I am hesitant to rate this book with my honest thoughts, knowing full well when I requested it I was not in the target audience. I'll start with the positives: this book is well-written and I can tell the authors feel passionately about the subject matter. They know how to communicate directly with their audience. However, it's abundantly clear from the get-go that it never crossed the authors' minds that this book could be read by anyone walking through any kind of deconstruction. The tone is set from the forward on as condescending and it never recovers. Part of my issue with this book stems from the fact that it villianizes people who have already left the faith without any introspection as to why, other than that the problem must lie with them. Examples that their faith isn't strong enough, they put their trust in fallible humans, or that they've planted their seeds in the rocky soil abound. Whether or not some of the concepts Alisa and Tim write about are compelling or not, why would anyone genuinely struggling with their faith listen to them? Overall, what this book accomplishes in my view is simply more of the same: a way to speak past each other in the conversation about de/reconstruction in Christianity while maintaining our own self-righteousness. I want to believe this was not the intent; that the intent was to project authority. But in my view, they missed the mark. It's simply more confirmation bias for everyone: if you were suspicious of deconstruction, you certainly didn't leave with anything new to ponder. If you were walking through deconstruction and you thought more conservative Christians held you in contempt, you left knowing you were right. This book proves its own point: the reason people do not want to belong to a Christian community, the reason they are leaving the faith is not because they don't have enough faith or they put their faith in fallible people who turned out not to be worthy of it. They are leaving (some of them) because this book reflects what they see as commodified Christianity has become: petty, vindictive, small-minded, fearful. I am frustrated by what seems like the purposeful and willful misunderstanding of this book: a way to circle the wagons, draw clear lines about who is in and who is out, and where God can move. I hope anyone who reads this book with questions and doubts knows there is a large community of believers who do not live by standards of certainty or dogmatic surety, but value these places of wonder and curiosity. Anyway, I really did not like this book. I know it's not for me, and that should be said, but it's only going to serve the purpose of further dividing the body.

This book is an excellent resource for the deconstruction of the Christian faith vs historical Christianity. It explains where this comes from and why it appeals to some. This read gives great insight into responding to this new movement with truth, wisdom, and love. I cannot recommend this book enough and I love that I got an advanced readers copy!

This was a hard read.

There is great sadness in watching someone struggle with their faith. And deconstruction, pulling away from what is biblically true, is extremely difficult to see someone go through.

This book is geared toward those who have loved ones deconstructing their faith. It explains what deconstruction is and isn’t and shares the views of those promoting it.

The authors say here:

“For the majority of people from the broader culture in the deconstruction movement, the Bible is seen as a tool of oppression to be rejected, not a standard of truth to be affirmed.”

But this book also encourages the reader to not give up on those who are struggling, to pray, to be patient and to set boundaries. To search the scriptures for the answers to our questions, and to trust God.

If you are interested in knowing more about the movement of deconstruction, you may find this book helpful.

Alisa and Tim did a fantastic job writing cohesively. They made it clear from the beginning who the audience for this book is and by doing so, set the proper expectations for the reader.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about deconstruction or knows anyone currently deconstructing.

Direct but compassionate, I guarantee this book will become one of *the* definitive guides for Christians as they navigate the heartbreaking, complicated process of deconstruction in the 21st century. Filled with Scripture, data, cultural analysis, and personal anecdotes, the authors do a brilliant and thorough job of not only explaining deconstruction but also showing the truth of the Gospel and how it answers every question, doubt, and query that our difficult and painful lives throw at us. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

This book by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett is a good overview of the Deconstruction movement. They distinguish between deconstruction and discernment. This book is approachable to those wanting to learn more about this subject. They give advice on how to respond to those who state they are deconstructing from Christianity.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, in exchange for an honest review.

I highly regard Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett as sound Christian theologians who boldly proclaim a biblical worldview. Praise God! These two teamed up and wrote an incredibly timely and needed book that is both informative and instructive. In The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond, Childers and Barnett equip readers with an understanding of why the deconstruction movement is gaining in popularity in our current cultural moment and provide guidance for responding to loved ones who are circling in the deconstruction vortex.

