Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain

Is your life perfect in every way? Then you probably won’t like Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain.

Do you have absolute, unwavering, all-the-time, no matter what faith and confidence in the perfect plan of God? Then you probably won’t like Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain.

Do you prefer a perfectly linear book that moves systematically from start to destination, you definitely won’t like Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain.

But if you’ve ever wondered, “Where are you, God?” or “Where were you, God?” you’ll appreciate Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain.

If you’ve ever wanted to shout, “God, you’re doing it all wrong!” you’ll love Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain.

Finding God in the Ruins: How God Redeems Pain by Matt Bays is a raw, gritty, irreverent, meandering look the experience of one man – and all of us – as we question God and his ways in the face of pain and doubt. Bays’ story is one of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, but he weaves into his story those of suicide, cancer, disability, and unanswered prayer. The story he shares with us is a long journey of authentic questioning. In fact, he took a hiatus from God, inviting him to prove himself. Or not. Bays says, “Unexpressed doubt can be toxic.” And so, he went on a quest to express, explore, and challenge his doubts, inviting God to show himself. Or not.

In the process of this meandering journey, Bays’ subplot is that of his journey toward healing. Again, he is in no hurry, exploring his memories, his feelings, and truth. One critical concept that is so often underestimated is that whatever happened to us can’t be undone. Only healed. Yet we all too often blame what happened and who did it to us, as if we could rewind our life and make it better. And since we can’t rewind, we decide we can never be healed. Bays says that while the offense can’t be undone, it can be rewritten from this point forward. That is the best we can expect, and it can be enough.

This is an uncomfortable book. It doesn’t tie up our faith into a neat bow. In fact, it doesn’t tie up much of anything. But it’s well worth the read and will become required reading for many of the women I mentor. Especially those who believe that they are forever beyond healing because of their past. And those who believe God doesn’t play fair.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

In "Finding God in the Ruins", Matt Bays does something profound; he takes "packaged" Christianity, kicks it off its axis, lets it roll, and once it lands declares, "THIS is how we need to view it." He leaves it messy. He leaves the pain. He leaves it raw. Rather than buff it all out by touting a few verses and saying we should now be whole and healed, he makes sure we know God is present within the pain. God isn't (or has never) turned away and avoided the moments that are the most dark. He is there. And Bays continues to drive this point home with examples from his life as well as the lives of others. A key point in seeing how God redeems pain is the need for us to all be authentic; sharing our pain, our trauma, and allowing others to see the road we walked to find our way to God is a very powerful testimony.

I did enjoy this book for all its truth and authenticity, but I am giving it 4 stars for a very specific reason--as much as God is discussed within the book, the name of Jesus Christ and having a personal relationship with him is absent. If someone is not a Christian and completely gravitates & connects to this book (which is extremely likely given the welcoming & accepting writing style), the person will have learned much about God and yet not so much about coming to the Father THROUGH Christ. I know many people who consider themselves Christians, believe in God, and even pray...and yet they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. And not seeing His name throughout the pages, nor a clear recognition of the Holy Spirit's role in the redemptive process bothers me a bit. Overall, this is a wonderful work, but I do feel those areas could have been more clearly established rather than implied.

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.*

This is a book not only about Matt Bays recovering from grief but also from abuse. To me it reads like a memoir while Matt encourages people to use their pain and share their stories from what happened to them, to reach out to people so they know they are not alone with what has happened (or is happening) to them.

This was a hard book for me to read because it was difficult to read about what Matt endured. I read it a little bit at a time because of that. Sometimes I could only read a chapter a week, while other weeks a few chapters or so. Matt's story was heartbreaking on one hand, and very encouraging on another. I was the most intrigued about how he explained that God seemed silent to him while he was going through the hardships, which is how I sometimes feel. It was encouraging to read about how God has used what happened to him to help others that have been put in his path.

Sometimes I think it is great for us to share our stories to help people at different times God wants us to. There are other times I think it could damage the reputation of people that hurt us if we use their names or people can figure out who they are, especially if they have turned from the bad behavior. So, through this book Matt encouraged me to share my story with discernment, I believe in regards to how and to whom I should share it with. I loved reading about some of the people that came into Matt's life to encourage him while he was going through hardships.

