Stop Taking Sides

I suspect this provocative book will be received with delight and suspicion in equal measure. But for those who long for Christian relationships that go beyond the combative or tribal, and that are instead marked by grace and truth, there’s a lot here to make you ponder and pray, with hope and joy.

Challenging, stretching and in some places quite uncomfortable. Adam challenges us to grow in humility towards Scripture and other Christians, especially those who understand things differently to us.

One of the more important skills for the 21st century is learning how to hold our theological convictions without giving in to divisive controversy. The body of Christ is so much more than the sum of its divisions, and Adam Mabry has given us wise guidance on how to maintain unity and disagree agreeably when it comes to complex theological topics.

I love how this book models how to think by addressing complicated and pressing questions of theology, discipleship, and cultural engagement with thoughtfulness, openness, and a dedication to biblical truth. You will be challenged as you read, and come away encouraged and chastened. You’ll encounter issues that make you uncomfortable and won’t be let off easy with pat or myopic answers. You’ll be pulled time and again into the path of the Spirit speaking through Scripture. And you will be better for it.

This book is so needed today! Our age has been called the information age, but it could equally be called the outrage age, the anxiety age, the fear age, or the tribalism age. Pastor Mabry has served us well by helping us see the necessity of embracing clarity, argumentation, listening, and mystery, as we seek to avoid these problems and live with a renewed mind and for the good of neighbor, Christian unity, and the advancement of Jesus’ mission.

We all struggle to love our enemies. The true essence of love—to will the good of the other—requires strength of heart and mind. That strength is what Adam Mabry delivers in Stop Taking Sides. If you are ready to live the command to love, this book is the place to start.

Excellent for Christians seeking to be faithful to Scripture who are frustrated by an age marked by truth abandonment and narrow tribalism.

Here is startling insight on the perplexing problem of polarization within Western culture at large and Western Christianity in particular. Adam Mabry is a pastor and a rising public intellectual who has demonstrated the ability to help people find common ground while maintaining faithfulness to the high calling of obedience to Christ. Refreshingly original, this book deserves serious consideration.

Our culture’s continued descent into polarization and sectarianism presents unique challenges for the church—including our complacency about and contribution to this descent! I’m grateful to my fellow Boston pastor Adam Mabry for his biblical reflection and cultural witness as Christians seek to bear witness to the truth of the gospel and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

In an age of extremes, Adam Mabry echoes F. Scott Fitzgerald in telling us that the righteous person ought to be able to hold two apparently opposing ideas in their mind at the same time. He is right, and, thank God, he makes his case masterfully in this essential book.

A book for such a time as this. Stop Taking Sides is incredibly balanced in its ability to remain rooted in the gospel and challenge its readers to manage tension. It is laced with wisdom and insight for now and for future generations. I couldn’t endorse this book more.

Provocative, refreshing, and compelling reading. This book will expose unhelpful and unnecessary divisions, and enable healthy, gospel-empowering unity. A must-read for staff teams, lay leaders, and any thinking Christian.

In the age of social media, it has become easier than ever to share opinions (informed or not) without considering how they may affect others. In light of our mandate to make disciples, it is vital that Christians understand how and when to engage one another (and the world) in truthful and gracious conversation. Adam’s book offers significant wisdom and points us back to what really matters. My suggestion: buy this book, read it, and stop taking sides.

A practical, profound, and wonderful (though sometimes painful) book. Read it and give it to everybody you know. Jesus might change you—and the world. I wish every Christian would read this.

Thought-provoking, insightful, and biblical in describing the divine tension each of us navigates to be the light and influence God has called us to be in our generation. I highly recommend this book as one to put in your library to be read multiple times for maximum benefit!

An important word for followers of Jesus in our divided and polarized times. Stop Taking Sides offers a way forward and brings together qualities not often combined: it’s both theologically robust and easy to read, both penetrating and witty, and both challenging and encouraging.

This book is a must-read for any serious follower of Jesus. It's a breath of fresh air, a cool drink of water in these divided time. Adam does an incredible job of showing how to hold truths in tension in a way that helps us let go of the outrage and experience peace.