Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Mercy Not Sacrifice

My book: I need your help

Last updated on: July 17, 2014 at 2:28 pm   by Morgan Guyton

My book: I need your help 2014-07-17T14:28:11-05:00 Morgan Guyton

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s time to start writing my first book. As many of you know, I had a very powerful spiritual encounter four years ago that permanently stamped Matthew 9:13 on my soul, where Jesus says to the Pharisees, “Go and find out what this means: ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice.'” I have become increasingly convinced that Matthew 9:13 is what Jesus would say to the American evangelical church today. We are in need of some major corrections in our theology which has gotten muddled through its oversimplification and popularization. Two springs ago, I took a retreat at Camp Highroad and came up with a series of “This not that” statements, starting with “mercy not sacrifice,” thinking that they would comprise the chapters of my first theology book. They have evolved and marinated since then. Now I have twenty. I have paired each “This not that” with a question. I’m not sure if the question is phrased right or if the pairings are right. I’m not sure what order to put them in. Some may be redundant and unnecessary, or I might not be covering a topic that is critically important. That’s why I need you to help me. Because I honestly believe that God is going to speak through you. So please look at my twenty prospective chapters below and give me your feedback on the pairings and questions I have create. Also if you have thoughts on other Christian writers I should read and utilize for any chapters, please share those.

Mercy not sacrifice How do we love our neighbor? Worship not performance How do we love God? Trust not opinion What makes us righteous? Kingdom not stadium What are we building? Servanthood not leadership Who is in charge? Deliverance not punishment Why did Jesus die? Mystery not certitude What can we know? Emancipation not conquest Why do we share the gospel? Gift not reward What is God’s grace? Journey not decision How does salvation transpire? Weakness not power How does Jesus reign? Restoration not escape What is God’s goal for creation? Awe not fright How do we fear God? Cross not sword How does God conquer? Instigator not dominitrax How does God intervene? Communion not correctness What is God’s goal for humanity? Samaritan not Pharisee Who are the best disciples? Beauty not fascism What is God’s glory? Inversion not privilege Who does God pick? Empathy not sanctimony Why does God judge?

Theology

Previous Post



November 2, 2012

Re-Membering the Dismembered Body of Christ

Next Post



November 2, 2012 This is my Father's world (a rap for Emily)


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Beauty Will Save the World Bible Big Picture: Ephesians Bloggers Book Christian salvation and the Beautitudes Culture Daily Office Danceable Homiletics Deadly Sins Deep Roots: Genesis Devotions Dominican Republic May 2011 El Principio Misericordia (The Mercy Principle) Five verses God tattooed on my heart Fundraising FutureGospel Good Biblical Words Henri Nouwen Interview Jennings' Christian Imagination Jesus inside the beltway Jesus Is My Candidate Jesus vs the Pharisees Jesus vs. Plato Journey to Eternity Looking Back on 2012 Love Actually Monday Merton Monday Merton Music Occupy the manger On Earth As It Is In Heaven Original Sin Podcast Poetry Politics Prayer Psalm 119 Radical Jesus 101 Reviews Sermon on the Mount Sermons Spanish Bible study Special Series Spiritual but not religious Synchroblog Theology Things that made me think Thomas a Kempis Ugliness Into Beauty Uncategorized Viaje Dominicano 2013 Walking in the Valley (Lent) Welcome: It's More than a Mat Wild Goose 2013 Wrestling

Select a Month March 2022 January 2022 December 2021 September 2021 April 2021 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does 1 John say God is, and in Him is no darkness at all?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Light Truth Spirit Love

Related posts from Mercy Not Sacrifice

Progressive Christian

When God's A Cop, Every Cop Is God

Mercy Not Sacrifice

Progressive Christian

The Clown (A Poem About God)

Mercy Not Sacrifice

Progressive Christian

"All People Are Holy": The Theology Of Alexandria...

Mercy Not Sacrifice

Progressive Christian

Epimenides And The Plague Of Athens

Mercy Not Sacrifice

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote:...

The Bible offers strong support for the sacred duty to vote. Here...

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

Principles for Understanding the Apostolic Ministry Today

Whenever people discover that my formal ministry title is "apostle," as in...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube