Deconstruction has been the buzzword for decades now.
It’s crept into conversations among some Christians. Many times, in secret.
Ever found yourself in a small group or coffee chat, and the topic suddenly veers into some weird doctrines or doubts about a strongly held belief? It’s almost like an unspoken rule: don’t go there.
But what if you’re already there, wondering if your faith is crumbling into disbelief?
You might already know someone that lost the faith because they “deconstruct” it and now proclaim their “true freedom” from the “shackles” of religion.
You are scared to end like that but can’t seem to shake off the question “what if…”.
Here’s the thing: questioning doesn’t mean you’re lost for good. It can be a journey of discovery, a process of refining what you hold dear but is critical that you get your concepts clear.
So, let’s cut through the confusion.
In this article, I’m here to guide you through practical steps to clarify your spiritual journey.
Together, we’ll unpack the word deconstruction, offering insights that bring clarity rather than confusion.
Ready to find out? Let’s begin.
Understanding Deconstruction
Definitions
When we talk about “deconstruction” in the context of faith, what do we mean?
As Alisa Childers and Tim Barnet put it in their book The Deconstruction of Christianity, “There’s no agreed upon authoritative understanding of what it means”.
They describe it as an explosion leading to many directions. The authors conclude in the beginning, “if it means everything, it means nothing”.
On the flip side, you might not be deconstructing anything.
It might be that your faith is entering what I called a maturing phase. But let’s talk about that later on.
Common Misconceptions
There are a few misconceptions we need to clear up.
Some Christians use the word deconstruction in a more “positive” light.
They claim that there’s good deconstruction and bad deconstruction. Not true.
Deconstruction is usually used by the culture, specially through “ex-vangelicals” as a rejection of the faith.
In a word: apostasy.
Philosophically has been defined as “the analytic examination of something (such as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy”.
And that’s the thing. This analytic examination always reveals inadequacy.
Read the Did You Know section of Merriam Webster,
Deconstruction doesn’t actually mean “demolition;” instead it means “breaking down” or analyzing something (especially the words in a work of fiction or nonfiction) to discover its true significance, which is supposedly almost never exactly what the author intended [emphasis added].
In other words, it can’t be a deconstruction if after the analytic examination there was no inadequacy, or the true significance is in fact what the author intended.
As the late Mortimer J. Adler teaches in his classic How to Read a Book,
When we communicate, be it in writing or speaking, it is vital to come to terms with your interlocutor.
We won’t understand one another if by a term the sender means one thing and the receiver understand another.
A term is the basic element of communicable knowledge.
Term is a word with some meaning -a word used unambiguously.
Words can use several meanings but can be use in one sense at a time.
The sender and the receiver must use a given word with one and only one meaning they have come to terms.
Therefore, let’s not baptize the word deconstruction (as Childers and Barnet says in the book) something that is not and take it for what it is: to walk away from the faith.
Childers and Barnet define deconstruction as follows,
A postmodern process of rethinking your faith without regarding Scripture as your standard.
Is about analyzing and understanding your beliefs with you as the ultimate authority.
Now, a maturing faith isn’t about changing your faith beyond recognition. It’s about deepening and enriching your faith within the limits of orthodoxy.
If you find yourself questioning, dissecting, dismantling, reevaluating, rethinking, and yes, rejecting certain peripheral beliefs or doctrines then you’re entering in a maturing process, not a deconstruction process.
When My Pastor Deemed Me an Apostate
I grew up in a Pentecostal church where their focal doctrine in almost every message was the attire. To dress holy.
Women should never use makeup, jewelry, pants (not even pijama pants), shave their legs, dye their hair or do their nails. Men had less restrictions: No beard, shave their legs, no jewelry. Also, no movie theater (but you can have pirate movies, that was not a sin).
This was a very serious sin. Any women or men who does these things will simply not have eternal life.
I believe that. Wholeheartedly. I defended it.
Until I knew better.
Not only did I see that there was simply no biblical basis to hold such “doctrine” as a dogma, but there were also the disastrous repercussions of pushing such a man-made doctrine: heavy bullying (especially the girls), low self-esteem (again, especially the girls), never feel holy enough for salvation, even divorces and infidelity in some cases specifically for this belief.
Three months after I married, I left the church to another one.
My pastor then even went classroom to classroom one Sunday Bible School morning requesting them to unfollow me from Facebook because I was now an “apostate”. You can read more about the story here.
I grew thick skin at a young age to not be bother by disagreements and rejection, because I knew my foundation. I knew what indicators to check to see if I was deconstructing into apostasy or maturing into a firmer faith.
Signs and Symptoms
So, how do you know if you’re in a phase of deconstruction? Here are some signs:
- Feeling Disconnected from Community: You might start feeling out of place in your faith community. The sermons don’t resonate, and the discussions feel shallow.
