If Grace Is So Amazing, Why Dont We Like It?

"Donald McCullough understands that God′s generosity gets up our nose and that, if we are honest, we find the teachings of Jesus offensive. It′s an old spiritual maxim that the most privileged access to grace is through our greatest weakness. Who needs it? The author looks the issue in the eye with clarity and humor, showing us that our freedom and joy depend on a truth–telling that exposes not only our weakness and fragility but also the breathtaking grace of God, which rescues us from despair and makes us radiant with God′s delight." — Alan Jones , dean, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and author, Reimagining Christianity Grace Will Turn Your World Upside Down—If You Let It "Donald McCullough′s wonderful book offers a fresh perspective on grace as God′s wild pursuit of our lives. This is not a book to comfort you. It′s a book to help you become fully alive." — M. Craig Barnes , Robert Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary "I have always thought that most of our adult Christian life is spent relearning who God is. It′s like we are looking in one direction and Don′s words call loudly to us, ′No, over here!′ And as we snap our head to look, we see a God who makes our jaw drop, our eyes well, and floods us with joy." — Nancy Ortberg , church consultant and former teaching pastor, Willow Creek Community Church

Acknowledgments ix PART 1: Upside Down 1 1 How Sweet the Sound? 3 2 Hanging on a Hair 12 PART 2: Upside–Down God 21 3 Surprising, Not Predictable 23 4 For Us, Not Against Us 29 5 Near, Not Distant 39 6 Revealed in Weakness, Not in Strength 49 7 Rule Breaker, Not Rule Maker 59 8 Passionate, Not Unmoved 68 9 Therefore Risk Trust 76 PART 3: Upside–Down Self 89 10 Set Free, Not Condemned 91 11 Life, Not Death 101 12 Death, Not Life 110 13 Truth, Not Evasion 117 14 Delight, Not Manipulation 124 15 Giving, Not Getting 133 16 Therefore Be Human 141 PART 4: Upside–Down World 149 17 Love, Not Self–Centeredness 151 18 Affirmation, Not Condemnation 160 19 Forgiving, Not Keeping Score 171 20 Serving, Not Using 181 21 Creating Community, Not Competing 189 22 Peace, Not Violence 197 23 Stewardship, Not Ownership 206 24 Hope, Not Despair 215 25 Therefore Bear Witness 228 Notes 235 The Author 245

Donald McCullough is president of Salt Lake Theological Seminary and a former president and professor of theology and preaching at San Francisco Theological Seminary. The author of seven books, his writing has appeared in Christianity Today , Christian Century , and many other magazines and journals.