The Light in Our Eyes - by Nicholas McDonald (Paperback)

About the Book

"For the millions who have felt disillusioned with the American Evangelical culture, this book is a lifeline for navigating the cynicism of the Left and Right to find real hope in the life and mission of Jesus"--

Book Synopsis

For the millions who have felt disillusioned with American evangelical culture, this book is a lifeline for navigating the cynicism of both conservative and progressive beliefs to find real hope in the life and mission of Jesus.

As a pastor and author, Nicholas McDonald spent years helping people work through serious questions about the evangelical church's gospel and its often hurtful responses to those confused by American Evangelical culture. He quickly realized that what these people needed--what he really needed--was not merely apologetics answers but the good news that speaks to their deepest dreams: love, beauty, and freedom--the very things Jesus promises to those who follow Him.

With excellent storytelling and profound insights from his own deconstruction journey, McDonald compassionately addresses the concerns so many readers have with the evangelical subculture's sense of entitlement, nostalgia, and cynicism. And he outlines a clear path to finding restoration in Jesus. The Light in Our Eyes offers nine ancient practices to help you experience anew--or for the first time--Jesus's love, beauty, and freedom and to embody and extend them in the world. Through the scriptural song of Zechariah and relatable, inspiring stories of men and women who have been restoried by the gospel of Jesus, this book reminds us that Jesus' dreams fulfill what our hearts have longed for all along.

Journey from despair and darkness to faith and light as McDonald outlines a path to becoming reenchanted by the dreams Jesus has for each one of us, the church, and the world. To take up His dream is the invitation to believe again, and to hope again.

Review Quotes

"In a rare spirit of sympathy with the criticisms (and healthy bit of humor), [Nicholas] McDonald makes a compelling case that replacing a joyless Christianity with a joyless deconstruction is a dead end. The path to recovery begins by being disillusioned with disillusionment, finding a road to more joy (not less) and thereby finding one's way back to the genuine Jesus. This is a desperately needed book."--Richard Lints, senior advisor of Redeemer City to City (NYC) and senior professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"In The Light in Our Eyes, McDonald invites us to reclaim a vision of Christian faith that isn't bound on either side by argumentation and contemporary political positions. This charming, insightful, and funny book casts a vision for faith that is, in fact, quite ancient. This narrative is for those who are weary of a Christianity that has become a collection of position papers and who hunger to re-remember the dreams of Jesus."--John Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

"Many people are disillusioned by what they believe to be Christianity but what is, in fact, a false narrative that McDonald calls 'the story of escape.' In reality, Christianity is a wondrous drama of rootedness and renewal, and this book invites readers to be 're-storied' and to embrace faith in Jesus with a restored imagination. The church may have many cracks, but--to riff off a song by Leonard Cohen--sometimes that's how the light gets in, guiding us back to the beauty of God. With this book, McDonald rings the bell that still can ring and beckons us to listen and look."--Wesley Vander Lugt, theologian and author of Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith That Breathes

"This book couldn't be more timely. For the church's flawed--occasionally even toxic or bullying--witness, McDonald offers an understandable response to her hypocrisy, tribalism, and abuses. He invites us to discover that Jesus's gospel and dream for the world offers us hope and love in richer and more life-enhancing ways than we could ever imagine."--Mark Meynell, writer, pastor, and mentor, formerly Europe and Caribbean director for Langham Preaching, and author of several books including A Wilderness of Mirrors and co-editor of Not So with You: Power and Leadership for the Church

"The Light in Our Eyes offers those struggling with doubt, disillusionment, and deconstruction the room to name and acknowledge what is legitimately troubling within contemporary evangelical Christianity, while encouraging a more ancient, global, and hope-filled vision of the Christian faith."--Mark P. Ryan, executive director of Sage Christianity and associate professor of congregational theology and cultural apologetics at Calvin Theological Seminary--Missional Training Center

About the Author

Nicholas McDonald is the Associate Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian church in central Indianapolis and has served in ministry for over fifteen years. His previous positions have included roles in youth ministry and four years as the Campus Minister of Reformed University Fellowship at the University of Missouri. McDonald received his degree from Gordon Conwell Seminary and studied creative writing at Oxford University. He writes regularly for The Gospel Coalition and is the author of Faker. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and their three children.