The Deconstruction of Christianity - by Alisa Childers & Tim Barnett (Paperback)

The Deconstruction of Christianity is the result of careful examination of the seemingly current movement plaguing the church, that is, people abandoning core biblical doctrine, ignoring the Bible as the objective authority of scripture and choosing personal autonomy. Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett make the decisive argument that Deconstruction is not something new, but guised under a fancy new term for an issue that has been seen by the Church since it's foundation. They provide various examples of what Deconstruction really means, as it can be misconstrued for the methodical, thoughtful and honest questioning of the scripture which all Christians should and can rightfully do instead of resorting to "blind belief". The book showcases the authors' humor and personality while providing various examples to communicate their message. The authors tackle Deconstruction by employing principles of Christian Apologetics and this is refreshing as it provides clear and logical reasoning with an emphasis on defining "truth" in our Post-Modern culture where relativism runs rampant among the "Deconstructors". The book ends with practical wisdom on how to listen to those who are going through deconstruction and minister at the opportune time. This is a must read for those who want to educate themselves on what the Deconstruction Movement is all about, how to watch for signs of Deconstruction and also how to gently and lovingly communicate with loved ones on this topic.

Review Such an amazing book! I would recommend this to anyone. I would specifically encourage those who want more information on the deconstruction movement to pick up a copy. I have had a hard time explaining what exactly the deconstruction movement is. After reading this book, I may not be able to put it as succinctly and as Alisa and Tim, but I can now explain it in common terms.

This book gave so many wonderful insights to what deconstruction really means. It opened up the opportunity to have some clear information for someone I know that would be trying to deconstruct and separate from the church. Worth the purchase to have at home.

This book was just the tool I have been looking for ! For the past 10 years I have seen so many friends and family grow further from Christ and His church. Ive spent so much time trying to figure out how and why so many people can so easily reject Gods truth. This book has answered so many of my questions and will be a great resource to help anyone navigate the deconstruction movement. I recommend this to all Christians because whether you realize it or not… someone you know will be deconstructing their faith.

Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett have done an incredible job with this book by explaining what deconstruction is. They take great care to be fair and truthful at the same time. If you have a loved one who is going through deconstruction this book will help you to understand what it is, why someone would go down that road, and how you can love them and help them to come to histoirc Chrsitanity. Definitely an excellent resource for Christians today.

This book is very helpful in understanding what deconstruction is and how to respond to it. If you have friends or family that are deconstructing, get this book to help you navigate how to respond to the loved ones in your life.

If you are seeking a book that gives an honest and thorough definition and description of deconstruction. If you are seeking a thorough, honest, and well thought out book that goes to the very heart of the matter, the core of the deconstruction movement. If you are seeking a book that can help you, in a loving and Christ-like way, speak to those who are considering, or currently moving through, deconstruction. I cannot think of a better one, other than the Bible, to recommend. This book is a much needed and God-given resource. Tim and Alisa have done an amazing job.

Great discussion of deconstruction as problematic. Promotes Reformation as seeking to continually uncover Biblical Christianity through the truth of scripture, versus deconstruction which seeks primarily to tear down anything deemed by one's self as problematic or "toxic."

This is a much-needed book - I only wish we had it sooner. It breaks my heart to witness what so many are experiencing and the false teachings that lead them astray. We are seeing the fruit of this movement more and more. No doubt most know someone who has deconstructed, is in process of it, or headed toward it. I personally know many. “Parents, grandparents, pastors, spouses, and friends are faced with the tricky task of how to navigate the complex and sometimes model phenomenon that is sweeping up their loved ones." Alisa Childers & Tim Barnett address this in the book, The Deconstruction of Christianity.: What it is, Why It's Destructive, and How to Respond. Alisa and Tim do a wonderful and thorough job explaining what deconstruction is, and what it is not. They use captivating real-life examples many may be familiar with throughout the book, and address the issues related with deconstruction. This isn’t a book that bashes those who hold different beliefs, but a look at what is behind the movement. The authors read the audio themselves, so the motivation for the book is easily heard. I first listened to the audio and greatly appreciated hearing the manner in which they approached this -- such graciousness and truth. Their genuine care and concern for those in deconstruction. Words matter. And in our day when vocabulary seems to be changing at lightening pace, they show wisdom in addressing the two ways people define deconstruction. They lay out reasons people give for the process and explore some of the philosophies that drive deconstruction and how it manifests itself. This part was interesting to me and makes it more understandable. Many I personally know believe and even state that they're moving toward God and revival when they deconstruct. But as the authors state, “In deconstruction each person defines the Christian faith for themselves. Faith is completely subjective. It’s self-oriented, not truth oriented.” But they don't leave us with just the facts of what it is and what drives it. It’s a practical book. Alisa and Tim answer some of the questions many of us have and share solid advice on how to minister to those heading toward, already in, or coming out of, deconstruction. As Alisa and Tim point out, “Deconstruction is nothing new. People have been abandoning the standard of God's word and engaging in a process of rethinking long- and often abandoning long- their faith since the beginning. That's why the biblical record contains so many warnings about leaving or redefining the faith…It's not a revival. It's a rerun.” “There's a way seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) The book is broken into 3 Parts: Part 1: #Exvangelical Part 2: #Deconstruction Part 3: #Hope Bottom line: A great resource for all, and a must have for those in ministry.

