What does it mean to deconstruct your faith?

It's a complex topic, however - generally speaking - there are two spectrums :

• Deconstruct EVERYTHING: what you grew up believing, were taught, ways of living, etc...

OR

• Just accept everything by faith - don't question the status quo, because if you do - you're questioning your faith and, therefore, don't really love Jesus.

A gross oversimplification to say the least, but what if there was a third option?

NOW - before we get there, a couple of notes:

• Christianity is not void of intellect - in fact - many of the early church mothers and fathers defended Christianity by use of logic and reason

HOWEVER

• Intellect will only get you so far - at some point, there will be a faith element that you will need to tap into.

Not everything can simply be explained - but as you grow with Christ, in the body of Christ - transformed by His Spirit - we begin to experience what it means to follow Jesus.

And as you walk - by faith - on that journey, questions and doubts will arise.

Having questions and doubts do not make you a bad Christian

• Many of the disciples questioned and doubted Jesus - so that's not the issue
• THE ISSUE IS: what are we going to do with our questions and doubts

Now if you don't want to follow Jesus - that's fine - you don't have to follow Him

• You grew up in/around Christian culture, see the hypocrisy, and want nothing to do with it

You may see this deconstruction as a way to justify you leaving the faith and pointing out all the flaws within the faith as you go - and that's fair

SO - if you're deconstructing with the end goal already in mind of not wanting to follow Jesus or be a part of His Church - then you may just shrug off this third option

So what is the third option:

As a follower of Christ - when moments of doubt arise - we are to bring them before our Risen Christ

• If the claims of Christianity are true: Christ is alive
• If the claims of Christianity are true: Christ knows what we are going through
• If the claims of Christianity are true: Christ is not afraid of my doubting and questioning

You see - this third option is renewal:

• St. Paul says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Rom. 12:2)
• The renewing of our mind involves our intellect but requires the integration of the Spirit at work within us

And so a proponent that leads many to deconstruct their faith is: the Church.

There are things that the Church does that are not Christ-like: but please know, Christ is not leaving His Church

• His Church is so much more than a building, it's more than "Cultural Christianity"

It's you - it's me | and I'm going to let you down, and you're going to let me down - that's a guarantee

But what also is a guarantee is this - I'm not the head of the Church, and you're not the head of the Church - Christ is

So in our hurt, our frustration, our doubting, and questioning - in those feelings, actions, responses that may be 100% justifiable

Will we invite Christ in to bring about restoration - to revive and renew us?

We may have worn the Christian merch when we were younger

• But have we clothed ourselves in Christ

The way of Jesus is a proposition - not an imposition

• Jesus invites Himself into your life - He doesn't force His way in
• It's an open invitation - will you take it?