Review: What Would Jesus Deconstruct?

John Caputo’s newest book What Would Jesus Deconstruct is apart of a series called “The church and Postmodern Culture”. This title is done with the familiar phrase of WWJD (What would Jesus Do) however this is a book that is not about postmodernism and deconstruction but is postmodernism and deconstruction. Looking at the morality tale of the Christian Right, Caputo begins to deconstruct the Famous What Would Jesus Do with the phrase What Would Jesus Deconstruct.

Caputo jabs at the Religious Right in a very enlighten but humorous way and directs to bring out postmodern philosophy and criticism and explain it in a way for a lay person. This is a difficult read however, for someone who does not dabble in these topics before. This is not a “on ramp” book for postmodern theology/philosophy. Caputo does keep it engaging with some humor within the text and keeps you reading through times of not understanding and deep thinking.

Caputo takes head on the view that deconstruction is the elimination of meaning with the idea the deconstruction is “the hermeneutics of the kingdom of God”. He feels this idea is rooted in Scripture. He feels that deconstruction is the impossible becoming possible…the kingdom of God makes heaven on earth.

He feels this hermeneutic idea is opposite of what the earthly church is and that the church needs to be deconstructed as well. He feels that the church was “Plan B” and a stepping stone of the status quo until Jesus comes again. He is not calling for a disbandment of the church all together but he does not spend much time explaining this idea which is surprising.
The ideal that Caputo is going for is for all followers in Jesus to become more like Christ in all aspects of like and to be co-deconstructors with Jesus….

Deconstruction is the way in which followers begin to tear away the injustice, violence, and political powers of the world. Caputo hits on some hard issues and shows how deconstruction breaks these down within the culture wars. When we present the opposition in the way of hermeneutics of God we introduce these to the world as a radical movement of justice, hospitality and love where the gift of the impossible God died and came back through a impossible resurrection.

At the end of book, Caputo talks about the role of doubt in the midst of faith. His point is that the only way to freedom is from the freedom of doubt that comes from the mysterious, impossible mess that is the church, faith, Jesus, the Spirit, the Father, and the kingdom of God.

The book was a challenging read but one that is needed within this discussion of the church and postmodernity. There are places where I question the thinking and in some may not fully understand what is being said, however I appreciate the approach and what Caputo is calling us to. Again, this is definitely not an on-ramp book in this conversation however is an important voice with the discussion of the church and postmodern culture.