This book is highly accessible no matter your previous background knowledge on the topic of deconstruction. The authors aptly distinguish the differences between deconstruction (destructive, self-centered, based in personal preference) and discernment (healthy, God-centered, based in the Bible.)

Childers and Barnett spent an incredible amount of time researching and compiling their resources into a concise volume that is a must read for every Christian. I am already adding this to my Best of 2024 reading list as I’m confident that by the end of the year this one will still be on my mind. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Tyndale House for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Very good read. It was informative and I'd definitely recommend it.

*Thanks to netgally and publishers for the ARC*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We often see #exvangelical and #deconstruction going around social media. It is good to see a book written from the Christian perspective about these issues.

The authors do a great job of highlighting what deconstruction is (and is not), the reasons behind it, and how believers can handle it.

A great resource for people who are just starting to learn about deconstruction. Maybe a close friend or family member has announced that they are going through this transition, and you want to understand what happened or what they are doing and what it might mean, this is the book for you.

I'm a follower of Alisa Childers' podcast, so a lot of this information was review for me. Alisa and Tim do an excellent job of describing what deconstruction is, and how it is nothing new, though it definitely seems to be popping up all over social media right now. They approach it with compassion, as well as facts about the Bible and the true character of God, with good tips for how to effectively respond when a loved one makes this decision.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

This is a review of the book: The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett.
I want to express my gratitude for the reading of this book in exchange for an honest review. So Thank you to the publisher Tyndale House and Netgalley.
I received this book by download to my kindle in mid November. It has been a long slow read for me. As a Christian I have not been familiar with the term "Deconstruction of Christianity" or referring to Evangelicals leaving the faith as EXvangelicals.
The authors Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett spend a good portion of the book giving extensive definitions to what Deconstruction of Christianity is and the who's who of well knowns leaving the faith.
Some included in this mass exodus include high Profile Pastors caught in adulterous affairs and involved in financial fraud with disillusioned church leaders and Mega star musicians from Mega churchs following right along behind.
The Deconstruction Movement is another form of "Self" Focus the Me Focus and I can do all things without Christ.
The Questions and Doubting of God is not anything New since the book of Genesis and displays of original sin with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. "Did God really say"?
Social media platforms to encourage Deconstruction seems to be gathering momentum. While many churches are experiencing years of record growth after slumps in church attendance post covid. Churches may not have actual measurable numbers of new church attendance in the front door versus the exodus from Deconstructing members out the back door.
All over Scripture are warnings to watch out for False Prophets and False Teaching. The Church as a whole is preaching a very soft gospel message, The gospel message which speaks of forgiveness of sin and repentance is almost not heard, Instead Pastors are cranking out Sermon Series based on Self Help and Motivational speeches . These sermon teachings are often accompanied by the Pastors's latest self help book accompanied by a workbook all for sale in the church lobby. The Gospel is simply not heard. Sin is not talked about. We all sin and fall short.
You can't earn your way to heaven and BAD theology hurts people. It is possible many of these people have been under the spell of false teaching and not teaching of truth.
Jesus is the Light of the World and Exposes Sin's darkness.
The people who have left the church claim they are happy to be Free to do whatever they want. There again a focus on ME and MYSELF. The question can be made were they actually believers to begin with and what or who are they worshiping now? The authority of Jesus has been in question all througout the Bible and this is another example of Self/God. We all learn this concept at two years old when we say" I want to do it myself".
I am glad I was educated by reading this book., however it is informative but not uplifting.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review this book. It is due to release January of 2024.

The phrase "deconstructing faith" has become popular recently. It refers to individuals who had previously described themselves as evangelical Christians going through a process of changing their beliefs. I had heard this term but was not entirely sure what it meant. This book is targeted mainly to readers, like myself, who are committed to orthodox Christianity but who want to better understand this phenomenon and help those who may be questioning aspects of their faith.

