A Review of Theo of Golden - A Display of Christ-less Christianity

I want to write a review that I believe will upset some and downright offend others. The reason is that this book has received a huge number of positive reviews. It seems almost everyone loves it. I do not love this book. In fact, I think it’s the kind of book that could mislead Christians and hinder ministry.

This fictional work follows an elderly man named Theo who mysteriously arrives in a Georgia town. He enters a local coffee shop and becomes intrigued by the displayed drawn portraits. Through those portraits, he starts to connect with the residents of the town, and from that connection, unexpected help and blessing begins to blossom.

The best way to start this review is by exploring why so many people recommend this book. There are many commendable aspects to this work. In fact, this is a book I wouldn’t discourage you from reading. I believe there are some valuable insights to gain.

First, the writing is quite good. The author takes time to develop scenes and characters with a kind of depth that pulls you in and makes you feel present. The details are vivid and believable. While the writing can sometimes feel overextended, the characters are well-rounded enough to keep you interested in them and invested in what happens to them.

Second, there is an air of mystery that draws you into this book. Who is this man named Theo? This becomes a central question that is subtly hinted at, making you eager to understand what is really going on with this character. However, on this point, I was expecting more. On two separate occasions, I heard of people who immediately reread the book after finishing it. When I hear that, I think there is a twist so shocking and unexpected that readers feel compelled to go back and see how they missed it or how the new revelation fits with everything that came before. In this regard, I was disappointed. Yes, there was a revelation at the end, but I didn’t find it so surprising that I felt the need to reread. I’m a little puzzled as to why people are so shocked. Still, the suspense does pull the reader along, and I appreciate any work that can do that.

Third and most importantly, I believe one of the best features of this book is how Theo excels at drawing people out, listening attentively, appreciating each individual, and genuinely wanting to learn more about them. This is a valuable skill that is beautifully demonstrated. The call from God to love others often begins with being truly interested in them. You can usually tell pretty quickly if someone wants to know who you are. There's an attentiveness that encourages you to open up and share more about yourself and what's really going on in your life. We all need to improve in this area. This book helps you see it and learn from it. It shows how people can be blessed by it. I believe this is probably the main reason why this book is so highly recommended. It masterfully illustrates this. A compassionate, eager, and sincere relationship that skillfully draws out our inner fears, questions, and burdens is rare and impactful. This book presents this idea in a compelling way.

But let’s address the real issue with the book, one that I consider important. It’s entirely about what it means to be a Christian, an ambassador of Christ, and servants of the Lord of life.

This book is written by a Christian named Allen Levi. It carries a distinct Christian vibe that you notice in various ways. First, the main character's name is Theo. You don't need to be a Greek scholar to see the connection to God, which the author acknowledges. There are references to Heaven, blessings, and church events even appear a few times. Additionally, a part of a sermon is included that shifts everything towards Christian themes.

But do you understand what I am saying? All the Christianity in this book is just vibe, theme, and allusions. If this book had been written by some random non-Christian, I wouldn't be disturbed. Most everyday non-Christians recognize a spiritual reality, and many are not uncomfortable mentioning it. But the author is not an ordinary non-Christian. He is a professing believer who is intelligent and I assume familiar with sound theology and Christian practice. This is what makes this book such a serious problem.

To put it plainly, this book is a liberal fever dream of Christ-less Christianity. Jesus is real, but he isn't significant enough to be included in this story. God is present, but he doesn't need to be overly emphasized. The gospel isn't enough to form the foundation of your life or for you to call others to see and submit to. No. What you find in this book is that goodness alone is enough. Kindness is sufficient to bring joy. Compassion is a calling that requires no gospel undergirding.

Theo is portrayed as a wise, caring, and mature Christian man. Is he spiritual? Yes. Is he mature? Not according to the Bible. The Bible calls us to a burning passion for Christ, where luke-warmness is rejected and zealous love for Christ is the standard. We are not called to merely assume Jesus or hint at Jesus. No. He is our cornerstone, our fountain of living water, our daily bread, our King and Lord. This book aims to show you the well-lived life, where Jesus remains in the background, and a background Jesus is perfectly acceptable. This reflects the liberal trend of the last century. Liberal theology sought to blend spirituality with modern sensibilities. It aimed to gain acceptance from academia and elite culture. But to achieve that acceptance, all the old, embarrassing doctrines had to be discarded, as well as shedding the all-encompassing Lordship of Jesus Christ. You can keep Jesus, just ensure he is tame and neutered; not calling for repentance and faith or making everything revolve around him.

Now I realize these are strong words. This is all the more true when it is written by a Christian brother. But I believe this is supported and made explicit in an interview Allen Levi gave about the book, hosted by Collin Hansen on the Gospel Coalition website.

At one point in the interview, Collin Hansen called this work Christian fiction. But Allen Levi pushed back, saying he did not want it to be seen that way. Instead, he wanted it to align with his mission statement: to "use creative gifts to provoke Godward thought." He says he aims to write for as broad an audience as possible. Therefore, he mentioned that while heaven is often referenced in the book, he did not mention Jesus Christ because he did not want readers to stop reading.

My friends, that is what you call an abdication of the gospel. Even his mission statement shows a failure of true Christian faithfulness. Your mission is not to provoke thoughts about God. Your mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ and, as an ambassador for Jesus Christ, to carry the message of reconciliation. That means clarity, boldness, and zeal for the glory of Christ, not vague references, allusions, or veiled nods toward deity. No, I don’t believe that faithful Christian living requires you to stamp Jesus onto everything. A faithful Christian can build a house, decorate a living room, and write computer code without referencing Christ. But those same workers will always look for ways to bring the gospel to the people they interact with. This book is a different kind of product though. Its entire point is to demonstrate how to lovingly interact with and give what needy, broken people need. If you are a Christian, there is only one ultimate answer to what that is. This book missed the answer.

My heart broke as I read how Theo interacted with various people. As I mentioned, the characters and their fears and hurts were well developed. But I observed that people opened their lives to Theo, and all he gave them was an open ear, encouragement, and affirmation. Even when a conversation about heaven was invited, Theo kept things vague. That is a complete failure. When someone opens their life to you or seeks a spiritual conversation, you must love them well by telling them the truth. Certainly wisdom is needed, but one way or another they need to understand God’s holiness, their sin against Him, and the forgiveness bought through Christ's death. They need to know how repentance of sin and faith in Christ’s atoning work lead to the transformative power of regeneration. Theo never offers people gospel hope. Allen Levi never provides readers with the power of the gospel. What he offers is thoughtfulness and good vibes. This will not bring true life change. This book promotes a way of living that helps people rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic of their lives.

Even in the climactic moment of the book, a sermon preached in the church, the gospel still isn't truly heard. Oh yes, Jesus is referenced, and the story of the Emmaus road is even retold, but there is no clear gospel call. The sermon talks about grieving with hope. It speaks of the One who makes us good, wise, and happy. It even mentions a rescue that no one could have imagined. But, my friends, that is not a gospel message. Those are hints, clues, and suggestions. Those are the tactics of people ashamed of the gospel, who work hard at flowery prose and subtlety instead of the risk of exalting a crucified and risen Savior. Shame on that preacher, and even more, shame on this author for wasting these opportunities to be a faithful witness.

Why am I speaking so strongly? It's because Allen Levi could have written this any way he pleased. He had no constraints or external directives. In his Gospel Coalition interview, he said that he can sometimes provoke “God-thought” all the way to the finish line with people, which I interpret as being explicit and clear about the gospel. So why didn’t he do this here, in a story full of such rich opportunity? Why didn’t he wrap everything up with a full-throated proclamation of the glory of grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ? I don’t know. But I can tell you what it looks like to me. It looks like the liberal infection of the supremacy of modern sensibilities. This kind of infection means that worldly sensibilities must not be offended at any cost. What is that cost? You cut out the gospel. This is the same impulse that produces missions focusing on digging water wells instead of sharing Bibles, offering welfare handouts rather than gospel hope accompanied by the dignity of work, and providing psychological counseling that strokes emotions instead of pointing to the transformation Jesus brings through His Word. I am all for water wells, genuine servant-hearted help, and wise counseling, but not without the gospel. This book is the social gospel in novel form—full of warm interactions but a vacuous hole where the gospel should be. Compassionate, attentive love sells well but is powerless and impotent compared to the biblical love of the compassionate, attentive, transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Do you want to see what a Christ-less Christianity looks like? Find it in Theo of Golden.