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Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials
Evangelical Christianity has accumulated too many practices, habits, and trends that get in the way of authentic Christian faith. It’s time to downsize.
Jewish teen Michelle Van Loon came to faith in Jesus and embraced the first Christian community she evangelicals. Over the next fifty years, she enthusiastically worshiped and worked in a wide variety of evangelical groups. Looking back on those experiences today, Van Loon treasures the things that truly deepened her faith. At the same time, she laments the accumulation of baggage—religious ideas and practices that were unhelpful at best, and harmful at worst. Unlike many who have given up on evangelicalism altogether, Van Loon is committed to saving what’s worthwhile in the evangelical faith tradition, and she invites others to join her. Simultaneously critical and hopeful, Downsizing encourages readers to reflect on their own experience with evangelicalism, evaluate the movement’s legacy, and participate in shaping its future.
Jewish teen Michelle Van Loon came to faith in Jesus and embraced the first Christian community she evangelicals. Over the next fifty years, she enthusiastically worshiped and worked in a wide variety of evangelical groups. Looking back on those experiences today, Van Loon treasures the things that truly deepened her faith. At the same time, she laments the accumulation of baggage—religious ideas and practices that were unhelpful at best, and harmful at worst. Unlike many who have given up on evangelicalism altogether, Van Loon is committed to saving what’s worthwhile in the evangelical faith tradition, and she invites others to join her. Simultaneously critical and hopeful, Downsizing encourages readers to reflect on their own experience with evangelicalism, evaluate the movement’s legacy, and participate in shaping its future.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
184 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
5 people are currently reading
1608 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Van Loon
14 books76 followersMichelle Van Loon’s Jewish heritage, spiritual hunger, and storyteller’s sensibilities have been informing her writing and shaping her faith journey since she came to Christ at the tail end of the Jesus Movement. She is the author of eight books, as well as numerous articles, and several full-length plays for the educational market.
She's been a church communications director, served on staff at Trinity International University, and been the U.S. Administrator for an educational ministry based in Jerusalem. She earned a graduate certificate from Northern Seminary in 2017. She's married to Bill, and is mother to three and grandmother to two.
She's been a church communications director, served on staff at Trinity International University, and been the U.S. Administrator for an educational ministry based in Jerusalem. She earned a graduate certificate from Northern Seminary in 2017. She's married to Bill, and is mother to three and grandmother to two.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 6, 2025
Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials by Michelle Van Loon is an expression of her unique perspective and exposure to both benefits and challenges, even abuse, in evangelical churches. I related to much of her experience as I imagine most readers will. She tells is like it is, which I appreciate, and says, “Much of this book reads like a lament, and indeed it is…But ultimately, lament is an expression of desire for a different future.” Amen.
I highly recommend Downsizing.
I highly recommend Downsizing.
November 28, 2025
Having a Jewish background and being part of different churches all through her life, Christianity Today's writer Michelle Van Loon has seen it all. She can easily say "Been there, done that" through church trends and fads her family experienced. This book shows that those things are not just CV fillers or stuff of conversation for family gatherings but a glimpse on how we Christians deals with our spirituality- excess and all. How is that possible?
This commendable book tells us to downsize our church and leave the non-essentials. From the Jesus movement, Messianic churches to charismatic groups Van Loon shows, that we can abandon things that stops us to became the believer that God calls us to be. Van Loons gift in writing really shines here, balancing from her life story, exploring Scriptures and commenting to certain blind spots of Christianity for the past 50 years. Leading the way to embrace the less than more, Van Loon wrote an engaging read and a narrative that hits home. You may not agree with some of the things she puts on this book, but her insights is something that you shouldn't ignore. Highly recommended!
My verdict:
5 out of 5
This commendable book tells us to downsize our church and leave the non-essentials. From the Jesus movement, Messianic churches to charismatic groups Van Loon shows, that we can abandon things that stops us to became the believer that God calls us to be. Van Loons gift in writing really shines here, balancing from her life story, exploring Scriptures and commenting to certain blind spots of Christianity for the past 50 years. Leading the way to embrace the less than more, Van Loon wrote an engaging read and a narrative that hits home. You may not agree with some of the things she puts on this book, but her insights is something that you shouldn't ignore. Highly recommended!
My verdict:
5 out of 5
September 14, 2025
Summary: A memoir of a fifty-year evangelical journey and the unhelpful ideas and practices to be downsized to embrace an authentic faith.
Downsizing. Many at my stage of life are engaged in the practice of deaccumulating the stuff we’ve acquired over the decades. Some of it we no longer need. Some of it we wonder why we ever acquired. It may be the reality that a smaller living space cannot accommodate all our goods. Or we are aware that we are moving toward the final deaccumulation when all our earthly goods are dispersed.
Michelle Van Loon offers the metaphor of downsizing for what she sees is needed in evangelicalism today. In one sense, evangelicalism is downsizing as people head for the exits. For many of the disillusioned, this has meant a process of faith deconstruction, a re-evaluation of beliefs and practices. Some emerge from this with a re-framed faith. Others walk away altogether. Instead, Van Loon proposes the metaphor of downsizing as a kind of spiritual rummage sale, allowing an uncluttered, authentic faith to emerge. Indeed, citing spiritual writer Phyllis Tickle, she proposes that the church has gone through such a rummage sale every five hundred years, the last being the Reformation and counter-Reformation. We’re due.
Van Loon approaches this through the lens of a spiritual journey memoir over her fifty years as a Christ-follower. She came to faith out of a Jewish background during the waning days of the Jesus Movement. She introduces her journey as one where she:
“…immersed myself in fundamentalist faith, worshiped in Messianic Jewish gatherings, experienced the revivalism of second- and third-wave charismatic congregations, gathere in a living room for home church, experienced the rise of one of America’s most influential nondenominational megachurches, became part of the rising Anglican movement, and had pit stops along the way at other kinds of churches of all kinds, from a cult-like sect to a neo-Reformed outpost to a throwback mainline church that owned not one but two harpsichords in addition to its giant pipe organ” (pp. 3-4)
Her experience make her a well-qualified participant observer of the last fifty years of evangelical both at its best and worst. Her first couple chapters offer a brief history of evangelicalism, including the number of parachurch ministries that arose after World War Two. Each of the following chapters trace her journey through different movements. She offers a brief historical backdrop for each, setting them in context, describes her experiences, and the “downsizing” she engaged in as she moved on–the unhelpful practices and beliefs she left behind and the valuable truths and practices she carried.
Several things stood out to me in her narrative. One is the recurring danger of abusing leadership positions and spiritual authority. Examples include the Shepherding movements, Bill Gothard’s “Umbrella of Authority,” or the Mars Hill Church of Mark Driscoll. She also recounts the chaotic revivalism characteristic of some third wave charismatic churches, emphasizing experience over discipleship. Van Loon traces the rise of Dominionism, spiritual warfare theology, and the New Apostolic Reformation, and how they have wedded themselves to conservative political movements. She observes how “[T]he hunger for dominion is at the heart of so much bad practice in the church and has overflowed in the ways in which many self-identifying evangelicals express themselves in American culture” (pp. 139-140).
For Van Loon, downsizing expresses the downward journey of following Jesus, the journey to the cross. She invites us to purify ourselves of the blemishes of evangelicalism’s harmful beliefs to become Christ’s spotless bride. The issue is not the core beliefs of evangelicalism but the craving for power and control. This could be our kids’ purity or our nation’s institutions or other members of our congregations.
Van Loon is slightly younger than I am but we share common roots in the Jesus Movement. I remember the heady passion for Christ and hopes that our generation would change the world. We did, but not in the way of our youthful hopes. I did not experience some of the movements in which she participated. But a reflective look at this fifty plus year journey is a chastening experience and moves me to lament. We failed to reckon with the lures of money, sex, and especially power. Too often, we fixed our eyes on idols rather than our risen Lord. We cannot merely “downsize” these things. We must destroy idols or they will keep cropping up, as Van Loon’s account illustrates.
Perhaps the separating of an apostate, politically captive evangelicalism from smaller bands of believers seeking to follow Jesus in witness and service, pursuing his kingdom, is all a part of God’s downsizing. Van Loon calls us to a downsizing that is not an abandoning of faith but am embrace of single-hearted pursuit of Jesus, shedding all that encumbers. I hope I might live out my days in that kind of downsizing.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Downsizing. Many at my stage of life are engaged in the practice of deaccumulating the stuff we’ve acquired over the decades. Some of it we no longer need. Some of it we wonder why we ever acquired. It may be the reality that a smaller living space cannot accommodate all our goods. Or we are aware that we are moving toward the final deaccumulation when all our earthly goods are dispersed.
Michelle Van Loon offers the metaphor of downsizing for what she sees is needed in evangelicalism today. In one sense, evangelicalism is downsizing as people head for the exits. For many of the disillusioned, this has meant a process of faith deconstruction, a re-evaluation of beliefs and practices. Some emerge from this with a re-framed faith. Others walk away altogether. Instead, Van Loon proposes the metaphor of downsizing as a kind of spiritual rummage sale, allowing an uncluttered, authentic faith to emerge. Indeed, citing spiritual writer Phyllis Tickle, she proposes that the church has gone through such a rummage sale every five hundred years, the last being the Reformation and counter-Reformation. We’re due.
Van Loon approaches this through the lens of a spiritual journey memoir over her fifty years as a Christ-follower. She came to faith out of a Jewish background during the waning days of the Jesus Movement. She introduces her journey as one where she:
“…immersed myself in fundamentalist faith, worshiped in Messianic Jewish gatherings, experienced the revivalism of second- and third-wave charismatic congregations, gathere in a living room for home church, experienced the rise of one of America’s most influential nondenominational megachurches, became part of the rising Anglican movement, and had pit stops along the way at other kinds of churches of all kinds, from a cult-like sect to a neo-Reformed outpost to a throwback mainline church that owned not one but two harpsichords in addition to its giant pipe organ” (pp. 3-4)
Her experience make her a well-qualified participant observer of the last fifty years of evangelical both at its best and worst. Her first couple chapters offer a brief history of evangelicalism, including the number of parachurch ministries that arose after World War Two. Each of the following chapters trace her journey through different movements. She offers a brief historical backdrop for each, setting them in context, describes her experiences, and the “downsizing” she engaged in as she moved on–the unhelpful practices and beliefs she left behind and the valuable truths and practices she carried.
Several things stood out to me in her narrative. One is the recurring danger of abusing leadership positions and spiritual authority. Examples include the Shepherding movements, Bill Gothard’s “Umbrella of Authority,” or the Mars Hill Church of Mark Driscoll. She also recounts the chaotic revivalism characteristic of some third wave charismatic churches, emphasizing experience over discipleship. Van Loon traces the rise of Dominionism, spiritual warfare theology, and the New Apostolic Reformation, and how they have wedded themselves to conservative political movements. She observes how “[T]he hunger for dominion is at the heart of so much bad practice in the church and has overflowed in the ways in which many self-identifying evangelicals express themselves in American culture” (pp. 139-140).
For Van Loon, downsizing expresses the downward journey of following Jesus, the journey to the cross. She invites us to purify ourselves of the blemishes of evangelicalism’s harmful beliefs to become Christ’s spotless bride. The issue is not the core beliefs of evangelicalism but the craving for power and control. This could be our kids’ purity or our nation’s institutions or other members of our congregations.
Van Loon is slightly younger than I am but we share common roots in the Jesus Movement. I remember the heady passion for Christ and hopes that our generation would change the world. We did, but not in the way of our youthful hopes. I did not experience some of the movements in which she participated. But a reflective look at this fifty plus year journey is a chastening experience and moves me to lament. We failed to reckon with the lures of money, sex, and especially power. Too often, we fixed our eyes on idols rather than our risen Lord. We cannot merely “downsize” these things. We must destroy idols or they will keep cropping up, as Van Loon’s account illustrates.
Perhaps the separating of an apostate, politically captive evangelicalism from smaller bands of believers seeking to follow Jesus in witness and service, pursuing his kingdom, is all a part of God’s downsizing. Van Loon calls us to a downsizing that is not an abandoning of faith but am embrace of single-hearted pursuit of Jesus, shedding all that encumbers. I hope I might live out my days in that kind of downsizing.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
January 18, 2026
Downsizing makes space for what’s next (p. 9). In this well-crafted reflection on
evangelicalism, Michelle Van Loon coaxes readers to consider the clutter that has accumulated
in the church over the past 50 years, and gently helps us to ask questions on how to respond
moving forward in our communities of faith. While this active engagement with our own past
requires us to honestly look at our warts, wounds, failings, and faults, Van Loon’s writing
ensures we do not lose our way while reflecting. We can both see the truth and be uplifted in our
love for Christ, his church, and his followers. The author gently and lovingly allows us to look
back with mercy and to look to the future with hope.
The millennials-long history of Christ’s church is rich with both beauty and brokenness.
The church has cyclically gone through times of reflection, reformation, and downsizing. By
placing the discussion in this historical context, Van Loon steers the conversation away from
guilt, shame, and condemnation. Instead, the author shows readers that the time has come for
the church to do this again. Van Loon goes on to tell her beloved brothers and sisters in Christ
how we can join her in the journey of saying good-bye to things that have become useless in the
church.
What may be difficult for some who have been worshiping in evangelical communities for
decades, is to see how some of this clutter has hurt individuals and faith communities. And,
maybe even more painful, how the church’s focus on non-essentials has tarnished the ways we
have represented Christ to people who do not know Christ. Have we as individuals, local faith
communities, and the church universal distracted those outside the faith from the truth of the
gospel and the love of Christ?
Michele Van Loon sprinkles her personal testimony and experiences throughout the
book in a way that enriches the text. The book, however, is not a memoir, but a deeply
researched historical account. She guides readers to see the past decades in the light we have
to see our history looking backward. It is easy for the reader to see the seasons and cycles as
Van Loon masterfully pieces them together, in a way I, for one, did not see while it was all
happening.
Van Loon grew up in a Jewish family. As a teenaged believer she found others outside
her home who celebrated her conversion, but she did not find this same support at home. We
also see, from her experiences, that the church was not, and probably still is not, well-equipped
to welcome and worship with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. Again, Van Loon does
this in a way that readers do not feel condemned or shamed, but rather inspired to learn and do
better.
Downsizing our homes by deep cleaning our basements, attics, closets and other dark
and hidden places is hard. We know the work needs to be done, but we find many ways to avoid
the work. We postpone, we start and stop, and sometimes abandon the projects all together.
What about the church? What will we do at this point in history? What will we do now that we’ve
read this book? Van Loon writes this gentle exhortation in a way that will inspire faithful followers
of Christ to the difficult work of downsizing, sticking with the work even when it is difficult. With
the support offered by Van Loon in Downsizing, and by the grace of God, the church does not
have to abandon the challenging work of our current reformation, our current work of letting go
of what is not essential.
evangelicalism, Michelle Van Loon coaxes readers to consider the clutter that has accumulated
in the church over the past 50 years, and gently helps us to ask questions on how to respond
moving forward in our communities of faith. While this active engagement with our own past
requires us to honestly look at our warts, wounds, failings, and faults, Van Loon’s writing
ensures we do not lose our way while reflecting. We can both see the truth and be uplifted in our
love for Christ, his church, and his followers. The author gently and lovingly allows us to look
back with mercy and to look to the future with hope.
The millennials-long history of Christ’s church is rich with both beauty and brokenness.
The church has cyclically gone through times of reflection, reformation, and downsizing. By
placing the discussion in this historical context, Van Loon steers the conversation away from
guilt, shame, and condemnation. Instead, the author shows readers that the time has come for
the church to do this again. Van Loon goes on to tell her beloved brothers and sisters in Christ
how we can join her in the journey of saying good-bye to things that have become useless in the
church.
What may be difficult for some who have been worshiping in evangelical communities for
decades, is to see how some of this clutter has hurt individuals and faith communities. And,
maybe even more painful, how the church’s focus on non-essentials has tarnished the ways we
have represented Christ to people who do not know Christ. Have we as individuals, local faith
communities, and the church universal distracted those outside the faith from the truth of the
gospel and the love of Christ?
Michele Van Loon sprinkles her personal testimony and experiences throughout the
book in a way that enriches the text. The book, however, is not a memoir, but a deeply
researched historical account. She guides readers to see the past decades in the light we have
to see our history looking backward. It is easy for the reader to see the seasons and cycles as
Van Loon masterfully pieces them together, in a way I, for one, did not see while it was all
happening.
Van Loon grew up in a Jewish family. As a teenaged believer she found others outside
her home who celebrated her conversion, but she did not find this same support at home. We
also see, from her experiences, that the church was not, and probably still is not, well-equipped
to welcome and worship with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. Again, Van Loon does
this in a way that readers do not feel condemned or shamed, but rather inspired to learn and do
better.
Downsizing our homes by deep cleaning our basements, attics, closets and other dark
and hidden places is hard. We know the work needs to be done, but we find many ways to avoid
the work. We postpone, we start and stop, and sometimes abandon the projects all together.
What about the church? What will we do at this point in history? What will we do now that we’ve
read this book? Van Loon writes this gentle exhortation in a way that will inspire faithful followers
of Christ to the difficult work of downsizing, sticking with the work even when it is difficult. With
the support offered by Van Loon in Downsizing, and by the grace of God, the church does not
have to abandon the challenging work of our current reformation, our current work of letting go
of what is not essential.
June 23, 2025
Michelle Van Loon's book Downsizing is part memoir, part modern-day church history. She immediately drew me in with her quest for Christian fellowship and instruction as a young teen growing up as the only Christian in a Jewish family. I lamented along with her as faced disappointment and even abuse from members of various churches and organizations where she tried to find connection. But, I rejoiced that she did not give up-- choosing instead to continue her search for Christian fellowship.
This book offers a look back at the rise and fall of various church and parachurch organizations in recent history. In this day and age where many are questioning the value of the church and deconstructing their faith, it paints a truthful picture of where the church has failed but also provides hope and points out how each organization tried to fill a need. In a downsizing process, we can throw out what is harmful and keep what is good. I would recommend Downsizing to pastors and ministry leaders for a fresh perspective and to anyone questioning the value of belonging to a church. You will find hope here.
This book offers a look back at the rise and fall of various church and parachurch organizations in recent history. In this day and age where many are questioning the value of the church and deconstructing their faith, it paints a truthful picture of where the church has failed but also provides hope and points out how each organization tried to fill a need. In a downsizing process, we can throw out what is harmful and keep what is good. I would recommend Downsizing to pastors and ministry leaders for a fresh perspective and to anyone questioning the value of belonging to a church. You will find hope here.
October 5, 2025
It's hard for me to state how I feel upon finishing this book... I feel like I've been on a journey with Michelle Van Loon ... a journey through a turbulent and uncertain experience with faith and church. The engaging way in which she shares her journey through church abuse and disappointment really hurt my heart. But in all of the experiences that she shares, we do not see a rejection of Jesus nor the church as expressed by the Scriptures. However, the evangelical and charismatic church climates that created issues of distrust and rejection were painful. I think a signal that this book is well written is that all along the way I wanted to engage in conversation with the author! This is a read that covers the ongoing struggle of "deconstruction" under the banner of "downsizing", which ultimately is the work of "reformation". I found that even though she and her husband had been through some very difficult church problems - the expression of faith continued strong and I admire their journey very much. I can't say it was a "happy" read, but it certainly was a "rich" one.
August 19, 2025
One of the best, most accurate back cover blurbs ever! "Unlike many who have given up on evangelicalism altogether, Van Loon is committed to saving what's worthwhile in the tradition. ... Downsizing encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences with evangelicalism, evaluate the movement's legacy, and participate in shaping its future." That's exactly what the book does so well. Though Van Loon leans heavily on theology and history, the book is not academic. The author has been through many difficult church experiences in her 40+ years of following Jesus but somehow has managed to both avoid bitterness and maintain her faith. This is no small thing. She is a smart, trustworthy guide to lead us in this important conversation.
May 13, 2025
Through personal experience and extensive research, Michelle Van Loon captures the recent and fraught history of evangelicalism in the United States. As I read the advanced review copy, I went from vague to well-informed awareness of a movement that through success often devours its congregants then its own. The solution: downsize, get back to the smaller version of church where people can know, care about and care for one another, as Jesus did. An excellent and important read.
September 22, 2025
Interesting book that delves into the author’s personal experiences with evangelical churches over the years, experiences that were often less than positive. Being of a certain [clears throat] age, her likening leaving behind evangelicalism’s bad experiences to downsizing her home resonated. Although I am not in the world of evangelicalism, I have been a witness to the excesses and abuse of power that it seems to fall into all too often and the effects of that on society as a whole.
December 27, 2025
*This book was received for free as a part of a Goodread’s Giveaway*
A pretty solid examination of the things that need pruning within the church and evangelism. Other than some parts being dry, I did enjoying reading it.
A pretty solid examination of the things that need pruning within the church and evangelism. Other than some parts being dry, I did enjoying reading it.
February 11, 2025
Endorsed! Downsizing launches August 19, 2025.
September 6, 2025
Interesting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
This is a remarkable book. Remarkably well written as would be expected from an author with Michelle Van Loon’s experience. It weaves a remarkable connection between the physical act of empty nest downsizing and the Van Loon’s call for evangelicalism to shed layers of accumulated, unnecessary and often toxic belief. This call for the downsizing of evangelicalism comes from the author’s frequently damaging interactions with the trends that have stifled true evangelicalism over the last several decades. Yet above all, Downsizing is a remarkable testimony to the grace that has sustained Van Loon through her personal downsizing journey.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews