Michael J. Clemens is the author of Why Aren’t Christians More Like Jesus?, published by Keledei Publications in August 2024. Read his biography at the end of the interview.
This interview was recorded in November, 2025.
When did you begin writing, and what inspired you or led you to write?
Having written periodic sermons for years and sometimes adult class lessons, I wanted to come up with a big picture way of clearly discussing God. That’s how I started. But then I soon ran into lots of topics that clouded my view of the Christian religion, so I had to try to come up with some structured way of describing it in my role as an amateur theologian. That didn’t work well.
Two different manuscript drafts did not end up the way I wanted. The logic, structure, and approach of the first one just did not sit right with me. After a few years, I tossed it out and tried to start over, while refocusing on basics, but that still left me up in the air. Finally, after discarding a second, separate draft, I ended up with something close to what emerged as Why Aren’t Christians More Like Jesus? Sometimes, the third time is the charm as it was in my case.
It eventually dawned on me that I wanted to write something readable not by academic scholars or theologians, but by regular people who have had, or might still have an interest in the Jesus of the Bible despite whatever their religious upbringing might be. All the while, I kept on reading various books about church-state issues, what those inside and outside of Christianity thought was wrong, along with various more general books. I kept track of when I finished a particular book in my personal library, and usually made notes in the margins or underlined and highlighted passages that resonated with me, or where I questioned statements.
One major Juneau fixture figured prominently in my literary development: The Amazing Bookstore, run by the literary volunteers from the Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries. This used bookstore which began full-time operation in 1988, receives books taken from library collections and donations from those moving out of our town which has no roads connecting it to the lower 48. Freight is expensive. Organized in a logical format, like a regular library but without collection details, its religion section had ample books for me to review and see whether their former owners had marked them in any way to highlight points worth remembering as I do in mine. Having browsed libraries at Pepperdine, Lipscomb, and Multnomah (now Jessup) Universities, as well as the religion section at Powell’s Bookstore in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, I was experienced with searching for additions to my own library for potential reading. Though I’ve read over two hundred books in my quest, many of the books in my collection remain unread except for segments such as their introduction or chapter summaries. Despite looming shelf-space limitations, I was often hooked by well-known authors or back cover descriptions of their content, or by endorsements from known authors. When I describe in my “Why?” book that I stand on the shoulders of giants, my website reading lists will testify to that. I decided not to footnote each item borrowed from others, but rather used quotation marks.
Before starting to write my book, all my work life I extensively originated and edited narrative. After being referred to a website of Al Maxey, a church of Christ minister whose weekly emails went into depth about a particular theological topic, I began commenting. Part of Al’s approach to readers meant he would publish selected comments whether he agreed with them or not. Thus, I began “speaking” to a wider audience on topics I thought would interest his readers. Al and I began a multi-year email correspondence, even though we did not always agree, we were civil, something I think comes from a common view of Jesus as Lord and Master, not just Savior. My point is that Christ-followers consciously try to become more like Jesus in their daily lives, not just on Sundays at church. Later, I was able to help three authors with their publications.
Edward William Fudge (1944-2017) had major impact on my faith journey over the years for two reasons. First, during my frequent attendance at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures in Malibu, CA, typically in early May each year, Edward would be approachable at meal time for random discussions about whatever topic I had in mind. He would always make time for me. Further, his readable books, included a collection of his email messages in GracEmail which contained lots of useful insights. Second, I was able to assist on a major project when he asked readers for help while working on a complete revision to his landmark book, The Fire That Consumes, a Biblical and historical study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment, 3rd edition, published in 2011. Due to my responses to his on-line tests, he allowed me to help with minor edits as well as compile the Index of Scriptures for this 400-page book which had over 1,200 biblical citations alone. He did other ancient documents himself. My timely help allowed him to meet a critical publication deadline and he credited me by name on page xvi of this widely respected topical resource.
Describe your writing process.
My main editor for this book referred to me as a “seat of the pants” writer, someone who did not have an outline and was not sure where he would end up, so he started somewhere in between and then later tried to connect the dots in some rational manner (my paraphrase). Many writers develop an outline about what they want to say to a particular audience, but I could not manage to do that after it being repeatedly suggested by my first editor that I do just that. So, I still ended up with lots of false starts (hence two manuscripts later tossed) One Christian college professor cautioned me about my scope and counseled me to narrow down my subject; for whatever reason, I was unable to downsize. I wanted to cover the big picture of Christianity and so I did.
