One of the most radical and controversial aspects of Jesus’ life and ministry was how he constantly crossed social, political, religious and moral boundaries to embrace the “tax collectors and sinners” of his day. And yet, modern Christians struggle with how to follow that example. What is getting in our way? And what dangers must be negotiated if we are to follow Jesus’ radical openness to others?

Dr. Richard Beck is Professor and Chair of Psychology at Abilene Christian University and is the author of Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality and The Authenticity of Faith: The Varieties and Illusions of Religious Experience. As an experimental psychologist Richard has also published extensively in the empirical literature examining the intersection of Christianity and psychology. Richard also writes regularly about the interface of theology and psychology at his popular and award-winning blog Experimental Theology. Richard is married to Jana, who is a high-school theater teacher; they have two sons—Brenden and Aidan.