The Road Away from God: How Love Finds Us Even as We Walk Away

by Jonathan Martin

It's no easy journey disentangling the good news of the gospel from the toxic theologies that have rendered Jesus unrecognizable. It's no wonder the church has sent many walking. 

In The Road Away from God, Jonathan Martin reimagines Luke's story of two disillusioned disciples walking the Emmaus road away from the holy city where they had watched their hope die a gruesome death right before their eyes.

For anyone who is feeling their faith unravel, reckoning with religious trauma, or walking the long road of deconstruction, Martin speaks compassionate hope into the journey of today's disillusioned disciples, revealing that the resurrected Christ is profoundly present with them--even on what seems to be the road away from God.

With "a pastor's heart and poet's touch," as Rachel Held Evans once wrote of Martin, this is a book to help you feel seen in your spiritual journey and all its complexities, and to find resurrection even where you least expect it.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Nathan Edgell]

I think Jonathan Martin has probably written the best ‘deconstruction’ book that I’ve read so far. There’s something different, something tender that sets this one apart from others. You feel genuinely encouraged to be where you need to be, and not to rush the process in any way. Very grateful.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The past half-decade, and probably longer, has seen an increasing number of people raised in the church pack their bags and leave. The reasons are multifaceted but the result is the same. Many are leaving the communities they’ve been a part of and aren’t sure what their next step is. Using the story of Jesus speaking to disciples walking on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection, Jonathan Martin offers a loving, compassionate, hopeful, and thoughtful look at how the path away from the God we thought we knew just may lead us to Him in a fuller and more authentic way.

The Road Away from God: How Love Finds Us Even as We Walk Away is a beacon of light on a dark road, providing not just a proverbial hope of a light at the end of the tunnel, but illuminating the present journey. In the early chapters, Jonathan Martin talks about what may have led people to this road and validates their journey. It’s been my experience that those who have left their church communities—a trend sped up by the COVID-19 pandemic—have often been shamed and berated by those who remain. Many are turning their back on the church because of its nationalism, racism, militarism, white supremacy, and lack of concern for the marginalized. But where is Jesus in all of that? Martin suggests that, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus—walking away from the Holy City of Jerusalem, feeling defeated in their faith because their messiah was dead—Jesus is right there on the journey as well.

Interweaving his own experience with stories from others, Martin is able to tell his readers that they are not alone on this journey. Not just that Jesus is there, walking with us, but that’s a whole church of wanderers walking away from what they thought they knew and into the unknown. There are a lot of books about “deconstruction” and explanations of faith that lie outside of conservative American evangelicalism. The strength of Martin’s writing is the love and compassion that exude through every sentence of the book. Martin’s message is not just that Jesus cares—but that he cares and that there’s a whole community of people that care—and are willing to support you on your journey. For many The Road Away from God will be a mirror, showing them their own story. Reflected in the background will the faces of so many others, showing the reader that they are loved, that they are valued, and that they are not alone.

One of the things I appreciated most about The Road Away from God was that Martin does not paint the church as irredeemable. He does not tell those walking away from the church that they should not feel conflicted. Instead, he acknowledges the difficulty of the decision, understanding that staying would have been easier, that it would have had its own benefits. He allows space for lamenting what was lost, even though it was necessary. By the end of the book The Road Away from God shows how the road away just might lead toward, how what we were really moving away from was a toxic or harmful expression of faith. The book provides hope that movement away is also movement towards something else—and that something might be Christ in a fuller and realer way than what you left.

[Josh Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words do not seem to do justice to the profound impact this book has had on me. I started it many months ago and I have put it down and picked up more times than I can count. And every time I picked it back up, it seemed to speak to the very the thing that I was at that moment finally ready to hear. It was with me as I walked away from God, and it helped find my way back home.
Within the time of reading this book I experienced all the parts of the story of the prodigal…
I am beyond grateful to Jonathan Martin for helping through this book to process the pain that caused me to walk on the road and the feeling of the death of hope, and to once again find hope once again.
I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Jes Boalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for this book since I closed the last page of Surviving a Shipwreck. For a Pentecostal / COG kid who had to leave the spiritual home of my youth - these words are a cool glass of sweet tea for my heart.

This book couldn’t be more spot on for where my community finds itself. It’s seem I meet someone almost on the daily walking this road. I have a feeling this book will be a gift to many.

Thank you for putting words to what so many of us our feeling and living.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this book, I immediately felt seen and knew this was something I wanted to read. While I didn’t agree with every point the author made, I really felt like someone had summed up my emotional turmoil concerning my faith community.


A few things I loved:

⁃ I really felt understood. Without steering away from a review and delving into my own personal spiritual ideologies, I appreciated the author’s perspectives on the relationship/conflict between the American Christian church as a generalized community and the world.
⁃ The idea that God is there on whatever road you’re on, and walking on a path leading away from a bad experience doesn’t necessarily mean you’re walking away from God.
⁃ The author’s deconstruction and reconstruction of his own belief system was raw and vulnerable, and I imagine he’s had to deal with quite a bit of backlash from those who strive to uplift the status quo.


Something I wished:

⁃ There was a lot of repetition, and while some of it was good to hit home on a specific thought or idea, it got to be a bit much. This also made the book drag in a few places.


There are definitely some points that I’m not so sure about, and a few I don’t agree with, but overall this book really made me think and reflect a lot on my own faith. I can definitely appreciate the journey the author has gone on, and this book has encouraged me quite a bit as I travel my own road!

[Mark Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first: To scroll past this title and think you understood what this book is about is to be greatly deceived.

This book has been like a cup of cool, sparkling water on a hot day for me—very refreshing and more than a bit restorative.

Jonathan Martin’s circumspect walk through the powerful Emmaus Road passage of scripture makes for one the most tender and engaging books about the move of the divine, focusing on periods when a person feels doubt, sadness, or other complicated emotions about their own spiritual journey.

Rather than some pathway to apostasy, it’s about how even when we feel like we are on a journey and God seems distant or even absent, God is actually right there with us—even when (especially when) the road is leading us away from everything that we might have historically associated with God, faith, or the institutional church.

I don’t think it’s for everyone. But here are some circumstances where I would highly recommend this book:

1) You remain Christian but have major hang ups about the way the institutional church operates.

2) You want to remain Christian but aren’t sure that’s even feasible right now.

3) You presently see remaining Christian as an open question.

Full disclosure: I have been following Jonathan’s work for a long time and have had the good fortune of meeting him a few times. So I have no idea how it will land for you if you’ve never interacted with Jono or his teaching.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most open-hearted books I’ve ever read. Jonathan Martin lovingly addresses the ones struggling with the church or their faith—whether their personal experience has been confusion, hurt, betrayal, or abandonment… And he comes alongside them with grace and understanding.

He unpacks the themes of the Emmaus Road, the prodigal son, and the last supper, sharing insights about the character of God as revealed in Scripture and in his own lived experience. He reminds the reader that faith is a very personal experience, and that God is not threatened by the valleys of our faith—He walks them with us.

This book is written for the disillusioned and the disappointed. And while I wouldn’t agree with Martin on every point all the time, I think the key takeaway is that God is present in all of it.

[Zach Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do you want to react to everything, or contribute to a world others want to live in?"

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all pastors and counselors and others interested in connecting with people.

[Wesley Thurmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there’s a good message here. One that would make a good 30 minute sermon but for me, not one that needed 200 pages to get across.

[Donna Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are struggling with a crisis of faith, then this is the book is for you. If you are feeling disillusioned by Christianity of today, then this book is for you. If you are being called away from the church you have grown up in, then this is the book for you. If you are wanting to find Jesus, then this is the book for you. Jonathan Martin used Luke 24 as the backdrop to understanding how what might feel like a step away from God during a time of hurting may actually be a step closer to the true God of our faith. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.

[Amy Fukunaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to help me see the perspective of friends deconstructing their faith. It was eye-opening and even though I haven’t walked this road personally, I resonated with a lot of what the author had to say.

Things I loved:
- the idea that God is on the road with you no matter where you are.
-the perspective of someone who has walked the path of deconstructing their faith and reconstructing it.

Things I wasn’t a fan of:
-it seemed a little long…. I would have been happy if it had ended a couple of chapters sooner.
-I didn’t agree with everything the author said, but I still definitely agree with the main points.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m giving this 2.5 stars. Jonathan writes about the deconstruction of faith, but too many of his thoughts are based on assumptions that don’t hold up for me. I think his premise has more to do with the deconstruction of the church as an organization than with faith in the gospel and biblical truth. He shares his thoughts and what he has seen in people he has encountered. This certainly stirred my thinking but perhaps not as it has for other readers.

[Jonathan Puddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, hope-filled blend of Bible study, memoir and cultural reflection, I loved every page and was moved to tears time and time again. If you feel disillusioned by faith, church leaders, God or your own self, you will find permission and perspective to call your story good once again. Highly recommended.

[Kristjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then, if you are lucky, you will have an encounter that resonates with your soul and you weep for the beauty now revealed.

Reading this book was one of those encounters for me, and I was totally not expecting that. To begin with, I didn't pick up the book for myself, I picked up the book because I wanted to be able to reach the “unchurched” who no longer feel that my Church is a spiritually safe home … and this book is absolutely aimed at those people, but the advice here was not the answer I was searching for. Ultimately this reimagining of the “Road to Emmaus” story in Luke re-affirms the idea that regardless of the reason they left and whatever road they are on, they are right where they are supposed to be. Sometimes that is hard to take when you are the one left behind … and that is where this book hit me.

I have never really had a “crisis of faith” that would set me adrift to wander the “Godforsaken Road” to Emmaus. In fact, I come from a family with generations of preachers, teachers and missionaries that helped create a rock solid faith foundation. And while I have changed church traditions, I never really considered myself as the target audience … because when all is said and done … I stayed. In fact, by seeking ordination, you could say that I even doubled down on the place so many now find it impossible to stay in. Imagine my surprise when one of the vignettes profiles a woman that “has not walked away from her faith, but she has had to walk away from some of the spaces that once seemed to nature it.” <— Yeah … that is me looking back from the mirror. What is more … I found the pain and grief that many of my friends and family have also encountered in the Church that prompted them to “walk away.” Until now … I had always felt it was my mission to help bring them back when perhaps it would have been better to walk with them on the their Road to Emmaus instead. In short … I have a new perspective on dealing with the “people in the margins” where we can find the true Christ.

However, if you have trouble seeing these “people in the margins” and understanding their pain … this book is not for you. In the very first chapter, under the subheading of “What Sent You on the Road?” Martin introduces to a woman just coming to terms with her experience of sexual assault when the preacher decides to makes an impassioned defense of then Brett Kavanaugh along the lines of dismissing any concerns under the idea that the righteous are often falsely accused … if you are a partisan on either side, you have likely already formed your opinion about the author’s political views at this point … and you would have completely missed the point the author was trying to make. There is no opinion and condemnation of Kavanaugh here … instead you find a woman who feels that her own experiences, that color her world view, are irrelevant and were callously discarded by a pastor who job it was to minister to the broken. In other words, we the Church failed! Instead of answering Christ’s call to Love, we forced people to pick a side … so regardless if you have left to wander your own road (or if like me you have stayed despite the flaws), “Just keep on following the voice of Love. Don’t let the louder voices into your head. Don’t give in to the panic. Don’t let anybody else establish the terms.” You are exactly where you are supposed to be.



Chapter 1. The Road Called Godforsaken
Chapter 2. God on the Road Away from God
Chapter 3. When the Story Gets Too Small
Chapter 4. Your Pain in Real
Chapter 5. It’s Good to Be a Fan
Chapter 6. The Moment of Recognition
Chapter 7. People of the Burning Heart
Chapter 8. The Way Home
Chapter 9. What Had Happened on the Road



I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheRoadAwayFromGod #NetGalley.

[John Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a five for people who maybe left the church home they had, but are searching for a new home that is still centered on Jesus. For people who are done with Christianity all together, you might find parts of it (i.e. an entire chapter about communion) a little much. But if you push through that, I think you'll be glad you did.

I loved all that Jonathan draws from the Road to Emmaus story. Every chapter zooms in on a different part of the story. His heart for people who had to leave unsafe places is clear, and I think people will find the book as a whole very affirming and healing. Everyone, whatever road you are on, will enjoy this book and benefit from Jonathan's thoughts.

I also think people not on any road away from anything (i.e. still happy at church) will value Jonathan's insights from the Road to Emmaus story and will have more compassion for those on the road.

