Invisible Jesus

A Book About Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ

De: Scot McKnight, Tommy Preson Phillips

Narrado por: Mike Lenz

In recent years, we've seen an increase in the number of Christians who are "deconstructing" their faith, critically analyzing Christianity and finding that it falls short. Many end up leaving behind the beliefs and commitments they formerly held. While many have written on how to reverse this trend, Scot McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips believe that rather than dismissing these concerns we need to listen more carefully.

Deconstructors are uncovering serious weaknesses in today's church—a renewed fundamentalism, toxic leadership, and legalistic thinking among them. Utilizing the results of recent studies by Pew, Gallup, and others, McKnight and Phillips take a careful look at what deconstructors are really saying, seeking to better understand why many are shedding elements of the faith and church of their youth but also engaging in a reconstruction process, finding Jesus afresh. They are losing their religion, but not losing Jesus.

Filled with stories of those who have walked the path of deconstruction without losing their faith, Invisible Jesus is a prophetic call to examine ourselves and discern if the faith we practice and the church we belong to is really representative of the Jesus we follow. Each chapter looks at a different topic and offers biblical reflections that call for us to not only better listen, but to change how we live out our faith as followers of Jesus today.

©2024 Scot McKnight (P)2024 Zondervan

Love!

This is inspiring and answered a few questions and inklings I had about the church.

At some points it gets a bit woke for my personal liking, but I understand the point of general message.

Great book!

A healthy posture towards deconstruction.

The authors state that no description of deconstruction is exhaustive, and there will invariably be caveats and exceptions for individuals. This is a necessary disclaimer. The authors do a much better job of describing the motivations of most people who deconstruct Evangelicalism as opposed to the vilification that has come from the loudest conservative voices. But, it falls short of portraying the wide variety and nuance of what faith can look like after deconstructing. However, the posture of heart the authors are after, one marked by curiosity and humility, is the only way to engage with so-called Deconstructers. This book sounds much more Christlike than that of Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett.

Helpful in understanding Christian Nationalism.

It is difficult to understand what is happening right now with Evangelicals and Christian Nationalism.

So needed!

This book is most certainly needed in churches today! Deconstruction has been made into a bogeyman so that it can be ignored. Some folks just don’t want to put in effort to try to see God as he truly is.

Divisive and political

I respect Scott McKnight and his work. I have also read The Blue Parakeet which I leaned a lot from. I was looking forward to listening this book as well. I consider myself someone who has “deconstructed” my faith. I’m not sure I like the labeling but it might help to provide some clarity. The first 30 minutes I was engaged and looking forward to where the book as going. As a “deconstructer” I often feel alone in my faith and I was hoping the book would bring me some peace. It has done the opposite, however. After about 30 minutes, McKnight turns the basic of “deconstruction” political and basically makes says that if you are a Republican and definitely if you are pro Trump that you are the problem for the deconstructers. I have tried to go back a listen a couple more times with and open heart, but I have found the content TOO divisive. I am very disappointed in this book. Jesus transcends politics, this book does not.