Invisible Jesus

“In their sympathetic and insightful book, Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips helpfully point out that when a sensitive Christian soul realizes that a consumerist, politicized, fundamentalist, scandal-ridden Christianity looks nothing like the enduring beauty of Christ, deconstruction is conversion. Deconstruction doesn’t have to be the end of faith; instead, it can be the beginning of a better faith. Invisible Jesus is a timely gift from a scholar and a pastor who genuinely want to help people find an expression of Christianity centered on Jesus Christ.”

Brian Zahnd

“Invisible Jesus takes a deep dive into what it means for people to wrestle with their faith and come out on the other side. Instead of shaming deconstructors for going through their own “dark night of the soul,” Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips argue that this reevaluation is a natural part of the faith process. This book can serve as a balm for those who are struggling to make sense of religion and for those who are worried by the number of people who seem to be leaving the church behind.”

Ryan Burge

“Scot McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips rightly and deftly point out that those undergoing deconstruction are gifts to the church, not enemies, contrary to what some churches and pastors would have us believe. The problem is not those deconstructing; it is the American church that has collectively become something Jesus would find almost unrecognizable. This book is a call to repentance, a call for the American church to repent and follow Jesus instead of the idols of its own making. It is those deconstructing, among other canaries in the coal mine, who are calling the church to follow Jesus. May we listen closely; our salvation depends on it.”

Dr. Marlena Graves

“Doubt, the dark night of the soul, and deconstruction—Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips are no strangers to these experiences, for they have been through them as well. They point out, however, that despite what is wrong with the churches, church history, or contemporary Christianity, the best thing about it is still Jesus, and it is Jesus who calls us to himself. To whom else can we go? The pursuit of power, the lust for pleasure, and the drowning of our pain in the numbness of our devices don’t work. McKnight and Phillips elegantly remind us that Jesus invites us to take his yoke upon ourselves, for he is good and gentle, and he offers us rest from our travails. REV. DR. MICHAEL F. BIRD (PHD, University of Queensland), deputy principal, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia It is truly difficult to recommend books for people who are walking through the deconstruction journey. Too many, sadly, belittle the experiences of people who are questioning their faith or the church. And too many seek to add fuel to the fire and almost seem to require the abandonment of Christian faithfulness. The message of Invisible Jesus is different. It offers a safe path forward for individuals who seek to love God and do so through the valley of their questions. For it is only in walking through those questions that the true life will be found. A. J. SWOBODA (PHD, University of Birmingham) is associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University and author of The Gift of Thorns Deconstruction has become en vogue among a certain sect of Christians. That being so, other believers have responded to the rise of deconstruction with everything from questions to outright opposition. For some, deconstruction is a lifeline; for others, it is a ligature. Scot McKnight and Tommy Person Phillips give the church handles for seasoning this conversation with hope and a love that is Jesus-centered. If you, or someone you know, are asking questions about the Jesus of the Gospels, or have questions about the people who have questions, this is the book for you.”

Sean Palmer

“I’m going to be a spoiler and give away the ending here: “If we must be disruptive, let’s do it for Christ’s sake.” Disillusionment and deconstruction are disruptive. Are we willing to face what those who are leaving the church are seeing and saying, and then ask with Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips, “What place will Jesus have in the church”? We need disruption. It is a tool the Spirit of God uses to help us face reality and lead us to beautiful repentance—to laying down our own illusions and waiting for resurrection in wonder. Let’s embrace the disruption of the “invisible Jesus” as an invitation to collaborate with Christ in opening the door to the kingdom of heaven.”

Aimee Byrd

“The local church plays an essential role in the lives of Christ followers for healthy growth and for their mission. Invisible Jesus raises some uncomfortable but valuable questions about whether we are contributing to the reasons some leave the church or are helping them stay and flourish in the church. We will read that the answers are not changing any historical core Christian beliefs, but they may lead us to change our thinking about how to live out these truths for the sake of future generations and the church.”

Dan Kimball

“The American church cannot afford to dismiss the issues Scot McKnight and Tommy Phillips address. They provide guidance for the church to become less bound by rules and more Jesus-centered, to listen and learn from those who are deconstructing, and to have a more Jesus-formed, Spirit-shaped faith. This book is a must-read for everyone who wants to knock down walls erected by culture or tradition and recover Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life for themselves and for the church.”

Joyce Koo Dalrymple