Permission Granted: And Other Thoughts on Living Graciously Among Sinners and Saints
Would Jesus stand on a street corner waving a sign that condemned a particular kind of sinner?Would he deliver diatribes on TV news shows against them?Would he support religious leaders who use their positions to marginalize the less-than-holy?When she got the feeling that authentic love for those identified by the church as "Special Sinners" looked diametrically different than Christians in the media spotlight made it appear, Margot Starbuck went looking for the truth. Scouring the Gospels for the Jesus who felt as uncomfortable as she did around disreputable sinners, Margot was surprised to find no record of him there. Instead, she found the kind of grace that would actually be received by those in bars, in strip clubs, and at drag queen bingo.Permission Grantedis her passionate and liberating call to all of us to truly love others as Jesus does. With wit and clarity of insight, Starbuck shows that there are no "Special Sinners" who are worse or more deserving of contempt and judgment than others, and challenges us to a radical acceptance of the ones God loves and receives.Study guide available at MargotStarbuck.com."This is a love story. Margot dares you, provokes you, woos you to imagine the limitless power of grace. On every page you hear the whisper of God's love, and you are invited to become that whisper to the world."--Shane Claiborne, activist, author, www.thesimpleway.org"With humor, honesty, and grace, Margot identifies a central problem within evangelical Christianity and offers an invitation to the way of Jesus, the way of truth and grace."--Amy Julia Becker, author ofA Good and Perfect Gift"I genuinely lovePermission Granted. I love it not just for its message of authentically reclaiming how Jesus would love and engage today's world, but more so because I know Margot lives out exactly what she writes. Let it compel you, as it did me, to love in the tension that exists all around us."--Andrew Marin, award-winning author ofLove Is an Orientation"In her bookPermission GrantedMargot Starbuck writes about the 'Rare Religious'--Christians who love sinners well. Since Jesus was called a 'friend of sinners' and we claim to follow him, loving sinners shouldn't be rare. Unfortunately, it is. And that's why this book is a necessary challenge that we Christ-followers need."--Vince Antonucci, pastor of Verve Church, Las Vegas; author ofRenegade"Living out the Great Commandment requires embracing a counter-cultural lifestyle. With this book, Margot Starbuck offers specific directives and a host of wonderful stories to back up her message that Christlike loving is not only at the heart of this lifestyle but is the basis of meaningful living."--Tony Campolo, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Eastern UniversityMargot Starbuckis the confessions editor forGeez Magazine'sSinner's Corner and blogs atRed Letter Christians,Her.meneutics,Gifted for Leadership, andFullFill. She also writes forRelevant,Neue,MomSense,Mutuality, andPrism, as well as other print and online publications. She lives in North Carolina.