This single quote summarizes the heart behind this book for me:

“The truth is that a faith system that loses touch with God‘s heart for ‘all the families of the earth’ and actively stirs people to be over against their neighbors rather than to join the Son of love in sacrifice for them is not a faith that needs to be tweaked but a faith that needs to die. [...] I see the deep disillusionment so many people have right now with the church and religion as a sign not of falling away but of deeper fidelity to God." p.87

[Brian Rhea · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I'm afraid I am terribly, irrevocably into Jesus...I don't believe in moralism, rationalism, or nationalism. I do believe in joy, wonder, longing. I believe in tenderness. I believe in communities where people can share the joy of common embarrassment without fear. I believe in trusting what you can know on the other side of pain...I don't believe in coercion; I believe in happening. I don't believe in climbing; I believe in falling--because most lessons I have learned about the spiritual life I have learned from the underside of things, not from being on top. Somehow I still believe in the church--but it's complicated, as you will see, because I am complicated, like we all are." (pp. 41-42)
"There's a fire that burns in me that I did not start and cannot stop. Call it swagger if you want--I call it Spirit. Spirit blows over me, into me, out of me--the wildness of Trinity surges out of my control. I don't have to be faster. I don't have to be stronger. Nor do I have to pretend any longer to be less powerful than I am: I am made of the flame. God swims hot in my veins. The power is not mine--go ahead and tremble if you need to. I hold in me the secret that slumbers beneath the graveyard--and comes raging back to life...shouting." (pp. 173-174).
If you enjoy self-absorbed spirituality and casual progressive judgmentalism, you'll probably love this book. I don't, and I didn't.

[Kristin Perrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I feel seen. I feel like I'm not alone. I feel permission to be where I am.

I have been in the in-between, wandering in the wilderness, feeling far from God... Whatever you want to call it. Tired of watching church leaders hurting those I love and behaving badly. Absolutely exhausted by the religious right. Wondering where I went wrong that I haven't felt the presence of God in a while. Wondering if God is even still here. Feeling like there's something wrong with me. Hiding the shame of doubt while wondering if I can still call myself a Christian anymore. Feeling so, so alone in all of this.

Jonathan gently validated all of those feelings. He gave me words for the things I had not yet figured out how to say. He brought me to tears time and again. It was like he was right there in the room having a conversation with me. He understood the things I was feeling, and articulated them back to me in a way that gave me clarity. If you are feeling conflicted about your relationship with God or the church, I cannot recommend this book enough.

This book took me from feeling like I am off course and wandering far from God, to seeing that I am exactly where I need to be, God is still here, and that it's okay (and even necessary and beneficial) for a Christian to travel this road.

[Chelsea Kowal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, titled The Road Away from God, written by Jonathan Martin, is probably my favorite Christian, Bible-based book of all time. It is on a whole different level above that of such authors as Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen, whose books I have also read.

Martin focuses on quite a few Biblical stories as he argues that God never leaves us. No matter what or where the journey is that we find ourselves on, God is always with us. There were so many powerful quotes throughout this book.

Martin made me look at some stories in the Bible in ways that I had never seen them before. Not only that, but Martin writes so eloquently that it is impossible to feel like he’s speaking right to the reader. The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful, something I have never seen in a book that is written about the Bible, or God, for that matter. The writing made me want more and more, and I was sad the book was over.

I am a changed person having read this book. Even in the book, Martin argues that, along the journey, we learn and we are never the same person as we were before. I am so grateful I read this book, as I learned so much about my personal journey and God.

I easily rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Jonathan Martin (the author), NetGalley and Baker Books (the publisher) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Away from God
How Love Finds Us Even as We Walk Away
by Jonathan Martin
Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
Baker Books
Christian


I am reviewing a copy of The Road Away From God: How Love Finds Us Even As We Walk Away through Baker Books and Netgalley:



Disentangling the good news of the gospel from the toxic theologies that have rendered Jesus unrecognizable is no easy journey . There’s no wonder many have walked away from the Church.





The Road Away from God is Jonathan Martin’s reimagining of Luke's story of two disillusioned disciples walking the Emmaus road away from the holy city where they had watched their hope die a gruesome death right before their eyes.




This book is for anyone who has felt their Faith come apart, for those who are reckoning with the religious trauma they have dealt with, or for those walking the long road of deconstruction. Martin speaks compassionate hope into the journey of today's disillusioned disciples, revealing that the resurrected Christ is profoundly present with them even on what seems to be the road away from God.



