Goodbye Jesus: An Evangelical Preacher’s Journey Beyond Faith

By: Tim Sledge

Narrated by: Tim Sledge

Second edition.

Goodbye Jesus is the step-by-step account of a former minister’s journey into and out of faith - the story of a long pendulum swing from the deep commitment of a devout believer to the firm conviction that no personal God exists and that all religions are man-made.

Tim Sledge was a Southern Baptist preacher and writer for 35 years. His pioneering work in faith-based recovery ministries in the '80s and '90s ultimately guided participants in 20,000 Christian support groups across the US.

The driving force behind Sledge’s ultimate rejection of Christianity was his long-term, up-close observations of church life. “After living and leading in the church for decades, I saw no consistent evidence of an ongoing supernatural presence - and I wanted to see that evidence with all that was in me.”

Part memoir, part exposé, part polemic, Goodbye Jesus is an honest, highly personal, and frequently provocative spiritual autobiography that concludes with an insider’s takedown of religious faith.

This is a relatable and thoughtful listen for those seeking to better understand the evangelical mindset, for Christians who are questioning their faith, for ministers trying to decide whether to stay or go, and for those who have left their faith and are dealing with its loss.

©2018 Tim Sledge (P)2020 Tim Sledge

Great read for ex Evangelicals, HOWEVER!

The author writes a compelling story of how he came to faith in Jesus as defined by Southern Baptists and then lost that faith. His initiation into the SBC was like my own (born into it; my family almost lived at our Southern Baptist Church in Alabama). I had to laugh as his experience subsequent to his baptism mirrored mine in many ways; although I attended a State school. The author continually returns to the theme that *Christians* did not live up to the *changed by Jesus* story that SB Churches teach (say a prayer and it will change your life). That this reaction occurring early in life (when charged by a "know everything but understand nothing" attitude as a young adult) is unsurprising. I too was disgusted by some of what I saw at my college's Baptist Student Union and the activity of some of my *Christian* friends while attending Auburn University. My reaction was to seek a church committed to the ideals of the first century church as I imagined it and as Tim seems to have imagined it. This led me into a right wing fundamental cult (Maranatha Christian Ministries) which twisted scriptures and controlled everyone so that outwardly we were pure and led the ideal Christian life ; but those at the top or near the the top were controlling and power hungry and just plain nasty. They tried to control the actions of membership and professed holiness but were inwardly deadly tombs as scripture says. In fact only by total control over members can a church obtain this level of supposed purity- which of course leads to disaster and cult like behaviors and the evils Christ warned us of.

Having read Tim's book there many points I agree with and that were replicated in my own life. Unlike Tim, although I left the SBC church (first for a Congregational Church and now an Episcopalian) I have not lost my faith. Although I can understand how the loss of faith might happen.

However, one of the main reasons that Tim seems to have lost his faith is because he continually found that Christians were acting like... gasp...people (the ordinary people they are) and did not live up to his ideals of what they should be (granted as taught by most SBC preachers).

So here is my question.

Tim is a seminarian. Tim has read the Bible through according to his account. Did his seminary education include a thorough study of the book of Corinthians.?The book of Corinthians was written to a church founded by Paul and Pastored by Paul for some time. A casual read of Corinthians will show anyone that this church ("loved by Paul" according to 1st Corinthians which is one of the Epistles most scholars agree WAS written by him) had its share (or maybe more than its share) of human problems. These pastoral issues included incest, taking places of honor at church dinners (when all were to be the same), ignoring some people (lowly brother and sisters) disregarding the faith of others who might be weakened by eating meat given to idols, talking over one another at church, etc etc etc. Paul reproves the members of the church of Corinth but he says he *loves them and holds them dear*. So what are pastors to make of this epistle?... well I would say that the message is that humans are going to be well,,, humans with all the bad good and in-betweens. The message of Christ is not for the STRONG but for the weak as Paul states.

The epistle that Paul wrote (also considered authentic) that was especially damning and harsh was to... the Galatians who were using Jewish law requirements to "perfect" congregants. Much like my right wing cult tried to use so called Christian laws to perfect its members. So when reading Tim's compelling and interesting account I kept asking myself "Did Tim ever read Corinthians... did he ever ask himself whether the Southern Baptist had twisted the scripture and if so why?" The SBC (and many evangelical denominations) are repressive and/or hypocritical in my experience.

As a member of a Congregational Church's personnel committee for 10 years I could fill a book with the sordid things I saw and confronted. But I could also fill a book with the kind and selfless acts that caught me completely off guard but that were done by members for no reason but because of their faith, But by then I was more mature and realized that Christ did not come to *condemn the world* but to offer weak sinners hope and comfort. I realized that church members (and elders and pastors) were weak men and women no worse (and probably somewhat better) than I am. Paul of course admits to this when he writes "The very things I hate are the things I find myself doing." Christian faith does not deliver us FROM the human condition but delivers us IN the human condition. I left Evangelical faith long ago for many of the same reasons Tim did. But I did not lose my faith but realized that many SBC teachings were incorrect and twisted and left many of Christ teaching out of their syllabus. Like helping the poor and weak. Liking loving justice and hating injustice.

Tim’s honesty and transparency are admirable.

His life story was compelling and wonderful to listen to. Tim’s honesty and transparency is refreshing because it shows people who have left evangelicalism are not alone.

Loved it. Furthered my thinking on this topic

This book put my thoughts into words. Appreciate the insight it brought to light. A new fan of author’s work!

Loved it.

I've listened to this book several times. Though I am a recovering Catholic I can still relate. I'm an old man now but I had Considered becoming a priest when I was younger. But then I really read the Christian myth book. It took the god right out of me. Great story.

interesting view of a mental transformation

I enjoyed this book a great deal as i am always fascinated in how a person is so entrenched in dogma yet able to break free from the slave chains of religion. I would have liked more of the text to focus on his introspection to change rather than so much of the first half of the book talking about his every minute step under religion. An an atheist, that part of the book was not as interesting so I skipped around to hear about some of his experiences in the world randomly, especially those of how atheists can be nice people and do good things that religious people don't, or how religion doesn't make anything better for religious people. But, I found the steps towards his transformation most fascinating once the church kindred turned their back on him. Welcome to my world where the religious are the most hypocritical people existing on the planet. His eyes were finally opened especially once he stopped going to church and his mind was freed...not that it is any better on the outside, mind you. But he discovered the freedom to think on his own and discover a.great big world of facts and science.out there. I recommend this book for people like me who are interested in these types of transformations or, and even moreso, for.people who need guidance and support for leaving their religion. I know many who need a book like this to guide them out of the darkness and into the light. I really feel for these people as I do for Tim Sledge. I appreciate his honesty and applaud his success outside of the church.

Bloated

Very long winded autobiography of a preacher who lost his faith with no real philosophical insights as to why. Pretty tedious. If you're looking for an intellectual critique and historical study of Christianity, it's not this one.