Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith

by Bruce Reyes-Chow

A better story of faith exists, and it has the capacity to heal the world--if we only embrace, articulate, and live it more courageously. You know what you don't about the Bible, the church, and God. You don't agree with the doctrines of an exclusionary, dominant Christianity. But what if someone asked "What do you believe?" In this primer on progressive, expansive, generous Christianity, writer and pastor Bruce Reyes-Chow helps us reconsider--or consider for the first time--what it means to choose faith. What if we could articulate the gospel of love, kindness, humility, and justice? What if the Christian narrative both embraces contradiction and lays claim to deep, historic truths? And what if everything good about God is actually true? With clarity, vulnerability, and wit, Reyes-Chow helps us learn a grammar of faith about God, Jesus, and the Spirit that breathes fresh meaning into old words like sin , confession , salvation , baptism , communion , and gratitude . He doesn't shy away from calling out the hateful and hurtful dogmas of many churches, but he also turns our attention toward essential What if God created humans to be beautifully complex? What if the Spirit calls us to lament and repent and also beckons us toward pathways of healing, wholeness, and hope? And if Jesus equips us for lives of justice and kindness, how might our imaginations expand for what the world could be? Reyes-Chow offers his own "faith montage" and helps individuals and groups create their own. There is a more loving, more genuine vision of God than the one we see being performed around us, and this book helps us find it.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Faith

198 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is an active speaker and writer on topics of faith, culture, race, and technology. He is the host of the podcast, BRC & Friends, and the author of five books. His latest is, “In Defense of Kindness: Why It Matters, How It Changes Our Lives, and How It Can Save the World” (Chalice Press, 2021), and "Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith" (Broadleaf Books, 2024)

Bruce has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1995 and has pastored five churches and has been active in local politics in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly three decades. He is also a Senior Consultant and Coach with Convergence and is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach.

Bruce has an active online presence and can be found on most social networks via @breyeschow with all current links here: https://linktr.ee/breyeschow.

Reviews

[Abby Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer this is my dads book so I’m biased. Right off the bat I’ll just say the dogs got a whole paragraph in the acknowledgements and we got one sentence??? Uhhh HELLO father???

But on the real it was cool to hear this from the pov of Bruce the Minister rather than Bruce my father. Growing up a pastors kid I most associate my church experience with community and it’s interesting to hear the intentional progressive theological background that my parents put into raising us in that kind of church environment. Not to say it was all perfect but I am very grateful and I feel very lucky to have been taught to understand god in this nuanced way.

ps thanks for the free book dad I will be keeping this copy!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choosing vulnerability in the stories that we tell is one of the most powerful things that an author can do, and in his book “Everything Good About God Is True:Choosing Faith” BRC boldly guides his readers into the vulnerable spaces from his life. From sharing moments of growing up poor and raising a family to experiencing his first call as a Pastor, BRC brings his readers on a journey that redefines all of the life-giving things that faith can teach a person. It would seem as if this book has intentionally been designed to reach those who are both close to their faith and those who are wandering around it. Thank you, BRC for this goodread! #GoodGodBRC #EverythingGoodAboutGodIsTrue

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could have been a statement of faith, but Bruce Reyes-Chow creatively lays out his beliefs plainly with a poetic vibe.

With gentleness for those who have been hurt by harmful theology, Bruce explains what and how he believes in a good God who wants the best for each of us, the Spirit who calls us out into our best selves, and Jesus who is Prophet, Priest, Pastor, and Poet. Liberal Christians will recognize what their churches, pastors, and selves believe, in a comprehensive, poetic and personal way. Those from a more conservative Christian background may be challenged but included completely in what Bruce Reyes-Chow writes and explains.

With stories from his life to open each chapter, and personal and communal questions to end the chapter, but not the discussion of that topic, Bruce makes the case that we all can do theology. He even provides guidance at the end to write one’s own mosaic of beliefs.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ideal book for anyone who 1) is new to / intrigued by Christianity but doesn't know where to start; or 2) has experienced harm from all-too-loud, supremacist iterations of Christendom and aren't sure whether faith is worth it anymore. It provides a simple but solid overview of more progressive ways of understanding key elements of Christian life, from sin to heaven, baptism to communion.

Using language accessible to people of any age and education level, Bruce Reyes-Chow invites readers into his personal understanding of Christian faith — without coercing any to believe exactly like he does. Reimagining the concept of a "faith statement" as a "faith montage," he provides a fresh framework for cultivating and sharing what we believe. If you come away hopeful that everything good about God just might be true, eager to dig deeper into what progressive Christians believe, and excited to develop your own faith montage, Reyes-Chow has done his work.

Some of my favorite parts:

- The emphasis that faith is something we choose again and again, not because it's easy, but because it guides us into holistic, communal, abundant life

- Abiding respect for different denominations, religions, and ways of life — resisting the temptation to assume that our faith is the best or we have all the right answers

- Rejecting a puppeteer, controlling, manipulative God with an inflexible "plan" in favor of a God who invites us to collaborate with them in the story they are telling

- The exploration of four aspects of Jesus — the prophet, priest, pastor, and poet — all essential, all teaching us something important about what it means to be human and what it means to be faithful to a loving God

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Go forth into the world with compassion and justice in your heart. Hear voices of the long silenced. See strength in that which has been deemed weak. See one another, hear one another, care for one another, and love one another. It’s all that easy and it’s all that hard,” states Pastor Bruce Reyes-Chow at the end of this book and the end of services he leads. At a time when the loudest Christian voices are often preaching hate and division, Reyes-Chow offers an alternative view of Christianity focused on love and inclusion. He believes that “we can no longer abdicate the Christian story to hate, violence, and oppression. Those of us who occupy this more loving, just, and extended version of the Christian story must do a better job of claiming, articulating, and speaking the hell up” because “a better story of faith exists, and it has the capacity to heal the world--if we only embrace, articulate, and live it more courageously." This book is his effort to explain what he believes and why. Each chapter addresses topics like Jesus, the Holy Spirit, baptism, communion, evangelism and kindness and includes questions to help readers apply these concepts to their own life. He encourages readers to see themselves as theologians and write their own statement of faith.

Bruce Reyes-Chow founded the church I attend and I’ve always enjoyed listening to his sermons. It was interesting to learn parts of his story I didn’t know before and better understand his beliefs. I think we need more church leaders who lead by example and encourage people of faith to explore what they believe instead of telling them what they should believe. Pastor Bruce sets a powerful example and inspires me to be a more loving Christian.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reyes-Chow delivers again - this time a primer on faith for all levels - the beginner, the seeker, the professional minister, and everything in between. As a fellow progressive, I appreciate the careful work not to abandon the Bible and faith to the extremism of modern public evangelical nationalists. The title lays out the premise... The author defends faith, asserts it matters in the present and fuels the reconciling work of justice. In a late chapter, he asks, "What does a life led by God look like?" I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks answers to questions like that.

[Susan Phinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a healing book. In our current polarized world, where Christianity seems so negative and weaponized, Bruce’s book is a breath of fresh air. Clear and readable, I think would be very helpful for those who have drifted from Christianity, or are curious to be reminded why and how faith can be compelling and healing for us in a broken world.

[Martine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Nicole Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. Loved. Such a beautiful balm to the soul. Gave me moments of challenge, joy, encouragement, and excitement. Have at least half a dozen people I already want to share it with. Thanks so much to @breyeschow and @broadleafbooks for allowing me to get an early copy. Zero issues hyping this book. Now to start pondering how to incorporate it into a sermon series. Or book group. Or confirmation. Or more.

In all honesty, I found it to be like BRC's book on kindness in that it was an easy and engaging read, but it was also a great challenge to me personally. This book made me sit and ponder things about my own faith "montage" (or statement...he uses montage in the book and honestly, I like that word a whole lot more than statement.) Things I probably haven't considered as strongly as I should be in the last 5-6 years. I look forward to looking back at the faith statement I had to write for my "clergy resume" and considering how well it lines up with my own real faith montage. I'm grateful to have been able to read this book and wrestle with it.

[Thomas Dummermuth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so much easier to talk about what you no longer believe than attempting the impossible task to find adequate words for what you still do. At times I wonder if it's even worth it, or if this whole faith thing had been hijacked alltogether.

BRC's book is an audacious project to reclaim - in accessible language! - an authentic speaking of faith that doesn't need to hide its light. Personally, I loved this unapologetic, at times whimsy, and beautiful testimony of faith , and am inspired to give it another try myself at this God-talk thing.

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the introduction to Everything Good About God is True, Bruce Chow-Reyes writes that “We can no longer abdicate the Chrisian story to hate, violence, and oppression. Those of us who occupy this more loving, just, and extended version of the Christian story must do a better job of claiming, articulating, and speaking the hell up.” That’s a good summary of what this book is about. The Christianity “in the national conversation,” as Chow-Reyes puts it, is clear about what it is against. Unfortunately, the progressive Christian counterargument is often to also claim what we’re against. Everything Good About God is True is founded on the perspective that the Gospel is made more accessible and palatable when we share with the intention of actually sharing it as Good News.

Chow-Reyes divides his book into four parts: Creator and Us, Spirit and Us, Jesus and Us, and the Good News and us. It’s a theology that’s neither systemic or comprehensive, but rather intended to focus on the distinctives of a progressive faith. Poetry is interspersed throughout the book, lending it a liturgical and artistic flair that melds with the rest of the book’s conversational and informal style.

Even though Everything Good About God is True has a bit of an unconventional structure and isn’t meant to directly contrast conservative Christianity, Chow-Reyes does offer progressive interpretations of Christian doctrine that enable deconstruction without demolition. And that, I think, is at the heart of what this book is trying to do. So many people—whether born in the faith or not—are looking at the culturally dominant form of Christianity and recognizing its toxicity and rightfully moving away from it. But in the absence of any alternative, deconstruction becomes demolition. They move away from faith entirely. Chow-Reyes offers the tools of deconstruction and reconstruction, showing readers that a Christianity outside of nationalistic strains exists.

