Trading a Punishing God for Reconciling Love "In this beautifully accessible spiritual memoir, Jason flips the tables of any faith far too small and narrow to contain the all-expansive love of God. I'm grateful for any witness whose deconstruction doesn't discard (or rob others of) the truly good news of Jesus. Here, Jason shares with us a living person who's guided him forward, not merely an idea to be left behind."
-Bradly Jersak
Author, Out of the Embers: Faith after the Great Deconstruction In Leaving and Finding Jesus, Jason writes about his deconstructing Emmaus Road faith journey. He confronts the myth of separation with the truth that nothing, not life or death, powers or authorities, present or future, not hell, nor our understandings, beliefs, systems, or actions-nothing separates us from the love of God. Based on scripture, recent studies, shared stories, and his experiences as a pastor and relational theologian, Leaving and Finding Jesus encourages folks to trade a transactional view of God for something better, friendship. From hell to hermeneutics, this book deconstructs our often cruel and punishing thoughts about God so we might discover a firm foundation upon which to build our faith; God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Leaving and Finding Jesus is Bold but Kind and will encourage: the millions of Christians exhausted by the 'for or against' paradigm that seems to rule and define the Christian narrative today.those who are moving from a transactional approach to God toward a relational approach defined by other-centered, self-giving love.those who reject the image of God as a violent, retributive Being and embrace God's image as the kind, reconciling Spirit at work within us, and our world, for good.the faithful followers of Jesus who may no longer identify with organized religion but are passionate about the work of reconciliation.
"While joining Jason on this fantastic read, I found myself humming REM's 'That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight, losing my religion.'"
-Dr. Shawn C Harnish Lead Pastor, Dansville Foursquare "You will be challenged. You will be scared. But in daring to leave the retributive Jesus made by men, you will become fully alive and discover that THE Jesus of perfect love is waiting for you."
-Mark Appleyard Co-Founder, Anothen, www.anothen.co