Much writing is largely rewriting something already written and my two sons provided practice in offering editorial suggestions to writing other than my own. The theologian son (with three degrees in that area) often had papers, and eventually a thesis that I’d review in detail and proof for typos in subject matter sometimes over my head. The lawyer son’s law review articles gave me more opportunities to read very carefully and suggest potential improvements in typically tightly written argumentation. Over the years, each gave me credit at times, but the main value I obtained was in suggesting improvements that mattered to those who authored the narrative I reviewed. Later having to rewrite my own words benefited from that practice.
However, I still had to struggle with the problem that one of my master’s degree professors described as my “disjointed” writing style. Two English teacher friends found my samples submitted to them for review to be unworkable; they refused editorial contact. I struggled for flow and continuity between thoughts so that I wouldn’t just put onto paper words masquerading as sentences and sentences pretending to be coherent paragraphs.
Because of my relatively random style, I relied upon paid editorial help and had to continually rework chapter drafts that often resembled separate essays rather than a coherent treatment of a big picture problem. What I was trying to say was not always clear. But once the final structure emerged, I was able to fine-tune various chapter treatments and edit them down to workable narrative that seemed to hang together despite their broad scope.
What tools do you use to write, and how? (Computer, paper, apps, etc.)
Having worked for years on computers, and having worn off several keys of past laptops, I’ve been hammering away using standard Microsoft word processing software which meant I had practice using its basic features, but after retirement in 2004, could no longer call upon support staff when I had a problem or question. Backups made sense, but I struggled with version control, since I ended up revising drafts so often. In my work life, I would sometimes need to go back to reuse an earlier draft, so I tended to keep almost everything (and kept way too much).
What books or projects are you currently working on?
Since my “Why?” book was dramatically edited down, I have additional material that I’d like to make available to interested readers. The biggest segment would probably be on chapter 10, The Seduction of Partisan Politics, but for every chapter, I am finalizing rhetorical and discussion questions. Since I kept footnotes out of the text, and only included a few recommended books, my website wacmlj.com has bibliographies and more to show readers the level of research and homework I did before trying to add something of serious value to the broader conversation.
Another aspect of my website would be an offer to discuss what was meant by any sentence in my book. I would not answer questions about broad theology, but instead offer responses only about the back story, the logical premises, and so on, behind what was reduced to a sentence in the book. Another way to determine reader feedback is that Kindle readers can highlight key sentences and I intend to include those so that others might see what caught reader attention.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your books?
That those who claim Jesus as Savior also need to seriously consider him as the Lord and Master of their entire life, not just comply with church rules. What can be termed holy huddles in sacred spaces might give their participants a religious experience or perception, based on what their church orchestrates, but do such things serve God’s purposes if those same people are not changed to become more like Jesus once they leave their god-space gathering spot? Cheerleading has its purpose, but only to help churches serve as launching pads for service to God, not just make church-goers feel like they’ve done their religious duty so they can now go on about their life without paying further attention to what Jesus commanded, taught, and exemplified. As one of my Juneau readers informally commented, Jesus needs to be more than just fire insurance.
Who is your ideal reader?
In one sense, the Beatitudes outline my ideal reader, since “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt 5:6 NIV). The person most likely to benefit from my “Why?” book is someone who hungers for the spiritual fulfillment that only Jesus can provide, or someone who has plateaued in their religious faith and realizes that they may be just treading holy water rather than becoming more like Jesus who said “Follow me.” Religion can sometimes become a series of uninspiring rituals. In contrast to a churchgoer’s religious routines, spiritual growth based upon love for God almost always involves service to others, purpose beyond self, or sacrificial thinking which is increasingly rare in today’s narcissistic world.
For more information, visit wacmlj.com
Married for 55 years, he and his wife have three children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grand-children. Mike grew up in Portland, Oregon, but has lived in Juneau, Alaska, since being stationed there after graduation from Officer Candidate School in early 1970. Converted from unbelief a few months later, he served the Juneau Church of Christ faithfully in various capacities including the local eldership from October, 1999 until February, 2002 when he resigned. In early 2024, he began reconnecting with that same congregation.
