Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus »

For over twenty years, Robin Meyers has been pastor of Mayflower Congregational, an "unapologetically Christian, unapologetically liberal" church. He is a professor in the philosophy department at Oklahoma City University, a syndicated columnist, and an award-winning commentator for National Public Radio. Meyers has appeared on Dateline NBC, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and ABC World News, and writes regularly for The Christian Century.

From One of America's Leading Pastors, a Bold Call to Restore Christianity's True Mission: Following Jesus

The marriage of bad theology and hypocritical behavior by the church has eroded our spiritual lives. Taking the best of biblical scholarship, Meyers recasts core Christian concepts in an effort to save Christianity from its obsession with personal salvation. Not a plea to try something brand new, but rather the recovery of something very old, Saving Jesus from the Church shows us what it means to follow Jesus's teachings today.

Oklahoma City Oklahoman

“A perceptive book . . . Not many authors can present such progressive ideas and still come across as reasonable and loving. Meyers masters such a task.”

Prologue: A Preacher's Nightmare: Am I a Christian? 1

1 Jesus the Teacher, Not the Savior 13

2 Faith as Being, Not Belief 35

3 The Cross as Futility, Not Forgiveness 55

4 Easter as Presence, Not Proof 75

5 Original Blessing, Not Original Sin 97

6 Christianity as Compassion, Not Condemnation 117

7 Discipleship as Obedience, Not Observance 141

8 Justice as Covenant, Not Control 163

9 Prosperity as Dangerous, Not Divine 183

10 Religion as Relationship, Not Righteousness 203

Epilogue: A Preacher's Dream: Faith as Following Jesus 223

Acknowledgments 233

Notes 235