There is a discussion question guide in the back of the book for each chapter that people could use for individual or for group study.

I received this book as well as an advanced reader's copy of this book free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

In Finding God In The Ruins, Matt Bays leaves everything on the table. Bays shares a very transparent look into his own personal "ruins" and offers a bold challenge to not move over or around our own personal ruins but through them. Matt writes with an urgency that is palpable on every page of this book. Bays' encouragement is that we find God and know Him in the hard places of life and that we trust Him with everything. The book includes Discussion Questions at the end. This book would be a powerful discipleship tool in a small group setting.
*Some other reviewers have cited problems with Bays' use of Scripture primarily noting his comments regarding Psalm 44:11. Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalm 44:9-16 say this:
"The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear hat he has cast them off, and that his name and truth will be dishonored. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them, but what is permitted from above."
I believe many of the negative things being said about the author's message is the very thing he warns believers against. We want Christ to come into our lives and make everything all neat and tidy;however, it just doesn't work that way. God's greatest work often arises out of the biggest, darkest messes. That's the message of this book and Bays' tells it well.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of giving my honest review.

Bays tackles – with grit and grace – some of the deepest and darkest questions that touch every soul at some point in life. If you personally haven’t thought them (because we don’t dare say them out loud), someone close to you has… is… will. This isn’t an easy read. It’s gritty at times. It’s uncomfortable. It asks questions and relates scenarios that we don’t like to consider. And in the interest of full honesty, I don’t agree with everything Bays asserts or always how he asserts it… BUT… the main idea behind Finding God in the Ruins is a vital one that desperately needs to be in the hands of anyone who has ever walked away from God – or wanted to. Our pat answers aren’t cutting it anymore – for ourselves, and certainly not for anyone else. You won’t find pat answers in this book, and while I can’t embrace all of his points, I appreciate the passion behind them.

Finding God in the Ruins would be a very good resource for a small group discussion … both for groups of unchurched/dechurched as well as for “native Christians” who are open to stretching their comfortable faith a bit. This is a key question – When the reality of your pain doesn’t line up with what you’ve been taught in church, then what? – and one that more churches and followers of Jesus need to embrace and address.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

Finding God in the Ruins 

About the Book
If God is love, why do we hurt so much?
When the reality of your pain doesn’t line up with what you’ve been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain.
Matt Bays has been where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.
Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Review

While this book is really great in so many ways, Matt does say some things that make me uneasy. For instance, he quotes Psalm 44 and says that David is thinking ill of God. While David is questioning why God is allowing these things to happen, I do not believe that David is actually thinking ill thoughts towards God. He also says, "When the God of your church origin gives you the remedial cliche for your pain time and time again, there's not a thing wrong with sticking your middle finger right in his face." Really?! God is still GOD! This isn't something I would do to another person, let alone the Lord. This is the perfect example of what is wrong with many American Christians today. We want to bring God down to our level and there is a loss of reverence for the Creator of us all.
This book is definitely written with an open heart. I did get a lot from the book but caution the reader to be aware and to be discerning when reading the book. This book has gotten a lot of press and sometimes people tend to overlook the questionable things and just accept it without question because of the hype. As I said, be discerning. Always question what you read and make sure it is in the same things as what Gods Word says.

About the Author
Matt Bays is a writer, speaker, and musician with a passion to call people out of their hiding places. In ministry for twenty years, he and his wife, Heather, live in Indianapolis with their fun-loving and insightful teenage daughters.

From Litfuse group...book for my review

I read the reviews before purchasing the book and believed that the author's experience included abuse during childhood. The history desccribed is one of incest at the hands of his stepfather as well as deep hypocrisy on the part of adults in his church community. I was expecting a very different book. The author writes well, but meanders through his experience of psychological counseling; he also speaks at length of his alcoholism and grief at the diagnosis of his sister's cancer. I respect his journey and believe that he may personally have come to terms with his personal pain and the relationship with God, Unfortunately, I came away with nothing that would build a deeper faith or depth in my own relationship with God or others. I found this to be more of a self-reflective contemporary autobiography with no take-away lessons or applications for real life. I was left with the same platitudes and pretty words that the author discusses in the first few pages as being empty; I found nothing substantial. I appreciate the fact that as a book describing the experience of incest, the story will resonate with many people and I am not criticizing the book. It just was not what I anticipated from the description or the reviews; I was also hoping for something solid and hopeful in the resolution but found neither.

Finding God In The Ruins is about overcoming trauma and tragedy in life and finding God in the tragedy. This book is very well written and the author held my attention throughout the entire book. This book can be a life changer to people who will let the words speak to them. Many of us have gone through something bad and ask ourselves where is God. This book will reach to those who have once felt that or are feeling that now. The book is not entirely without humor. The author injects humor where it is needed.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review

Matt will take you through his story, his journey of finding his own personal faith surrounded by life's circumstances. Matt gives hope to those who feel there is nobody else like them out there, and he gives us all a push to tell outperform stories. No matter your life's experiences you DO have a story and Matt has a uniquely comforting way or gently urging us to vocalize our story. God IS love and we as humans are ALL made in Gods image, and are ALL given Grace. Finding God in the Ruins is told by a broken man who loves God, yet understands he is human and has free will. Matt will have you crying, laughing out loud, and challenge you to a solid foundation of faith built on Gods love for his children. I challenge you to pick up Matts book and dig deep to question your own faith. Build your story, communicate your story and don't let it die. My life is built on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, my personal savior, and reading Matts book strengthens my faith. Thank you Matt for allowing us to see you your life from the inside out, for being vulnerable and transparent, but mostly for encouraging all the "crickets, grasshoppers and caterpillars to come out and support one another. You will help so many with your story Matt - thankful for having read this story ?

This book is a must read and purchase two copies: one for you, to read and keep and one for you to give to someone. I read the book in one evening because I couldn't stop reading. Matt shares his story so truthfully, so raw, so honest. You want to keep reading to know what happens next. You want to keep reading because while your story is different, your story is so much the same.

Now, God. Goodness does God bring a lot of emotions, thoughts and judgement for many. I am the first to say, I don't want to read a "God book". I thought that before I read this book ... but this book isn't telling you what to believe or making a case for a particular region. This book is showing us that something, someone, God (maybe?) is here and paying attention during the good and during the bad.

This book will make you stop, think and be better - whatever better means to you.

Wow, what a great, honest, open and significant book. My wife purchased it, read it in less than a week, gave it to me, I read it in two nights, and I passed it on to our 16 year old son, who also read it in 2 nights. Very moving and powerful. I really appreciated the way the author reframes an authentic relationship with God in contrast to what I have typically heard in church. His honest and open struggles and downright anger with God has been very helpful to me in my recovery walk and spiritual journey. A great read, one that is both heartbreaking and incredibly hopeful. It is rare that an author can bring a smile to your face while your tears have not yet dried on your cheeks. Highly recommend to everyone.

Finding God In The Ruins is an honest, moving, beautifully written book in which Matt uses his personal life experiences to show us how God reveals Himself to the hurting. In many ways, the book reminds me of a contemporary version of the book of Job.

I found Matt’s personal reflections insightful and riveting. If you are ready to take off your mask – to be transparent – and to grapple with the difficult theological questions that many Christians would rather avoid, but that anyone who has experienced deep pain and trauma in their life must wrestle with and reconcile before they can truly experience the deep and abundant love of God – then you will enjoy reading Finding God In The Ruins.

Recommended!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is an honest, raw, and compelling faith memoir that reflects on the problem of pain. Matt is not afraid to "go there," wrestling with the age-old question "God, where are you when bad things happen?" Sharing stories from his own wounded past, he demonstrates how he wrestled with God and even walked away from faith for a season as a result of his pain and unanswered prayers. He confronts head-on the shiny definition of "redemption" that gets sprinkled on hardships discussed in Christian circles, the one that tells those in pain to hush and promises that those who pray hard enough will receive the answers they want. Redemption is real, but it doesn't look like we expect. It's a journey that begins with telling the truth about the darkness and asking the hard questions.

This honest seeker uses refreshing language to express his journey and welcomes others to come out of the shadows. I found his writing to be clear, vivid and free of cliches. The good news that Matt discovered is that God is big enough to handle every one of our doubts, is endlessly patient with our questions, and isn't afraid of our disappointment and rage. God's love for him - and for us - is deeper, more complete and more unshakable than we could ever hope or imagine.

Here's my favorite quote from the book (p.133): "Sometimes it feels as if God has invited himself into my pain, when I had hoped to be invited into his healing. We want a God who heals our wounds, but it seems we have a God who heals our hearts."

I would recommend this book to anyone unsatisfied with easy answers who wants to know God.

This antihero of cliche-ridden Christian books has powerful passages that will stay with you forever. Don't miss the author's book trailer at [...]

Unlike the trend of "it's okay to doubt" books, this one goes all the way through doubt to giving up on God. Watch what happens next. It's incredibly beautiful and hope-filled.

Generally, I have reading "Christian" books because most of them are written according to a formula. If you know the formula, and you can find their key Bible verse, then you can predict the rest of the book with good accuracy. There are a few authors who refreshingly break the mold. One of them is Donald Miller. Another is Matt Bays.

This is not a book that I could finish reading, say, "Well, that was nice," close the cover, and put it on the bookshelf. Matt has challenged me in so many ways that now I have a ton of work to do!

For example, in a recent email to Matt, I wrote, "When I was 12, I had some great conversations with God. Then, over the years, people taught me what kinds of conversations were and were not appropriate to have with God. This really wrecked my relationship with him and I pretty much quit talking to him. Your book is really empowering me. I hope that one day soon I can go [hiking] some place and have a real heart-to-heart with God like I used to do."

Well, my book is all marked up, underlined, highlighted, starred and noted, because it hit home in so many places. Home. That's exactly it...like what we all want and need home to be. A place you go to be you- all your sores and stains and broken pieces out in the open, but it's still ok and you are still loved, because everyone else is broken too. Although, the stains on your shirt you weren't aware of may become glaringly obvious as the book moves on...but we need that, right? Because who wants to walk around with stains visible to everyone else but not themselves? Not this girl- at least, not most days. I'll come back to this book over and over. For confirmation, for comfort, for discomfort when needed. You need to buy this book and read it. Mark it up. Share it. Find God in YOUR ruins, where you least expect Him.

Matt Bays’ book “Finding God in the Ruins” was an unexpected treasure. Several of my other writer friends had already extolled his wisdom, depth of soul and beautiful way of truthfully turning himself inside out in words. I was expecting to love the book, but I wasn’t expecting to be moved, lifted and opened up by the book.

Let me say that this book, yes, has the big G in the title and yes is very much a book about faith and relationship with God. I am still walking my path on that journey and it’s not something I typically address too deeply, especially publicly, but whether you are a believer in the typical Judeo/Christian God, the gods of the universe, Mother Earth, or just the rise and swell of the oceans-- there is something for you here. I found this book to be so raw and relatable; so truthy and so wise, you will learn, you will relate and you will hear it echo during your day, no matter your starting point.

Matt’s story is one that needed telling. I am still sitting here flipping through my copy and the exclamations in the margin. If you are in the ruins or feeling yourself about to “rumble” get this book. It will speak to you like “a voice so small it could fit only within the most peculiar crack of [your] heart.”

I really have mixed feelings about this book. There are aspects of it I really like but others that make me hesitant to recommend it.

On the positive side, I really appreciate Bays' honesty. He had a horrible childhood of incest and dysfunctional sexuality. He is very open about his experiences and his feelings about those experiences then and now. He is honest about his questions, asking why God allowed such suffering then and why He allows so much suffering in the world now. He says our faith can be strengthened when we ask questions of God. We ultimately realize God has been with us in our brokenness.

I appreciate his comments about God and suffering. Are we willing to allow God to deepen us, to use our suffering? He suggests we cannot experience the fullness of God otherwise. I appreciate his comments about how the God we experience seems nothing like the God we are taught about in church. He doesn't seem to keep His promises. Bays writes that God has not “worked all things out for the good,” at least not the way he would have done it. We lose faith when God doesn't behave the way we've been taught. If we allow ourselves to doubt, we will ultimately find that God is there in the ruins.

I appreciate the honest and raw way Bays explores his story and his doubt. But there are parts of his story that bother me. He was in pastoral work, leading worship, during many of the years of his doubt. He says he would lead songs for the congregation yet not believe what he was singing. He performed a wedding for his cancer ridden sister and her live-in boyfriend when the divorce from her previous husband had not been finalized. Bays says he felt they were already married in God's eyes so performed the ceremony.

Bays quotes Psalm 44, saying David calls God a liar and a cheat. There was no reference in my galley so I did some research and found the reference of Psalm 44:11-12. I cannot find any translation that is even close to what Bays says it says. Not The Message, not the NLT.

So I must recommend caution when reading this book. I really like Bays' raw honesty. We need more of that as we tell our stories. I like his confronting God head on about allowing such suffering. But I don't like the idea of being in ministry while not believing the words spoken nor do I like performing a wedding that would not be legal under the law.

I suggest reading this book in community, within a small group of trusted friends, as there is a good discussion guide at the end of the book. Reading this book begs for sharing experiences and discussing God's part in them. Bays says doubt is part of the journey to bring our faith from adolescence to adulthood. It is good to have others along on that journey with you.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

“God knows your name. And in the immense pain, he whispers under his bright, sending a love song – a melody of grace notes that in time will balance every dissonant chord of tyour life. He is the one who, at this very moment, wherever you may be, has hung and invisible banner over your head that reads, I have reddemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. – Isa. 43:1 ESV”

Matt Bays’ book, Finding God in the Ruins, has been a tool used by God in redeeming some of the darkest moments of my life. I have wept, rejoiced, and sat in silent awe at the transformation that took place in my heart as I read this book.

Was is what I expected? No. It was too transparent, too raw, too messy, too painful – it was TRUE!!! And this is the truth, transparency and messy painfulness that I want to have every moment the rest of my life in relationship with God – my creator, my redeemer – my friend!

Dear reader, if you don’t read another book all year, pick this book up and soak up every single word! Lay down your religious tradition and embrace the love of your heavenly Father – completely – without reservation – in spite of your mess – your pain – in spite of everything!! Please, I ask you from the deepest part of my heart – chase after God and your redemption with every fiber of your being!! Be made new!!

I PRAISE GOD for Matt Bay’s and his amazing, painful obedience to write this beautiful book!!

If you would never question God, if you would just chalk your bad experience or abuse to "just trust Him," this book is not for you.

Matt Bays says on p.207, "I've never seen myself as a worthy representative of God because too much happened to me as a child, and my doubt has often left me feeling entirely inadequate."

I beg to differ: you will rarely find such an authentic, soul-searching book that deals with the raw realities of real life - not the syrupy veneer of Jesus we find in many western churches.

Simply said, if you have struggled with a rough family background of any sort - or are friends with anyone who has (so this includes pretty much all Christians) - this book is a must-read!

This artfully and articulately written journey explores “the ruins” where the author least expected to find anything of value…much less a loving God. His story is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in a long time. Reading Matt’s story could mean the difference between drowning in pain for the rest of your life and finding the greatest love you’ve ever known through that very same pain.

Matt's story is definitely applicable to many folks out there - including many in ministry. Everyone involved in ministry doesn't come from a perfect background. I wish he had centered more on God and his redemptive character than his own story.

As an English and Creative Writing teacher I often find myself quitting fifty pages in when it comes to books in this genre--glorified sermons turned into two to three hundred pages with writing styles that are stale and stuffy. And let me just say, Wow. Writer Matt Bays is the complete opposite of these things, presenting a new level of beauty with his raw and honest style devoid of clichés.

Anyone looking to feel like they are not alone in this crazy, broken world will find what they search in these pages as Matt lays out the ugly truth of pain and the beautiful love of a God who loves us before we knew him; but most importantly, even when we've questioned him, hated him, and doubted him.

This book challenged and encouraged me at a time when everything I thought about God, everything I had been taught and then taught others about God was turned upside down. Thank you Matt Bays for creating a devotion for the Bible app I use because it prompted me to buy the book. If you or someone you know needs encouragement and permission to be real this book would be a good place to start.

Where do I begin? Matt has written an absolute treasure. His story will grip you, bring tears and weave you in and out of his very honest and raw challenge to find God through incredible pain. So much of what he shares personally challenges my own deep pain and losses, and presses me to look at God in a more real way. No matter your core ache, we all have deep wounds and I highly recommend this book as a tool in your healing journey. Thank you, Matt, for being vulnerable and transparent!

This book is very powerful, raw, and transparent. It is beautifully written and humorous at times to. I am not someone who reads often but I could not put this book down. I never imagined it would have impacted me the way it has. I highly recommend this book!

This is an amazing book that tells of tragedy and Grace on so many different levels. I have cried out to God in doubt so many times, believing if I prayed or said the right thing, God would instantaneously fix things. God's word says "in this world you will have tribulation." This book gives me assurance that I can vent, I can get angry, I can fall apart and I still have GRACE! HE is there picking up our pieces of shame, guilt, lust, anger, bitterness, entitlement, loftiness, addiction....and says I love you and will love you through this!
Thank you Matt!

After a recommendation from our pastor, I picked this up. Could not put it down! Really good read about redemption from unimaginable pain.......walking with Jesus in the valley of the shadow. Thank you, Matt Bayes, for sharing your life in such a real way that others can benefit from your pain and heartache as you were able to find comfort/healing in your good, good Father. It's who He is!!!! And who you are!!!

Matt Bays is an outstanding and visual writer. This book entered into my dark places and showed me is safe to come out. He says what I've always thought but never had the courage to say. He's brave, honest, raw and real. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's suffered the pain of abuse or deep shame.

This compelling, moving and gut-wrenchingly honest book will transform you!! Matt Bays bares his soul; invites you to question what you've been taught in church and in life; allows you to get mad; and takes you on a journey that leads to hope, love and redemption. A gifted storyteller, he will keep you engaged throughout your journey. Simply inspiring! Me encanta......

Maybe its just me but knowing that all things work out for my good and God's glory is what keeps me sane and is anything but cliche. Its God's word and an immensely practical help in my suffering. It is hard to get through this book because of the emotional baggage this guy has. I think it might be helpful for someone who has come from the same background as him, but he assumes all have been taught the same as him and therefore believed the same lies, now he can straighten others out with a revelation of what God is really like.... but I never believed those lies and don't trust ill taught ie most pastors anyway. The bible had all those answers he was looking for. Suffering is a means of grace in our lives and does work for our good and His glory...and I have been through a lot of it in the last 5 years. Not my kind of book

This book will change you. After reading Finding God in the Ruins, I feel like I have to approach the world (and my very own life) in a whole new way. This is one of those books that will wreck you in all the best ways. If you have ever experienced hurt in life, this book is for you.

Words cannot really express the impact this book 'Finding God in the ruins' had on my heart and spirit - raw , challenging , brutally but beautifully honest , challenging and refreshingly real .
It has stayed with me long after I have finished & I am using the questions at the back to continue my growth & healing.
I will never be the same again.

This book changed my life. It helped me see myself from the inside out. This book is an amazing resource to share with those who always question God. It is a raw, truthful, and enlightening. Blessed to have crossed paths with this masterpiece!

Everyone should read this book and then re read it over again. Such a necessity for life. This mans story has changed my life FOREVER. His passion for God and understanding of Gods forgiveness and love bless my whole life!!!! AMAZING

I love reading books about suffering because they help me grasp an idea of what life should be. They make my problems shrink to insignificant shadows and give me a bigger heart for others. I have been blessed to read (and review) several which I learned from and recommend: And It Was Beautiful, The Hardest Peace, Another Valley Another Victory, Bronner, and Soaring Above the Circumstances. I expected this book to be similar but not too far into the book I sensed that the author has a very different theology than the Bible teaches. By the time I got to the following quote I was extremely alarmed!
''God's own story was full of disorder, his past every bit messed up as mine. And when God saw how out of control things had gotten, he sent his son to clean things up.''
No true Christian can ever say this of God! I'm sorry, but there is no excuse for such a statement.
Early on in the book, the author kind of laughs about the fact that he went forward at his church to ''be saved'' on a dare and honestly states that he was not saved then. Unfortunately, Matt Bays never again mentions his salvation and never gives the reader any assurance that he indeed found redemption later on! In fact, he is quite honest about his sinful life growing up (following the response to the altar call at age 8 or so) and he is also honest that while he was a pastor and song leader he had major doubts. It's as if he is boasting of his doubt and confusion. What kind of Christianity would that be? Sorry, but when God saves, He saves completely. We are not made perfect, but we are regenerated and with the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Before we were dead and now we are made alive and there is no way a true believer can say such things as the following quotes from ''Finding God in the Ruins'': ''God's own story was full of disorder, his past every bit messed up as mine. And when God saw how out of control things had gotten, he sent his son to clean things up.''
''Sometimes when I've said all I've need to say, God says back to me, ''I'm sorry for all you've gone through, Matthew.'' And then when I've accused him and spoken the kind of words that would make your blood run cold, he's simply said, ''Are you finished?'' This natural back-and-forth is our relationship...''

''...I wonder if God's basement is also crowded with those of us he doesn't trust- you know, the fringy sort who pretend things are good, who never trust the relationship enough to speak up and tell him the truth. Maybe God liked Job and David best because they were honest with him. Afraid? Probably. But not too afraid to tell him exactly what they thought or write songs that accused him and put him on trial. .....maybe he longs to hear our hearts speak out in pain, even if in the end we blame him. ''

''God's own story was full of disorder, his past every bit messed up as mine. And when God saw how out of control things had gotten, he sent his son to clean things up.''

BLASPHEMOUS!!!
Another reviewer of this book also noted the following which likewise upset me as I read the book: there are parts of his story that bother me. He was in pastoral work, leading worship, during many of the years of his doubt. He says he would lead songs for the congregation yet not believe what he was singing. He performed a wedding for his cancer ridden sister and her live-in boyfriend when the divorce from her previous husband had not been finalized. Bays says he felt they were already married in God's eyes so performed the ceremony.
Bays quotes Psalm 44, saying David calls God a liar and a cheat. There was no reference in my galley so I did some research and found the reference of Psalm 44:11-12. I cannot find any translation that is even close to what Bays says it says. Not The Message, not the NLT.

Immediately upon reading this book, I put up some quick comments and direct quotes from the book while I pondered how to write my review.
ONE OF THE MOST BLASPHEMOUS BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. VERY DISAPPOINTED. FULL REVIEW TO COME. SOME SHOCKING QUOTES FROM THE BOOK BELOW: (I inserted quotes which are shared earlier in this review)

THAT IS NOT THE GOSPEL! THAT IS A LIE. BLASPHEMY. EVERY QUOTE I HAVE SHARED HERE IS OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT GOD!

Matt Bays, the author of ''Finding God in the Ruins'' responded to my thoughts as following:
I'm sorry you didn't like the book, Mazzou. I sincerely am. My hope is to come alongside the broken of this world - those who are hurting so deeply, so they will know they are not alone. Many people (and you may not know this yet) are so angry with God and feel they cannot express it. They have been through unspoken cruelties and walked away from their faith because they were afraid to be honest with God about their pain. Who will reach out to them? They are not responding to the sanitized and easy answers so many of our churches are providing.

If you read the Psalms you will find David calling God a cheat and a liar. "You've deceived us," he says to God. Yet he WASN'T considered blasphemous...but instead called "a man after God's own heart." I do respect your opinion, and I know it's not an easy book...but if Finding God in the Ruins is blasphemous, you'd have to call the book of Psalms and the book of Job blasphemous as well. God restored a murdering, broken King David, who hurled insults his way more than once. He can (and has) restored me as well. Peace and love, and so many good things.

In response to these comments; I don't really see David hurling insults at God. Many of the Psalms begin with a desperate tone because David was human and also, as he lived before Christ, he did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. However- David usually ends such Psalms with turning to God as His source of strength, hope and joy! And let me emphasize: David did NOT call God a ''cheat and a liar''. That may be a crazy misunderstanding from reading ''The Message''; when I find out I will update this review! In fact, David DID say the following...Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. (Psalm 69:9)

As for people who are hurting- they NEED a perfect, sovereign God! If God is made human-like and if we can simply treat him like our younger brother what strength can we find in Him? We need an infallible, unchanging, eternal God WHO MAKES NO MISTAKES to serve and worship and rely on. I'm sorry if people are offended by that- there are churches which are mistaken on various things; there are people who call themselves Christians yet who aren't and therefore cause more harm than good to unbelievers; there are Christians who have not learned to love like Christ loved. But that is no excuse for these broken people. They are responsible before God and if they turn away, they simply weren't His! I can only hope that those broken people would find true Christians who can help them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.