
It was a gripping read that opened my eyes to some truths while still allowed for objective perspective in regards of what Guyton believes versus what I believe.
Overall, I believe anyone looking to keep your focus on Jesus and emulate him in life should read it because it will give poetic thought to some of the beliefs that are part of the Christian faith.
It was a gripping read that opened my eyes to some truths while still allowed for objective perspective in regards of what Guyton believes versus what I believe.
Overall, I believe anyone looking to keep your focus on Jesus and emulate him in life should read it because it will give poetic thought to some of the beliefs that are part of the Christian faith.
June 30, 2017
In Jesus' day, the religious leaders had the Scriptures but had created a complex system of rules that both affirmed their self-righteousness and kept the common people from finding God. Jesus had to buck the religious system to open the way for sinners, diseased and marginalized people to encounter God. Has American Christianity fallen into the same pattern today? Am I actually hindering people from finding God?
This book deeply challenged me to follow Jesus in ways my American Christian culture is not. I highly recommend that every Christian read it humbly and reevaluate how we can better engage the world.
This book deeply challenged me to follow Jesus in ways my American Christian culture is not. I highly recommend that every Christian read it humbly and reevaluate how we can better engage the world.
March 10, 2017
Some of that typical evangelical writing style (what? do they go to a special school for that?) in which one begins with a personal story of failure and then makes a leap into some point she wants to make. The ideas were good, but they were really directed more at conservative evangelicals, almost fundamentalists, than at Catholics. There exist Catholics who do the things he takes issue with, but they're certainly less numerous than Protestants. As I said, it was OK.
February 10, 2017
This is a thoughtful, reverent and loving book. If you are as sick of toxic Christianity as I am, and fundamentalists, and wonder where the Christ went in Christianity this might be the book for you. He made many great points, and it brought me great comfort. Beware. If you are used to Fundamentalist doctrine, you may be shocked!
January 29, 2017
I am so thankful for this book. A good exploration of our growing edges as a tradition that we have ignored for too long. But the book also looks at practices we can engage in to be grounded and centered in Christ.
July 8, 2016
Quick read, and very quotable. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for more an authentic Christian faith!
July 15, 2016
Sometimes the theology ignores the historical context. But the inspiration is helpful.
November 2, 2016
Fantastic book by the brilliant and compassionate, Morgan Guyton. Don't miss it!
September 6, 2017
This book changed the way I think. A very good book. A must read.
February 25, 2018
Eye opening
I loved the book...the more I read the more I eye were open. You must read it and grasp its message.
I loved the book...the more I read the more I eye were open. You must read it and grasp its message.
August 16, 2018
Awesome book that questions some of Evangelical Christianities most tightly held beliefs and offers alternatives without being overly critical or full of condemnation.
April 21, 2020
Well written book with many good ideas to ponder
Read
August 25, 2021In How Jesus Saves the World from Us, Morgan Guyton says the (white, American, Evangelical) church has become the oppressor through misinterpretations and misapplications of the Bible, and this is what the world needs to be saved from.
Each chapter discusses a misinterpretation along with the correction that is needed.
The chapters on theology and social justice are the stronger ones, or at least the ones that resonated with me the most.
Each chapter discusses a misinterpretation along with the correction that is needed.
The chapters on theology and social justice are the stronger ones, or at least the ones that resonated with me the most.
August 5, 2025
I picked this book up because the title struck me. Very unique perspective. I was deeply moved by some points, challenged by others, and questioned some. While I didn’t align with everything, I think it’s a great thing to hear others perspectives.
October 19, 2024
Oh my goodness! Read this book!
August 10, 2016
This book is toxic.
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