Recently, I have been pondering something I believe God is bringing to my attention. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It’s called “deconstruction,” and it’s a growing topic among professing believers.
If you’re on social media, you’ve probably encountered a testimonial or interview where a well-known or popular singer or speaker talks about “deconstructing” their faith. This process often leads to atheism or agnosticism, although some individuals sincerely question what they have been taught to believe about God, the Bible, Jesus, and the gospel. Those who are genuinely seeking real answers are more likely to strengthen their faith rather than abandon it.
Within twenty-four hours of God putting this topic on my mind and heart, I received an email from Focus on the Family promoting a video series on this very subject. I rarely follow up on such emails, but I felt this was more than a coincidence; God was asking me to pay attention.
I watched the videos.
I ordered the book.
I am currently about two-thirds of the way through The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How To Respond by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett. I’m learning a lot, and it’s stirring my heart to respond in some way. I’m not sure what that looks like yet, but I know I have more to learn.
Would you help me?
In their book, Alisa and Tim give this definition of deconstruction: Faith deconstruction is a postmodern process of rethinking your faith without regarding Scripture as a standard.
I’d like to hear firsthand experiences if you or someone you know has “deconstructed” their faith. Here are a few questions that would help in my research.
- How would you describe your faith before deconstructing?
- What was the initial cause that led to questioning your faith?
- How did the process take place?
- What were the “big questions,” and what answers did you find?
- What part of faith did you retain, if any?
- Who (or what) helped you in your journey? Who hindered you?
If you have a story to share, please reply to this post or message me directly. I appreciate your time in responding and will keep your stories confidential. I simply want to understand this process better as God guides me to address the issue in whatever way He has planned.
The Way Of The Word 
It is a great book!!
LikeLike
I have zero question about my faith: I believe God is. My deconstructing process is in the bible conglomerate, in the constructed stories and miracles and interpretations, and resulting theologies. My focus has narrowed to God, God-with-us, Jesus Christ. I don’t know- I should say I don’t believe- anything for certain, except him. And the world that crosses my path. That was Jesus’s way, and so mine too.
LikeLike
Thanks for replying. Would love to chat more and hear you expound on what you mean (specific examples). I can appreciate the fact that faith becomes a bit simpler as we get older. We learn what is important and what is just man-made distractions. But I don’t think I will ever reach the point of zero questions…there’s so much about God that is bigger than my brain can understand, and the more I study, the more I realize how limited my view is. It’s a lifelong pursuit in scripture.
LikeLike
I should say, I have no questions in whom I believe. WHAT I believe is another story, and the answer, mostly, is, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” (I cast all my care on him!) For 2 examples, is God 3 persons or are ‘the Father, Son and Holy Spirit 3 names of God? Or, did Jesus physically rise from the dead, or in Spirit only? I don’t know. Because I think a lot of scripture is unreliable. And that’s why I 100% DO care about this: my relationship with God, in Christ, in 24/7, every day life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess my question is, how do you know who God is or on what basis do you worship Him, if scripture is not reliable? What do you base your faith on?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long story short, I’m betting my life that God’s generally like Jesus of Nazareth, even though I don’t believe all that’s written.
LikeLike
I have been deconstructing as much as I have been reconstructing. I’ve asked myself a lot of really hard questions and I’ve tried to be as intellectually honest as possible. I haven’t lost my belief in God, even though I have been willing to question it. What I have done though is lost or changed many of tyr the dogmas that I believed. I’ve found self more agnostic on grey areas than I previously thought, but I’ve also found myself far more emphatic to those I once disagreed with. I’ve tried to focus on the practical and while I really enjoy the theological I find that can get confusing and serve as a distraction because ultimately that all equates to us trying to understand an infinite God by putting him in a box we can understand. As someone once said God is the name of the blanket we throw over the mystery to give it shape. Don’t be afraid of questions. If you truly belief God is truth then you have nothing to loose. questions will only help you understand God deeper. Just do your best to make sure you are steered by the pursuit of truth and not your given emotions at any time. Don’t let all the messed up things man has done confuse you either. Good luck. On your journey.
LikeLike
Thanks for responding! I am always interested in hearing about people’s journeys of faith. I believe examining what we believe is healthy, but ultimately we need confidence in the scriptures to guide our examination. The Bible is our source of knowledge about God. Otherwise, we’re just making up an idol. And yes, people have twisted it and done messed up things with it…but that doesn’t invalidate the inherent truth it is. Tell me what you mean when you say you focus on the practical. Are there theological truths that undergird your search?
LikeLiked by 1 person
By focusing on the practical I just mean on the doing. We can sit here and talk all day about how to interpret Revelation, or Calvinism vs Arminianism, etc. I love those conversations don’t get me wrong, they all have their place, but if we’re gonna talk the “day to day” then the spiritual warfare we face is more practical to talk about. Instead of disagreeing about denominational differences you know what would be better? How about we go out there and serve someone, help them with their needs, meet them where they are at, share the gospel with love and patience not an agenda, encourage each other, build each other, show mercy, correct each other (again in love not self righteousness), that’s what I mean by the practical. Don’t just be a talker, be a “do-er.” Christ came to serve not to be served.
As for what anchors me? I’m willing to discuss anything open mindedly and consider being wrong on any topic, but I don’t think I will ever let go of a few things. 1. That the scripture in its original form is without mistake and the inspired word of God. 2. Any conclusions we can make are rooted in that, For instance Jesus is the way, not a way. Certainly there are other conclusions we can make from scripture but it’s all based in that. Like I said, I’m am willing and have question those things, and I will go back and question them open mindedly again if I need to or the topic arises, but I won’t question them flippantly because they are foundational. That has a time and place and because it’s so important, if I found myself having a question on those particular foundational topics (and I have) I’d make sure to find the time, clear my mind and heart of bias, ask people I respect and trust their opinions, give my self the necessary time to ask and ponder, and it would not be on a daily basis that I questioned those things. I hope that helps. Where are you at with these things. What are your particular struggles right now?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that we need to put our theology into practice (obeying the commands of Jesus) and spend less time debating non-essential differences. I don’t think denominations were ever God’s plan, but more a man-made construct. And as you can see from my blog, faith in the inerrancy and authority of scripture is the foundation of the Christian life, and yes, yes, Jesus is the only way. Those are non-negotiable truths! I’m not struggling with my faith. I have a desire on my heart to write to encourage those who are (or have) walked away from faith for various reasons to consider why, and examine the Bible for themselves. I think a lot of people walk away based on what others have done or said. As scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed! (Romans 9:33,10:11; 1 Peter 2:6)
LikeLiked by 1 person