The One Thing You Can’t Deconstruct
I’ve read or listened to more of them than I care to count. Each one is instructive in its own way, but all are equally heartbreaking.
They are often referred to as “deconstruction” stories. While there are other terms and descriptions, they are essentially the same things. These are personal accounts–often done on video through YouTube, or in written form through blogs or social media posts–in which a person shares that they are (or have) “deconstructed” their faith and are forging a new spiritual path.
While each is different since it they are individual stories, it is remarkable to me how similar the ones I have seen or watched are. Nearly all of them tell a very similar story. Here it is:
Someone is going through a major life change. Sometimes it is one that we all go through, such as transitioning to adulthood or being hurt by someone else. At other times, it is a chosen life change that is sinful, such as leaving a spouse (and not for adultery) or choosing to come out as LGBTQ. With that life change in view, the person begins to question his or her faith, “deconstructing” it to see if it aligns with what they now are doing or believing. They pull away from their church–and, maybe, from religion altogether. And, if their “deconstruction” is complete, they have now found a new community who accepts them and gives them purpose. Often (in fact, in nearly all I have ever seen) the former group is now labeled as judgmental, backward, or unloving (often with a backhanded compliment along the lines of “but I don’t judge them. They are good people; they just don’t understand me now.”). But, now, this person has found their place and is happy because they are accepted and welcomed in this journey, whether it has led to a new religious community or away from religion altogether.
While I know I am speaking in generalities, there is a a couple of strands that run through these stories that are commonplace, and it is sad that they are overlooked (or dismissed) by those who write or share them.
One is that the person who goes on these journeys has already decided to leave their faith and is looking for justification and/or acceptance. Why else would they share these stories on social media or YouTube? They are looking for people who will give them a virtual thumbs up and comment that they are so proud of the journey being shared. (In fact, many are shared with the notation, “If you disagree, don’t comment. This is not a place for hate.” So much for social media, I guess!)
But the other thing that will always be true is this: the person so often speaks of leaving behind his or her “former faith” or “my faith tradition” (or some other similar terminology). That may be what that person is doing, but they have missed a huge point of Scripture. They have missed that there is not “my faith” and “your faith” and “our faith tradition.” Instead, there is “the faith…once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, emphasis added). THE faith.
Oh, I can still choose to question things. In fact, the New Testament teaches us to “test all things.” I can have times when I doubt (even John the Immerser did) or when I do not understand. I can have times when I struggle with faith. I will have times when I wonder about this “journey” I am on.
But I dare not try to justify “my faith.” Instead, I must hold fast to “the faith,” and trust that God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided the best for me in this life, even in times when I am struggling. After all, since He is God, He is right…100% of the time.
A person may choose to deconstruct his or her faith. But none of us can deconstruct THE faith. Instead, we must contend for it earnestly, including in our own lives, in times of confusion.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