Deconstruction is a result of postmodernism and at odds with traditional Christianity because it puts the "self" at the center instead of the Bible. This book gives a thorough explanation of many of the topics popular among those who have "deconstructed" as well as Biblical explanations of the errors therein. The authors also seek to give the readers ways to thoughtfully interact with people involved in deconstruction. I believe they have succeeded in this book. The book would be very useful for church or paraministry workers, especially those involving youth. It could also be helpful for parents and Sunday school teachers. I recommend this for any thoughtful Christian seeking to understand our current culture better.

I received a complementary copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Book Review: The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is. Why It's Destructive. And How to Respond.
Authors: Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett
Rating: 5 stars!

Mini Synopsis:
In this seminal book, Alisa Childers, author of Another Gospel?, and Tim Barnett, creator of Red Pen Logic, will help you understand what deconstruction is, where it comes from, why it is compelling to some, and how it disorients the lives of so many. You will be able to think through the main issues around faith deconstruction and explore wise and loving ways to respond from a biblical worldview.

I loved this book! It was a smooth, easy, and informative read. I could have read this in one sitting if I did not have other responsibilities.

The authors gave clarity about the deconstruction movement that is puzzling many. They discussed what destruction means, why someone might deconstruct, and how to respond to loved ones deconstructing.

This book is for anyone who wants to learn more about the deconstruction movement that is exploding in our culture.
It is especially for those who have loved ones in this movement or someone experiencing doubt and facing hard questions about their faith.

I highly recommend all Christians read this book. I think it is an important topic to be thinking about and understanding.

What stood out for me in the book:
The authors discussed the importance of the heart motive of someone seeking truth. If someone does not want a relationship with God, no amount of evidence will sway them.

Book Quote: "..the problem is not with God's failure to give evidence; the problem is with our failure to accept it."


Book Quotes:

"Yet the goal for all Christians should be to align our beliefs with the word of God, despite our personal feelings or beliefs on the topic."

"Faith deconstruction is a postmodern process of rethinking your faith without regarding scripture as standard."

"Many people want freedom from obedience. The Bible offers freedom within obedience."

"Saving faith is active trust based on the evidence."

Thank you @tyndalehouse and @netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

The soon to be released book The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett is a timely book. This book will help you to understand what deconstruction is, how it started, why it seems to be growing, and affecting each one of us.

I needed to read it to understand after seeing not only some known pastors (and churches) and musicians fall into this but also a few people I know. It is a sad movement that is taking place all around us, but this book also points to what we can do to help and how to be on guard. It seems to stem a lot from people who get hurt in church or from “Christians.” They start seeking answers but in the wrong places. Instead of turning to God and His Word, they turn to social media, influencers, friends, that point them in the wrong direction. I understand, I know what it is like to be hurt in church and by people. Thankfully, I turned in the right direction.

The authors share real-life stories and examples to help the reader to understand and Scripture and biblical counsel to help people going through it. There are three sections in the book. The first identifies deconstruction in our homes, churches, and social media, along with what it is and what it is not. The second section helps to analyze the why and how it is happening. And the last part, how to love and help those in our lives.

I have many highlights and tabs throughout this book. Here are a few:

We need to be vigilant to resist, oppose, and refute false ideas while remaining loving and compassionate toward the people who are being taken captive by them.
Christians should evaluate the claims of spiritual teachers to determine whether they are speaking from the world or speaking truth from God.
Jesus never says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to deconstruct everything I have commanded you.” Instead, Jesus commissions His followers to make more disciples and to “obey everything I have commanded you”. There is no Great Decommission.
Yet the goal for all Christians should be to align our beliefs with the Word of God, despite our own personal feelings or beliefs on the topic.
Deconstruction isn’t moving toward God; it’s moving away from God. It’s not a revival. It’s a rerun.
As we learn from the Israelites, you can’t determine what God is like by looking at the culture.
Statistics show that biblical literacy is at an all-time low…. About half of American evangelicals believe God learns and adapts to different circumstances and accepts worship from all religions…. Nearly 40% have bought into the idea that religious belief is not a matter of objective truth but merely a matter of personal opinion.
Bad and untruthful ideas are harmful to people, so we should make every effort to speak truth into those lies with hearts filled with compassion and love.
Every doubter eventually comes to a crossroads where they must decide whether to continue to move toward God or to move away from Him.
We’d like to propose a better way to reexamine your faith. Reformations, not deconstruction.

I highly recommend this for all Christians and leaders to read.

"Every Christian should know what they believe and why they believe it. And this means being open to asking hard questions. Leaders who can't be questioned and lack accountability make churches ripe for spiritual abuse."

In this book, the authors, Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett attempt to explore the reasons behind what has been dubbed by many, the deconstruction movement, what a Christian response should be and hope for those questioning their faith and navigating doubt.
They are harsh with those who throw the baby out with the bathwater or refuse to believe in a God not of their own making and are tender and encouraging with those who have been hurt by the church and its leaders' many unrepentant failures and as a result question everything those leaders have told them about Christianity.

The tone seemed a little self righteous at times and some of the arguments and illustrations got a little muddy but I appreciated the overall message of the book and would recommend it for anyone who would like to get more of a glimpse into what deconstruction means vs. questioning, doubting and wrestling with the Christian faith.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Doubting God and His Word dates back to the Garden of Eden and man has not changed much since then. Even those raised in the church, or maybe especially those, are prone to question the things they've been taught. The authors drawn a clear, and important, distinction between asking questions as a way to learn more, which Jesus never condemned, or asking questions as a way to challenge biblical inerrancy and ultimately reject biblical authority. Unfortunately, there are those that are challenging spiritual authority because of the harm churches or church leaders have done to them.

The authors of The Deconstruction of Christianity do an excellent job explaining what Deconstruction is and showing how it manifests itself in modern day deconstructionists. This book is compassionately well written with a sprinkle of humor here and there. It helps those who want to help deconstructionists to understand their mindset and, above all, offer hope, as these people are often hurting. The most important takeaway from this book is that Scripture prevails. No amount of arguments, no matter how appealing or well-reasoned, can trump God's Word. Either we stand firmly on this Rock, or we stand on the shifting sands of culture.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Really appreciate Alisa and Tim's approach to this topic. Deconstruction continues to gain momentum, and Alisa and Tim offer a really solid approach to "deconstructing the views of deconstructionists with both love and sound biblical reason.

I should start by saying: I am not the target audience for this book.

My parents are.

I am a deconstructed/de-converted former evangelical. I was a Christian up until the age of 25, growing up in an Assemblies of God church. I wrote human videos to ZOEgirl songs; I was one of Alisa's young fans in the early 2000s.

I chose to read and review this book for a few reasons. 1) I'm interested in the topic; this is a book I would've picked up, anyway, even though I knew I would likely disagree with the authors on a lot of points. And 2) I wanted to see if the advice was sound, if following it would lead to happy results for people like my friends and family. Because I would very much like to maintain these relationships, and I would hope that the advice they're getting isn't going to push us further apart.

So does this book give decent advice?

Sort of.

I do agree with most of the points in the section that is devoted to what to do when your loved one deconstructs. The authors do say to respect boundaries and give space, they point out that you should make sure you have a close enough relationship with someone before bringing it up, and just be kind and model good behavior (I'm not likely to see the "fruits of the spirit" in you as proof of God, but I absolutely want you to be kind to people).

As far as not affirming the pronouns of a trans family member: I understand how sticky this feels, from a Christian perspective. You don't want to compromise your beliefs to make people happy, and you're trying to teach your children about what you think is right and wrong. I absolutely get it. However, I do think choosing not to affirm someone's new name or pronouns is you choosing not to have a relationship with them. If that's not what you want, my personal suggestion would be: use the name and preferred pronouns with your family member. When you are alone with your kids, you can tell them that you don't personally agree with it, but that we should respect other people even when we disagree. This person does not share your Christian beliefs (even if they remain a progressive Christian, they have different beliefs from your own), so they can choose not to adhere to your personal rules, and you can respect them, as you would an Islamic person kneeling down in a public place to pray to Mecca. Your kids will benefit from this, as well, since they will have to go to school with and work with trans people someday; you should be teaching them to peacefully coexist and not cause conflict where it isn't necessary.

