Regenerate: Following Jesus After Deconstruction

by Tony Scarcello

“Loss. Fear. Doubt. What does anything mean when your ground of being is stripped away?” Tony met God when he was four years old through the love of his mother. When he was twelve, he realized he had a crush on one of his male friends and grew convinced God would have nothing to do with him. At sixteen, Tony reencountered God who affirmed that nothing stood between them but love. When he was twenty-three, married to the girl of his dreams, and on staff at a church, Tony’s secret came out, and he came close to losing it all. What followed was arduous years of deconstruction, losing everything he thought he knew about God, only to rediscover God in the mystery. This God was not a new God—it was the same one as before, just seen with regenerated faith. This God was more beautiful and restorative than Tony could have ever imagined. Tony’s story is not uncommon in the modern evangelical landscape. Thousands of people throughout the West are experiencing a crisis of faith that is commonly referred to as “deconstruction.” With raw honesty, Tony uses his own story as a starting point for a dialogue on the deconstruction process. Tony unpacks what the deconstruction process is, why it happens, and how the church can help people experiencing a crisis of faith without worsening it along the way. In this memoir, Tony candidly pleads for the church to make a not to a trendier, “progressive” version of Christianity, nor to a stricter form of fundamentalism, but to the revolutionary, Jesus-centered movement that changed the face of the earth. A movement once better known for its society of healing love than its dogma.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

166 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Pamela Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thoughtful book regarding hanging on to Jesus no matter the struggle. Honesty on how to be real when realizing you no longer need to follow another’s way, but letting Jesus make His way in your life.

[Trevor Atwood]

Tony’s story of walking away from his faith in Christ to rebuilding it is a story that needs to be told more often. Deconstruction stories are everywhere. I found this to be an honest look into deconstruction and the process of rebuilding on Christ.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's build a Christian community that the next generation won't have to heal from, distance themselves from, or have cause to be ashamed of. Why are so many 'deconstructing?' Follow the author as he pulls apart and examines the way of faith handed down to him to recover the Way of Jesus. The first part of the book does indeed, "read like a movie" as another review said.

Letting loose of ideology, conservative or progressive, in order to hold tightly to the gospel of Christ and to do so in a demeanor that reflects the loving heart of God! I was immediately sucked into the author's story crying, and cheering, and embracing the mystery with him.

An added bonus is the authenticity and humility of the author showing his journey stall for a moment. One chapter describes that as he rejected mean, arrogant, American political conservative Christiandom and arrived at mean, arrogant progressive ideology and realized some of the mean and arrogant was him. "My opinions had undergone radical transition but my heart was still the same." Again we see the pursuit of the Way of Jesus saves him from this error and can save us to. The "third way" prescribed in the scriptures!

(Spoiler upcoming: (Can you have spoilers for non-fiction?)) In speaking of his same-sex attraction, he is vulnerable and honest. I can't express what a gift this is. In telling his story and sharing how he really felt and what he really thought in those moments, years even, Tony lets us look in on an experience we may never have, helping us build empathy and understanding OR to those who do know these thoughts, feelings, and experiences all too well, Tony shares what he would share with his younger self, "God doesn't need to change how you experience sexuality to truly love you."

[Michael Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
WOW! This book was incredible! Tony Scarcello explains his ideas extremely well and has such incredible information that everyone needs to know! The process of deconstruction and reconstruction is so important to understand, so I’m so glad Tony Scarcello talks about it!

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony is joining our church staff, so I was excited to read his story. It's very powerful. He has an amazing story, and I appreciate how transparent and vulnerable he is in telling his story.

It's a thought provoking read; I highly recommend.