I give The Road Away from God five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Road Away From God is a very approachable narrative of one man's spiritual journey. The author has a lovely writing style and I found myself highlighting many statements so that I could go back and ponder them at a later date.
I am always drawn to stories of spiritual quests and Jonathan Martin hooked me right away with the tale of the travelers to Emmaus. It is indeed comforting to know that we dont walk alone, even if we are not aware of our companion. I did feel, however, that beyond that, much of the ponderings became a bit repetitive. It is apparent that the author speaks from experience about grief and loss in his faith communities. He remains hopeful and encouraging to his readers who may be struggling to find their home.
I didn't particularly want to hear details about his discontent, and it appears the political component may have turned off other readers. For everyone who leaves a church, there are that many reasons why. However, this was undoubtedly therapeutic for him and perhaps for other marginalized readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Baker books for this ARC of The Road Away From God by Jonathan Martin.

[Hugh Dunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the two friends on the road to Emmaus is the basis of this book, reflecting how most of us are on or will find ourselves on a journey away from things that hurt, confuse and bring anger, and can leave us feeling isolated and abandoned. Ultimately, what can feel like a journey away from God.

Jonathan Martin’s view is that even at our most isolated, we are never alone: as the author puts it, “You can choose whatever path you need to, wherever it might lead you. But you can’t choose to walk it alone, no matter how hard you try.”

The Road Away From God is an honest, insightful and lyrical book that feels very timely, at a point where, even if God is not distant, we often feel ostracised by religion and church and that we are moving away from him.

It is thankfully not another book of ‘deconstruction’, where we are invited to throw away the parts of Christianity that are difficult, so much as a story of how to see our place in the world and our place in God’s plan. Its message is that no matter if we feel like we are alone on a desolate road, we are exactly where we are intended to be.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be greatly comforting for those who feel they have walked away from their faith in God. Who doubt their faith or their place within the church. Who maybe have had a difficult time with religion and don't know what they believe anymore.

I was drawn to this book because of the title. Because I've had that difficulty within a church setting after my divorce. The fallout was the church my ex-huband and I attended no longer accepting me as I was the "responsible" party, It didn't help that he lied to everyone to make himself look better and that no one even asked me my point of view. I was seen as responsible. Done and dusted.

It took me years to come to the same conclusion Jonathan points us to in this book. No matter the road we take, God is always with us. His comment that "sometimes we have to leave the house of God in order to encounter God in the wild" made my cry. Even though that wilderness experience was a while ago for me.

There was much else that made me cry. And nod my head. And cry some more.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting if a bit repetitive. I found some gems among Jonathan Martin's book, but I felt it could have been shorter. He talks about how God is really with you as you are walking "away" from Him due to some kind of disappointment with religion. You may feel like your faith is shattered, but really it is that God has called you to do some seeking and He will be with you along the way.

I do recommend it as one of the few books that deals head-on with the disappointments or breaks you might be having during a time of crisis in your church life.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt that this book was a great insight into religious deconstruction and coming to terms with your faith when you feel abandoned by your religion. I've seen some reviews stating that it was too political, and to those reviewers I say that they missed a lot of the point.

People are leaving the church now more than ever because the two have become intimately intertwined in many areas.

I did find parts of this book to be repetitive, making it a slow read in some parts, but overall, I thought the raw look at what it is like to deconstruct and find God again to be refreshing.

[Thus Kvothe The Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author attempts to describe why people leave their faith in the Judeo-Christian God and why many ultimately return. He is anti-apologetic and unabashedly charismatic in his approach. He relates the walk away from faith to the “Road to Emmaus” story from the Bible.

I did not connect with this work overall. There were some positive take-aways, but I felt it was inconsistent overall. The author spoke as though his view was the only one with merit, which I found off-putting.

Three stars is my rating. My thanks to Baker Books and the author.

[Jodi Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched me and put words to where I am right now in my faith journey. It helped solidify a lot of my thoughts and comforted me in that I do not feel alone. The authors honesty is so refreshing and has been a great encouragement to me. I'm glad I picked this book up as it was not on my reading list. It was a much needed read for me. I encourage anyone struggling in their faith journey to read this book.

[Michael Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different way to look at God. The author examines how we find God and what does them journey means. He uses the story of. The road to Emmaus as an example for his book and the basis for his story. I found the book a good read and inspirational. I recommend this book for religious readers.

[Jambean8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy, quick read. Emotion based rather than theology based, which is not a criticism or an endorsement, just an observation. Chapter 6 resonated with me the most as that's where I am in my own journey. I can see how anyone who feels lost with God can find comfort and hope here. I'm grateful to have read it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book 4 years ago. It is the book you need if you feel wounded or abandoned by your faith home and are meandering in the spiritual wilderness. It’s the book for you if you still love God or think you might but tribes in the church have even made that difficult.