Beyond this advice section, the book breaks down what the authors mean by deconstruction (and I generally agree with them; it's a confusing term that is being used in two different ways. I personally use "deconverted" to describe myself, instead. When I was "deconstructing," I didn't know I was on my way out the faith--I thought I was asking hard questions and getting closer to God. I didn't hear about the word until after I was out).

Then the book tries to describe deconstructionists which gets... a little straw-manny. I have no doubt that the person described exists and says things on the internet, but I do not match that description, and I hope that my loved ones don't think that's who I am. I was not church hurt, nor am I a "slave to sin." I'm quite happy with my life; the biggest thing I've felt since I left the church is relief. My anxiety only stems from concrete issues now, not some unknown and ongoing source.

The writing itself is well-paced and the anecdotes aren't as cringeworthy as some of the apologetics I've read, which is why I've given it three stars. It's not a terrible book, but I do think both authors would benefit from looking more into the perspective of the person their describing.

And that's my final advice to the families of deconstructionists: please listen to your loved one. Get their side of the story. Don't assume their motives, intentions, reasons for leaving. Don't insist that they were motivated by something that they say was not a factor. Even if you think they were, what good does that do, to tell someone their understanding of their own self is wrong? All that does is try to guilt them back into going to church. That guilt is likely a big part of why they left.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you can come to terms with the ahistorical equating of traditional Christianity with American evangelicalism, then this book does what it sets out to do: to define and to "deconstruct" the #exvangelical movement as it is most frequently presented on social media.

The authors spend a lot of page time defining their terms, which is both helpful and limiting. It's helpful because it clearly delineates their perspectives and orients their responses. On the other hand, it's limiting because debating how and whether a term is being used 'correctly' becomes moot very quickly. Any explicitly prescriptive consideration of terms, particularly during the kind of person-to-person conversation that this book intends to help facilitate, is dismissive and likely to end in stalemate.

Although the authors claim that The Deconstruction of Christianity is both for the Christian whose loved one is questioning their faith and for the questioning individuals themselves, it reads as strictly for the former. The repeated notion that questioning the Bible is healthy and acceptable as long as it's done within a biblical framework sits awkwardly.

[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]

I appreciated reading Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett's forthcoming book, "The Deconstruction of Christianity." Although I must admit that the foreword initially put me off, the book itself offered a compassionate and thoughtful approach to understanding the Deconstruction Movement.

One of the notable aspects of the book is how it discusses individuals within the deconstruction movement without resorting to personal criticism. The authors recognize that being harsh or judgmental can further alienate those who are already deconstructing their faith due to negative encounters with Christians in the past. Instead, they focus on exploring the foundational truths within the deconstruction movement, drawing from various figures such as Chris Kratzer, Jo Luehmann, David Gushee, Keith Giles, David Hayward, Angela Herrington, Derek Webb, John Caputo, and others. The central thesis is to highlight how individuals in the Deconstruction Movement tend to prioritize personal experiences over acknowledging Scripture as a source of objective truth and authority.

Childers makes a compelling argument that those who engage in deconstruction are not necessarily seeking a reformation similar to that of Martin Luther. Luther's approach was rooted in aligning his beliefs and actions with the authority of Scripture. Childers raises valid questions about whether deconstructionists are using God's revealed Word to return to the faith once delivered to the saints.

The primary remedy proposed by the authors is to encourage people to adhere to "objective truth." Childers points out that many deconstructionists, despite claiming an appreciation for Jesus, often overlook what Jesus/God conveys through Scripture. Instead, they emphasize personal experiences and preferences more, neglecting the objective truths that Scripture reveals about God and our lives.

Although the book is more compassionate than Childers' previous writings, it may not be as helpful for those currently undergoing the deconstruction process. However, it serves as a valuable resource for informing Christians about the deconstruction movement and gaining insights into why some individuals distance themselves from the church while most likely reinforcing their identities as "Bible Believing Christians."