Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Before You Lose Your Mind: A Response To The Gospel Coalition

Before You Lose Your Mind: A Response To The Gospel Coalition

Last updated on: April 30, 2021 at 8:56 pm by Keith Giles

Before You Lose Your Mind: A Response To The Gospel Coalition 2021-04-30T20:56:40+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Image: Quoir

Recently, our friends at The Gospel Coalition released a book by various authors called “Before You Lose Your Faith” which was intended to provide guidance for those going through Deconstruction and/or to educate those who just don’t know what it’s all about.

Sadly, The Gospel Coalition doesn’t really understand what Deconstruction is all about, either.

So, their book includes tone-deaf statements like these:

“Whatever your struggle, it gets better with more—not less—Christianity. It might be tempting to leave the church in order to find the answers. But we want you to reconsider the church as the best place to deal with your doubts and deconstruction.” – Ivan Mesa [from the Introduction to the book]

“Perhaps you’re in a season of questioning, or have even arrived at a moment when “deconstruction” best describes your current state. I’d like to be upfront about three things in response. First, whenever I address those who describe their faith journey in this way, I remain committed to doing my best to persuade them of the truth and beauty of Christianity, because I hold on to the hope that a reconstructed faith on the other side of this journey of doubt can be stronger and more vibrant than anything they’ve experienced so far. Second, a reconstructed faith will require recovering Christian orthodoxy, not departing from it. Let me put it this way: recovering your faith will include recovering the faith, not altering Christian words like “love” and “grace” and “mercy” by filling them with meanings derived from contemporary culture. Third, no matter how long friends remain in a state of disbelief in the gospel and disobedience to the Lord, I remain devoted to them and their wellbeing—and that’s why I pray they’d be haunted by the Jesus of the Gospels until they are mesmerized by his power and love, taken with his beauty, and yearn to once again belong to his people.” – Trevin Wax [From Chapter 1]

All through their book the various contributors expose their ignorance on this topic by suggesting that people decide to Deconstruct, people should not leave their Church just because they have questions, and that once Deconstruction is over, people should return to exactly the same place they started out from.

None of these things make any sense for any person who has actually Deconstructed their faith.

First of all, Deconstruction isn’t something anyone just decides to do. As if it’s on your “To Do” list somewhere between picking up the dry cleaning and walking your dog. Instead, those who actually understand this process already know that Deconstruction happens to you somewhere along the way. Before you know it, you’ve asked one too many questions, read one too many books or watched one too many YouTube videos that totally dismantle your previously held suppositions about the Christian faith.

Once you see it, you cannot “un-see” it. Once you know something, you cannot “un-know” it.

Secondly, people who leave their Church due to Deconstruction do not do so because they think it will be safer or easier to do so. Instead, they leave their Church because they either A) were asked to leave by their Pastor because they just wouldn’t stop asking questions, or B) they are made to feel so unwelcome by their Church that to stay would require more strength and energy than they have left.

The Gospel Coalition book suggests that “church should be the best place to deal with doubts.” And, while I agree with that statement – it SHOULD BE the best place to deal with doubts – the sad reality is simply this: Churches are NOT safe places to deal with your doubts.

This is why people are leaving. This is the only reason they are leaving.

The other huge mistake the Gospel Coalition makes in their misguided book is pretty huge. They suggest that, after one has Deconstructed their faith, they MUST return to EXACTLY the same place as they were before they began.

This is not only ludicrous and impossible, it’s frankly insulting to anyone who is currently going through the Deconstruction process.

To Deconstruct is to question your faith. No one who questions their faith will remain exactly where they started from. If they do, they’re not done asking questions.

And I can’t help but feel that, ultimately, this is what the Gospel Coalition really would prefer everyone do. Stop questioning. Stay where you are. Maintain the status quo.

In other words, “It isn’t broken. Let’s not try to fix it.”

But, for everyone who finds themselves Deconstructing the very obvious truth is that it IS broken and it really, really does need fixing.

When I first heard about this book and read the first 50 pages of it, I knew I wanted to – needed to – respond. After speaking to several author friends of mine, we all agreed to collaborate together to publish a response to their book with one of our own…one written by authors who have actually Deconstructed their faith and who understand why it happens, how painful it is, and what people going through it really need.

So, I am very, very proud to announce the publication of “Before You Lose Your Mind: Deconstructing Bad Theology In The Church” today on Amazon.

First of all, the Kindle edition is 99 cents. That is not a sale price. That is the price. Forever.

The print edition is $9.99 and it clocks in at 246 pages.

The book features incredible chapters from some of the most inspiring authors I know. People who live and breathe Deconstruction and Reconstruction.

Our contributors are:

Brandon Andress
Michelle Collins
Derrick Day
Brandon Dragan
Matthew J. Distefano
Jason Elam
Maria Francesca French
Mark Karris
Matthew J. Korpman
Josh Roggie
Rev. Dr. Katy Valentine
Skeeter Wilson

A few of these authors recently joined me for a live Zoom webinar to talk about this project. You can watch this here:

The book covers a wide range of topics that those who are Deconstructing their faith will find extremely healing and helpful. We discuss the psychology of Deconstruction, the emotional grief and loss of questioning your faith, how to read Scripture thru the lens of Christ, why asking questions is what faith is all about, what sexual identity has to do with everything, and so much more.

I cannot wait for people to read this book.

I hope you’ll help me spread the word about it.

I also need to quickly shout-out my publisher, Quoir Publishing, for taking on this project so eagerly and for being willing to waive their fees to make it as absolutely affordable and inexpensive as possible.

Deconstruction isn’t going away. The future is being shaped right now. Those who ask the hard questions today are the ones who will help create the Christianity of tomorrow.

And I dare anyone to say otherwise.

If you’re looking for someone to walk with you through this process, please meet me at Square 1.

Deconstructing your faith isn’t easy. Don’t go through it alone.

Starting May 10, we’ll launch our next round of Square 1 – a 90-day online course and online community designed to help you navigate the Deconstruction process and move on to Reconstruction without Self-Destruction.

For a limited time, you can register for a whopping 75% off at this link HERE>

Keith Giles and his wife, Wendy, work with Peace Catalyst International to help build relationships between Christians and Muslims in El Paso, TX. Keith was formerly a licensed and ordained minister who walked away from organized church over a decade ago to start a home fellowship that gave away 100% of the offering to the poor in the community. Today he is the author of the best-selling “Jesus Un” series of books, including “Jesus Unforsaken: Substituting Divine Wrath With Unrelenting Love” which is available now on Amazon.

Deconstruction

Reconstruction

Previous Post

April 26, 2021

Why Jesus Doesn't Fix It

Next Post

May 6, 2021 Why American Christians Need An Acts 10:28 Moment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to Romans, how does faith come?

Select your answer to see how you score.

From the Holy Spirit By hearing the word By reading Scripture Through prayer

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »