No strict definition can be given of “deconstruction,” however, there are common themes in the self-described experiences of "deconstructing Christians." The ground floor and most important dimension of deconstruction is intellectual honesty – the willingness to ask questions and to be honest with the outcome of intellectual exploration, along with the rejection of any effort to monitor and control beliefs through tactics of control. Deconstructing Christians embrace a willingness to say “I don’t know,” and a willingness to say “I no longer affirm that tenant of faith that I previously held.” The primary feature of evangelicalism that stands in tension with this practice is “gatekeeping” in the form of efforts to control what people within a particular faith community say, teach, write, and believe.
Intellectual honesty vs. gatekeeping
For many, there is a threshold of intellectual honesty that is crossed over, and on the other side, the former experience of “believing” something because an authority figure or community standard says you must believe it becomes no longer tenable. One realizes that belief is a matter of the cumulative weight of all of one’s learning, thinking, pondering and experiencing, and this is not subject to the manipulation of a would-be controlling authority. (Note bold and italics – do not miss this point!!!!!) From the perspective of intellectual freedom, the attempt to manipulate the thinking of another person is a high form of interpersonal abuse that can be very damaging to one’s mental and emotional health.
Connecting with the person of Jesus, not a system of belief
In distinction with belief, commitment is more of a choice, however, and many deconstructing Christians continue to affirm their commitment to the person of Jesus, in many cases more strongly so, while setting aside their former “belief in” or affirmation of other tenants of Christianity considered orthodox by many. This often takes the form of placing more emphasis on the teachings and actions of Jesus while deemphasizing the system of doctrine that the church has built up around the notion of orthodoxy, particularly in the last 100 years or so. Along the way, many deconstructing Christians come to realize that in the long history of Christianity there have existed a wide range of beliefs and practices far afield of the tenants often held up by contemporary evangelicals as required for belonging in the fold.
These breaks with the norms of 20th century evangelicalism typically include questions about biblical inerrancy and authority, supposed orthodoxy of church teachings on salvation, on Hell, rejection and devaluing of people based on sexual identity, and demonization of the concepts of social justice and economic justice (expressed prominently in scripture). For many it also includes problems with the exceptional status of the U.S.A. and the church’s tendency toward Christian nationalism (discussed below) in light of the Christian church’s close association with our history of colonialism, racism, and the subordinate status of immigrants.
Celebrate an authentic journey of faith
How can one be present to and respectful of someone who is compelled to ask questions in their faith and whose journey in faith leads them to beliefs that differ from those of their family or community? Extend love and trust by recognizing that honest seeking is a way of engaging in a faith journey, a constructive as well as deconstructive process that should be respected and even celebrated. (It's really not that hard. You can do this, yes?) Add to this the basic practice of respecting and trusting adult humans to make their own adult decisions. For sure it is not helpful or respectful of the intellectual independence of one’s spirituality to respond “you must believe xyz or else suffer in Hell” or “if you don’t agree with xyz then you are not welcome in this church / this family” or “your belief is a disgrace to the legacy of your Christian family,” all forms of manipulation and control which should not under any circumstances actually influence the intellectual and spiritual process of developing faith. Coercion of the will in matters of belief is not a divine attribute, it is not a spiritual gift, not a biblical value, and not befitting of loving human relationships. These tactics of manipulation are not moderated, and the damage not nullified, by sugar-coating them in church language - something to the effect of "I'm trying to make you believe what I believe because I love you."
Part of a series.
Find the entire article in the blog post for June 30, 2022 - Deconstructing Christians, Part I: Dimensions of Deconstruction.
Image credit: 1st image: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Thinker-sculpture-by-Rodin
Image credit: 2nd image: https://pin.it/hZyhUU1