Deconstruction.

The term deconstruction has become popular among Christians in recent years, especially among younger Christians.

It is basically a critical examination of what you believe, what you have been taught, what you have questioned, and holding it up to the light and deciding what you really believe.

For some it results in complete abandonment of their faith. For others, it leads to a deeper or more defined faith.

People deconstruct for many reasons—spiritual abuse, church scandals, hypocrisy, intellectual challenges (like science vs. faith), politics, or rigid legalism in the church. I’ve witnessed or experienced all of these, so I understand the desire to deconstruct.

In fact, I would say I have done my own version of that in the past decade…long before I heard the term or concept of deconstruction.

For me, it was taking a hard and honest look at what I believed. I think my version of Christianity had become so influenced by American culture and tradition and politics and what my family believed that I had lost the personal relationship and Jesus-focus that is at the core of true Christianity.

For me it was reconstruction, not deconstruction.

Right now deconstruction is trendy and some see it as rebellious. Done correctly, I think it is healthy and important. Some forms of what we call Christianity have become almost unrecognizable to me. There is some real weirdness out there. There are some seriously false teachers and scam artists and abusers posing as faith leaders.

Having discernment and wisdom, and frankly common sense, is so needed to root out these evil people who are doing damage to the name of Christ.

I say all this just to let you know that I think its ok to have doubts and questions, but you don’t have to turn your desire for truth into a rebellious rejection of all faith just because you have been hurt along the way.

Jesus can handle your doubts and questions, so why should we be reluctant to encourage people to face them?

I remember struggling with one issue and I asked my Dad to help me understand his views and I told him mine, and we read a couple of scriptures and I still was unsettled and Dad said, “Bill, there’s a lot of scripture that I DO understand that I don’t walk in. I try to focus on that.”

If we could figure it all out, I suppose that means we couldn’t call it faith.