Taken at face value, the word “deconstruction” is a literary analysis of a text and its meaning. A breaking down to get to the significance of something written or spoken. However, deconstruction has become a loaded term today. Deconstruction is now the popular spiritual buzzword within today’s mainstream Christian culture. This word might be newer to some with the rise of social media as we’re hearing more often about Christian celebrities deconstructing and leaving their faith or the forecasting of an entire generation deconstructing their faith and leaving the Church. However, it has been around for a while in America, and its sentiment has been around for thousands of years reaching across the globe.
Great installment as usual, Kent! I'm curious, though, about what such a change in church discipleship would look like. What purpose should questions serve in church discipleship if the answers aren't about persuading people to agree with one thing or another? Or are they just for that purpose?
“But it makes me wonder if our model of discipleship in our churches today allows for the same kind of questioning and wrestling. Do we give people a forum to ask hard questions about Jesus and Christianity? Do we allow people to bring their doubts out into the open for a good conversation?” I believe many churches will say they do, but I question the truth of that… I certainly do not believe most would preach a sermon entitled “Encouraging Deconstruction”, less their flocks be reduced in numbers.
Instead, we get sermons on deconstruction where it is described as an enemy of the Church, another cultural bogeyman that is simply the result of a depraved, secular American culture*. This instead of looking inward and seriously asking itself what part of the blame may rest at its own feet. The Church finds it much easier to focus outwardly, to blame “the culture”.
So, we are told to “hold fast to the Gospel” as a means of cultural warfare. At face value holding fast to the Gospel rings true. But for far too many in the Evangelical Church, this works itself out in the culture wars and a dangerous dance with Christian Nationalism. Holding fast to the gospel means unqualified support of political figures and policies that encourage discrimination against those who are not Christian. In essence to create a subclass of citizens**.
*Heard one recently that did just that.
**This is all my own opinion of course, and many in the Church have and will continue to disagree with me. Which is fine, that is a discussion that I am not afraid of. But when I am accused of having a spiritual crisis (defined as a loss of faith) because of my position, this is what bothers me. Questioning the direction of a large portion of the Church in the U.S. is not a crisis of faith in Jesus on my part, but a crisis of faith in the direction of the Church I have been associated with for so many years.
Great installment as usual, Kent! I'm curious, though, about what such a change in church discipleship would look like. What purpose should questions serve in church discipleship if the answers aren't about persuading people to agree with one thing or another? Or are they just for that purpose?
Expertly said. I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for this Kent.
“But it makes me wonder if our model of discipleship in our churches today allows for the same kind of questioning and wrestling. Do we give people a forum to ask hard questions about Jesus and Christianity? Do we allow people to bring their doubts out into the open for a good conversation?” I believe many churches will say they do, but I question the truth of that… I certainly do not believe most would preach a sermon entitled “Encouraging Deconstruction”, less their flocks be reduced in numbers.
Instead, we get sermons on deconstruction where it is described as an enemy of the Church, another cultural bogeyman that is simply the result of a depraved, secular American culture*. This instead of looking inward and seriously asking itself what part of the blame may rest at its own feet. The Church finds it much easier to focus outwardly, to blame “the culture”.
So, we are told to “hold fast to the Gospel” as a means of cultural warfare. At face value holding fast to the Gospel rings true. But for far too many in the Evangelical Church, this works itself out in the culture wars and a dangerous dance with Christian Nationalism. Holding fast to the gospel means unqualified support of political figures and policies that encourage discrimination against those who are not Christian. In essence to create a subclass of citizens**.
*Heard one recently that did just that.
**This is all my own opinion of course, and many in the Church have and will continue to disagree with me. Which is fine, that is a discussion that I am not afraid of. But when I am accused of having a spiritual crisis (defined as a loss of faith) because of my position, this is what bothers me. Questioning the direction of a large portion of the Church in the U.S. is not a crisis of faith in Jesus on my part, but a crisis of faith in the direction of the Church I have been associated with for so many years.