06/11/2025
đ NEW REVIEW of a new book from Michelle Van Loon đ
Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism's Nonessentials
Reviewed for us by Ann Byle. Here's what Ann had to say
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Michelle Van Loon has seen just about all there is to see in her five decades of following Jesus. Raised in a non-observant Jewish family, she participated in some and witnessed all of the evangelical fads, stunts, trends, movements, and cycles through the years.
Now, she says, itâs time to downsize, âWe are now in a time of reckoning. We are actively sorting through the last couple of generations of evangelicalism in the West. Only those who come after us will be able to assess whether this is a full-scale rummage sale or just a spring cleaning of a slice of the larger global church. In any case, here in America, downsizing is in progressâ (7), says Van Loon in her introduction to her latest book.
Her sharp analysis and excellent grasp of evangelical history will appeal to those looking for more than a quick overview of history and a slap-dash condemnation of the obvious issues facing evangelicalism (think moral failures, abuses of power). But more than a careful study, Van Loon weaves her own story throughout as she recalls her decades in the evangelical world which âhas shown me that there is no single entity to whom the apostle would address a letter. There are many expressions of evangelicalismâ (22).
Van Loon points to a number of beliefs and practices that need downsizing, in her opinion. From her time in a Plymouth Brethren congregation, she points to the âpriesthood of all believers,â a card played âin the name of personal preferenceâ (50). From her experience as a Messianic Jew, sheâs seen a plethora of âwacky teachingâ (64) that needs to be pruned, pointing out that all sorts of such teachings need to be downsized. From her spiritual trauma linked to Word of Faith and Shepherding movements, Van Loon sees the need to downsize those movements as well as help those hurt by them, and all spiritual trauma, through grief.
Van Loonâs years of homeschooling point out another item that needs downsizing: evangelicalismâs making an idol of family and children. She points to issues such as âthe fear-driven overreaction toward even the slightest hint of a perceived cultural threat,â homeschooling as the best way to protect from culture, dominionism (God calls us to lead nations based on Godâs law), patriarchy, and purity cultureâall idols and all in need of downsizing (108).
The church growth movement also faces Van Loonâs downsizing axe. All those megachurchesâshe points to Robert Schuller, Bill Hybels, Mark Driscollâwere breeding grounds for both leadership abuse and an overt focus on using tools from the worlds of business and organizational leadership to build congregations.
âWith the blessing of church growth teaching, pastors of megachurches evolved into CEOs, evangelism became marketing, and the names of living stones filled uniform brick-shaped slots on an organizational chart in the church conference room,â she said (120). âEvangelicals have learned to build better bricks,â she adds. But people arenât bricks and evangelism isnât marketing.
Downsizing means turning back to seeing people as Godâs children, not just numbers. âBut God has never chosen to use mass-produced bricks to build his church. Downsizing means we will leave our brick-making skills behind as we recognize that heâs always and only building his church from living stones, on the cornerstone of his beloved Sonâ (124).
Van Loonâs conclusion is that the downsizing taking place now in evangelicalism in particular is a refining process that will make the church even more beautiful, make her a church that God is proud of. A church where fads, power, control, and numbers mean nothing. Where individualsâliving stones not merely bricks in a wallâcan flourish.
**Read the full review at The Englewood Review đ