With Alisa and Tim’s expertise coupled with biblical truth, this book offers insight into the trend of deconstruction. True to Red Pen Logic and Alisa’s willingness to seek truth above all, deconstruction is broken down and held up to the light of truth of the Gospel. Excellent read for anyone who is considering deconstruction, knows someone who has or is deconstructing and/or has simply heard the buzz word “deconstruction.”

I wish I had this book in my hand a few years ago when I first heard about deconstruction. For many years, there have been debates about how to define deconstruction and what it entails. In this book, Alisa and Tim make an honest (and I think successful) effort to clarify terms and instruct the Church on interacting with this pervasive movement. The target audience for this book is, by and large, Christians who have questions about deconstruction or are walking alongside a loved one who is going through it. The language is approachable and compassionate. While I felt some of the illustrations used were unnecessary to get the point across, they don't detract from the message. I heartily recommend this book as a helpful tool for all believers.

Alisa and Tim do a wonderful job of not only thoroughly defining what deconstruction and and what it is not, but also providing resources to help loved ones who are going through deconstruction. They wisely advise believers to seek out answers to the tough questions about God and reform what they have been taught but to do so with the Bible as the ultimate authority. As stated in the book, "faith deconstruction leads to picking and choosing the parts of the Christian faith with which they personally agree." In a culture focused on relativity, this is a dangerous method of "identifying truth" as what we "feel" does not always align with the truth of God. I highly encourage everyone to read this book in order to better understand deconstruction, how to reform your beliefs biblically, and how to support those in your family and/or community who are in deconstruction.

This book is a great resource to help the reader understand the whole deconstruction explosion, as the book explains it. It also helps you understand what deconstruction is not, and understand the whole issue more in light of God and His Word.

Another wonderfully written book! In a time where there are so many questions and finding a solid resource is hard, I can always count on these two to steer me back to the gospel.

I found this book to be incredibly helpful! I see my children & their friends walking down this path of “deconstruction” and felt ill prepared on how to think & respond to it. I am so pleased that book answered my questions & gave me a path forward.

Talking about deconstruction is kind of like trying to nail Jell-o to the wall. Everyone has their own ideas about what the word deconstruction means or what the process of deconstruction is. Alisa and Tim have done a masterful job in this book of giving us some solid definitions and terms so we can have good constructive conversations about this topic between ourselves AND with those who would classify themselves as being in deconstruction. Additionally, the analogies and anecdotes both authors use to help us grasp ahold of the ideas surrounding deconstruction were so helpful. The painting restoration analogy in Chapter 7 was so helpful to me. I've been around deconstruction a long time. People close to me have deconstructed. But this book helped me understand that process and how to think about the process. It helped contrast reformation with deconstruction and what the healthy process of examining our faith should look like, even after church hurt or massive trauma. Lastly, I love the way the authors demonstrated real love for people going through deconstruction and gave specific ways to love them and pray for them. The audiobook is also read by both authors which is super fun. They have such a genuine tone and heart for people. This might not be a great book for someone in deconstruction unless they really want to seek truth and understand where they might be going off track listening to some of the louder voices in the movement and miss some objective truths that we all should seek to stand upon. Really solid entry level resource to this slippery topic. It will be a useful resource for many years to come.

In "The Deconstruction of Christianity," Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers present a helpful and thorough explanation of the concept of deconstruction within the context of Christianity. With clarity, compassion, and intellectual depth, the authors offer a thoughtful and honest approach toward the deconstruction movement that will resonate with readers seeking to navigate the movement as it impacts our churches, friends, and family members. Overall, "The Deconstruction of Christianity" is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to know what deconstruction is (and isn’t) and how Christians should (and shouldn’t) respond. The book can even be a helpful resource to those who are grappling with doubts and questions about their own faith. The authors' thoughtful and gracious approach, combined with a compelling writing style, makes this book a must-read for those seeking to think biblically about the movement of deconstruction within Christianity.

Maybe you have a loved one who has walked away from the Church, maybe you've seen headlines over the last few years about prominent Christian leaders denouncing the Bible, maybe you have some questions yourself. If so, I'd highly recommend checking out this book. Alisa and Tim do a great job of helping to explain what it is that's happening in our culture and the church, as well as providing some tips about how we can walk alongside those in our lives who are questioning their faith.

In The Deconstruction of Christianity, authors Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett take a critical look at the phenomenon of deconstruction and how it affects one's faith. What is deconstruction? Who does it appeal to? How does it affect or disrupt the lives of those who walk through it? And how can we help our loved ones who are challenged by this dismantling of the Christian faith? Childer and Barnett systematically walk the reader through the worldview behind deconstruction, giving it both historical and biblical context, as well as arguing its logical fallacies. Deconstruction ultimately argues for individuals to come to their own truth. The Deconstruction of Christianity shows how this is both contradictory and harmful both to those in and out of the church. I really appreciated how these authors gracious laid out a logical examination of the issue. This book is clearly written from a heart longing to guide and love a lost generation, rather than condemn those who are searching. The Deconstruction of Christianity has not only helped me understand people better, but it's also helped me feel confident that I can discuss deconstruction in a loving and objective manner. This book is best read by those who's loved ones are going through deconstruction or wanting to better understand the issue, not necessarily those currently deconstructing. And it's a slow deep read. I read this one twice before reviewing it as the issues are deep and complex. My copy is full of highlights and notes. This is a resource that I can see myself returning to again and again. *Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions are my own.