- Intense Questioning: You find yourself questioning everything. Why do we do this? What does this belief really mean? Is this really true? There’s no reasonable answer for you. You have been infected with hyper skepticism.
- Frustration with Core Doctrines: Core teachings that once provided comfort now seem rigid or outdated. You feel frustrated and maybe even angry.
Indicators of Maturation
Now, what about a maturing faith? Here’s what to look for:
- Deepened Understanding: You’re rethinking your beliefs, seeking a more profound and nuanced understanding.
- Integration of New Insights: You’re taking new ideas and perspectives and integrating them into your faith if they seem coherent and with good biblical support.
- Rejection of Bad Theology: After serious reevaluation of some of your old beliefs, you find out that primarily there’s no good biblical support and find it harmful or problematic.
- Feeling More Connected to Faith: Despite the changes, you feel more connected and at peace with your faith. Not only your knowledge about God increased, but your desire of God increases as well. You’re reading His Word more, you’re praying more, fasting more and worshiping more.
- Feeling More Connected to the Church: You started to feel more love for the body of Christ, even when the sermons aren’ that great and the discussions are shallow, you found joy in providing insights to others helping them refine their understanding of any given theological or biblical topic. You have a desired to help other grow in their understanding of God and Scripture.
Practical Steps to Evaluate Your Spiritual Journey
Self-Reflection Questions
To clarify where you stand, ask yourself these questions:
- What specific beliefs am I questioning or reconsidering?
- Reflect on which aspects of your faith are causing doubt or confusion. Are these foundational beliefs, or more peripheral ones?
- How do these changes affect my relationship with my faith community?
- Consider how your evolving beliefs are impacting your sense of belonging. Are you feeling more isolated, or finding new connections?
- Am I seeking truth, growth, or simply reacting to doubts?
- Evaluate your motivations. Are you driven by a genuine quest for truth and growth, or are you reacting out of frustration and confusion?
Seek Guidance and Support
It’s crucial to talk to mentors, counselors, or trusted fellow brothers or sisters during this process.
Discuss your journey with people who are knowledgeable and compassionate.
They can provide valuable perspectives and support. Sometimes, just knowing you’re not alone in your doubts can be incredibly reassuring.
Educational Resources
Don’t underestimate the power of good resources. Books, podcasts, and articles can offer balanced perspectives on faith and doubt.
Here are a few recommendations to get you started:
- Books: The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnet and Alisa Childers.
- YouTube: 9 Reasons People Deconstruct (and what to do about it) by Sean McDowell.
- Articles: What does deconstruction even mean? from Desiring God
- Expert Interviews: Understanding Faith Deconstruction: Expert Insights and Strategies for Respectful Engagement
Take an introductory book on exegesis and critical thinking if you haven’t before (or refresh if you did), this two will help you a lot on how to discern good arguments from bad ones.
These resources can provide insights and help you see things from different angles, aiding in your understanding and growth.
Document the Journey
Keeping a journal or writing down your thoughts and questions can be immensely helpful.
Documenting your journey provides clarity and helps track your growth over time.
You can look back and see how your thoughts and beliefs have matured, which can be both enlightening and encouraging.
Engage in Faith Practices
Despite the uncertainty, continue engaging in faith practices like prayer, meditation, and community worship.
Never leave these disciplines during this phase.
These practices can anchor you during times of doubt and provide a sense of stability.
They remind you of the core of your faith, even when everything else feels shaky.
Finding Clarity and Moving Forward
Synthesis
Now comes the challenging part—integrating your new insights with your existing beliefs. This synthesis is crucial.
You don’t have to abandon everything you once believed. Don’t doubt everything you believe because one or two doctrines you hold dear were in fact false or not sufficiently good.
Hyper skepticism will leave you in a dark place. Absolutely nothing will be good enough when you go that route.
Make peace with some mysteries. There are doctrines that are hard to understand even in some cases hard to accept; other’s where there’s no easy answer and other’s where simply you throw your hand and say, “I don’t know”.
Don’t look for perfect cohesion.
Strive for it, don’t get me wrong, but no one has a perfect systematic theology. Everyone most likely has a wrong belief or two.
What you need to be sure is to have your essentials doctrines on solid ground, then go explore other doctrines.
Next Steps
Moving forward, continue learning and stay involved in your community. Open-mindedness is key.
This is an ongoing and exciting process, although a bit scary too.
Engage with new ideas, but always anchor them in your core beliefs. This balance will help you grow without losing your foundation.
Encourage yourself to stay curious and compassionate. Curiosity will drive you to deeper understanding, while compassion will help you navigate the journey with kindness, both towards yourself and others.