deconstruction

When a Church tells their congregation that deconstruction is bad, I think that one of two things must be true: 1) they do not actually know what deconstruction means, and/or 2) that they don't want their teachings questioned. 

First, to address what it is not: Deconstruction does not mean deconversion. It CAN lead to that and there are plenty of influencers giving deconstruction exactly this reputation. But deconstruction, for the person genuinely seeing truth, does not usually mean completely dismantling faith.

Deconstruction should be a healthy process of separating God's truth from any excess baggage one may have been raised with. It's the process of separating gospel truth from the bindings of legalism, or purity culture, or prosperity gospel, or political interference, or anything else that has obscured the beauty of God's grace. Deconstruction is taking apart the building piece by piece to find the foundation. Burning down the faulty rooms you've been living in and rebuilding on solid ground.

Individuals who do not take part in some form of healthy deconstruction, who do not ever examine any aspect of their denomination's tenets, who question nothing, are not growing. They are not seeking truth. They will not seek, so they do not find. Their preconceptions are only being affirmed by their algorithms and social bubbles. Deconstruction is a healthy thing, especially for young adults coming from unhealthy church backgrounds.

Some churches, under the impression that deconstruction simply means to reject Jesus, are warning their congregants against it. Many a church leader who has not done their due diligence in researching the trend is reviled at the idea that "Young people are deconstructing and leaving the faith!" 

By warning against it, they are discouraging free thought, examination of the Scripture, growth, and introspection.

They misunderstand that many young people are being forced to deconstruct BECAUSE we love Jesus, and the theology we see playing out in the church is often not the theology of love God has shown us. We're not leaving THE Church, we're leaving YOUR church, searching for a church community that more closely resembles Jesus.

Deconstruction is going to create a generation of passionate and loving Christian thinkers. But we need your wisdom too. Come alongside us, but do not hinder us.