For example, in a chapter entitled “Hurting,” Chow-Reyes talks about the concept of sin. Conservative Christians often claim that progressive Christianity has no understanding of sin. Everything Good About God is True recognizes the existence of sin, names it “any act or thought that turns us away from God’s intentions,” and laments how sin manifests itself.

As Bruce closes the book, he tries to summarize everything that he’s said in the previous 170 pages:

You are known by God.
You are loved by God.
That is enough.
You are enough.

That’s a beautiful message, one that contrasts the “not-enoughness” of conservative Christianity. One that offers hope, healing, and comfort. Chow-Reyes invites readers to get out of the claustrophobic coffin of rigidly-defined religion and live in the expansive wonder of God’s kin-dom community.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A kind of re-introduction to Christian faith from a progressive standpoint, Bruce Reyes-Chow offers his take on the Christian life frame in a way that permits the reader to question and rethink. The title offers a core insight into what he wants his readers to do, namely, to be allowed to say that if something in Christianity does not fit standards of goodness it probably is not true. This is the reverse in many ways of the kind of authoritarian Christianity that says, "Its obviously biblical, therefore its true, therefore you must see it as good, no matter how abusive, corrupt, inauthentic, and ugly it is." In this regard, this book is refreshing. If something about God or the Christian life is not straightforwardly just, loving, kind, etc. that is a very strong red flag: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself as love" says Paul. I wish more Christians took that rule seriously.

The writer leads you through virtues loosely arranged to think through the God the creator, the Spirit, and Christ, ending with thoughts on the meaning of the Gospel. Along the way, he offers his "Faith Montage" which is a kind of poetic doctrinal statement on what he holds about God and Christian spirituality. I loved it and found myself re-rereading it to savour its pithy beauty. At many points his explanations are eloquent, offering a kind-heartedness and gentleness that is healing.

My only bugaboo is that the book is very popular level, which means the reader more or less has to agree with what is being said. There is not a lot of extended argument or exposition, and I wish the books perhaps gave further resources for those that are interested. As I said, the voice of the book offers permission to rethink, and does so in a space that is warm, Christ-centred, and thoughtful. For many, then, it will hopeful serve as a sign that one can go on this journey of thinking deeper about their Christian faith and know that they don't need to just be okay with the corrupt mediocrity of so many church cultures; there are others that don't see it that way either, and they see it that way because of Jesus not despite him.

[Ana Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I approached this book with both curiosity and gratitude. While there are some differences in doctrine and emphasis between the author's perspective and my own faith tradition, I was deeply moved by how much we share at the heart of our belief in God.
What stood out most to me was the central message: that God is good, and that His love, grace, and presence are real, healing, and transformative. That truth echoed through every chapter and resonated deeply with my own experiences of faith.
Reading this book felt like sitting with a friend who loves God deeply and is willing to talk honestly about both joy and pain. It was beautifully written, heartfelt, and spiritually nourishing. Bruce’s words filled my spiritual cup and left me feeling uplifted, seen, and more committed to the goodness of God in my own life.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me the opportunity to do some real reflection about my faith. It also helped me remember that everything about God is good, even on the days it’s hard to remember.

The weaving of personal anecdotes from Bruce Reyes Chow’s life with his thoughtful descriptions and explanations of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus made this an enjoyable and accessible read for anyone looking to reconnect to their faith, strengthen it, or validate it. I really appreciated the questions at the end of each chapter to reflect on. They served as a roadmap for synthesizing the big ideas of each section.

I finish this book with the challenge of creating my own faith montage. Before this book, I didn’t have the roadmap to do so. But now, guided by Bruce’s words, I think I can do it.

[Juliann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Bruce Reyes-Chow for years now (from the days when he was the moderator of PCUSA). A few years ago, I read Kindness Matters and immediately brought it to our church book club. Over the last year, I have been inspired and encouraged by the way Bruce Reyes-Chow encounters and responds to the world around us. In this book, I can see how his deep and abiding understanding of God and truth have guided his words and actions. I was grateful to read this book pre-release and have ordered copies for some of my favorite people because I need to talk about this book. Release date is March 5, 2024.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with a book group - I nodded my head through the whole thing, but because the point of the book was to introduce God/faith to the church-curious and spiritually-seeking, I’m not sure I was the intended audience.

As I was reading the last chapters it occurred to me that this would be an excellent book to read with a high school confirmation class. As a teacher, I know that the approachability, broad questions, and even the guided project would all be a phenomenal structure.

[Brian Allain · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many faith books written about "deconstruction" or criticizing various aspects of today's faith in society, or coming from sources of toxicity. By contrast, Bruce's new book describes a faith that you may actually want to be associated with. Powerful, positive, and forward-thinking. Highly recommended!

[Hannah J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate how plainly and clearly this book is written. So much of my theology lines up with Reyes-Chow. He helped me articulate what I believe in ways I couldn't before. It was also healing hearing how compassionate progressive theology can be when it's truly guided by love.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is the Faith of Jesus and the Faith that I want to share with others! I will re-read and re-read and share and share! K.N. - Faith Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis

[Ltcls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bible study book. We had great discussions on the concepts in this book.

[Kate Kelts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and kind.

[Erica Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very affirming and liberating