Death to Deconstruction - by Joshua Porter (Paperback)

About the Book

""Another Christian renounces the church and Christ." "Former Christian music star turns her back on faith." "I kissed Christianity goodbye." Headlines like these are becoming common. It seems like the most popular trend in faith circles lately is to deconstruct, then deconvert. Joshua Porter knows that story from the inside out. He was raised in the tangles of American evangelical Christianity, and the church he knew was conservative, fundamentalist, and politicized. It feared culture, music, art, Dungeons & Dragons, Harry Potter, and anything else that was slightly suspect. This foundation of dread and fear was full of holes he nearly fell through . . . and out of faith altogether. His story put him on the road to deconversion--but that isn't where he ended up. Despite his years of being surrounded by disaffected former Christians and living large in the punk rock lifestyle, Porter now finds his faith closer to the historic Christian tradition than ever. This book is more than Porter's own story. It also invites those who may be in the deconstruction process themselves to consider the perspective of someone who was tempted to leave his faith--yet stayed. And it provides theological insight and pastoral support to those who worry that everyone is bailing out on the church"--

Book Synopsis

Do you get the feeling that the most popular trend in faith circles is to abandon faith altogether? Are you wooed by the voices inviting you to deconstruct Christianity? If you're tempted to leave the faith of your youth, you're part of a growing crowd. But if you're questioning the questions, you're not alone either. Joshua Porter has been there and back again. Now he's sharing the rollercoaster story of deconstruction in his characteristically thoughtful--and unconventional--voice. Buckle in and get ready for a ride that will both take your breath away and restore your heart.
"A heart-wrenchingly honest account from someone who deconstructed and returned to tell the tale. This lived experience ensures that this book is a compassionate guide for those wrestling with their faith--faith that has been warped by the American culture, dented by doubt, and hurt by hypocrisy." --Mark Sayers, author of Reappearing Church and A Non-Anxious Presence
"Deliciously dark, blisteringly honest, and funny . . . Like the best art, this book will provoke, not placate; ruffle your feathers, not soothe them; work you up, not calm you down." --John Mark Comer, New York Times best-selling author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Live No Lies
"One thing we need a lot more of in our current moment is wise, thoughtful, and pastoral voices stepping into the main conversations we are all having. Josh is one of those voices and this book is one of those conversations." --Jefferson Bethke, New York Times best-selling author of To Hell with the Hustle
"Josh writes as an insider, a wrestler with God, church, life, all of it--which makes his voice not just unique but credible. If you're going on a journey through your own deconstruction you need a credible guide . . . [Josh] will lead you to the real Jesus who is more radical, more rebellious, more tolerant and unwavering than popular podcast personalities dare to have you believe. If you want Jesus and not an off-ramp from faith, read this book." --Rick McKinley, author of Faith for This Moment and This Beautiful Mess

Review Quotes

Deliciously dark, blisteringly honest, and funny... Like the best art, this book will provoke, not placate, riffle your feathers, not soothe them, work you up, not calm you down.--John Mark Comer, New York Times bestselling author (11/3/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Josh Porter is a deeply thoughtful, highly intelligent storyteller who's mastered the art of writing from his bones more than his head. He writes as one who lived in the terrain he walks the reader through, navigating the treacherous journey from deconstruction to faithfulness like a trail guide who knows the land. In Death to Deconstruction, he weaves poetic prose, page-turning personal narrative, and deliberate insight into a prophetic call to faithfulness.--Tyler Staton, author of Searching for Enough (11/5/2022 12:00:00 AM)

One thing we need a lot more of in our current moment is wise, thoughtful, and pastoral voices stepping into the main conversations we are all having. Josh is one of those guys and this book is that conversation. I can see myself buying ten of these and giving them to my entire circle of close friends. It's that good.--Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author of To Hell with the Hustle (11/3/2022 12:00:00 AM)

There is much being written on deconstruction these days but the vast majority is coming from the outside looking in written by observers and spectators rather than those who have lived among the rubble of deconstruction. Josh writes as an insider, a wrestler with God, church, life, all of it--which makes his voice not just unique but credible.
If you're going on a journey through your own deconstruction you need a credible guide. You will identify with Josh's frustrations and be challenged by some narrow paths he recommends but he will lead you to the real Jesus who is more radical, more rebellious, more tolerant and unwavering than popular podcast personalities dare to have you believe. If you want Jesus and not an off-ramp from faith, read this book.--Rick McKinley, author of Faith for This Moment (11/3/2022 12:00:00 AM)

This is not a reactive fundamentalist diatribe against deconstruction. On the contrary, this book deconstructs deconstructionism, offering a blood and guts defence of orthodoxy. Yet, at the same time, it is a heart-wrenchingly honest account from someone who deconstructed and returned to tell the tale. This lived experience ensures that this book is a compassionate guide for those wrestling with their faith and how it has been warped by the American culture, dented by doubt, and hurt by hypocrisy.--Mark Sayers, Senior leader of Red Church, Melbourne, Australia (11/5/2022 12:00:00 AM)