The Deconstruction of Christianity: what is it and how can Christians respond?

This month’s Bible study focused on the recent phenomenon of deconstruction. Over the last few years, big names in Christian community announced that they have deconstructed their faith and essentially walked away from God and the church. Hearing their stories, I felt empty, then angry and dismissive. Sadly, there are many false teachings, abuses and hurts done within the church that have led people to doubt God and His word. I also realized that I did not know what deconstruction even was and there are multiple definitions. Two well known Christians in apologetics wrote a book on this very subject and I decided it was the perfect time to study this topic. I read the book as well as went through the study guide for Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett’s The Deconstruction of Christianity. The in-depth and detailed investigation into what deconstruction means. How are doubts and questions dealt with within deconstruction and in the faith? What is biblical faith?  

What is deconstruction? There have been many definitions being used by those who claim to be deconstructing as the individual is the authority. One definition is simply the process of dismantling an individual’s accepted beliefs. It is questioning the Bible when it doesn’t align with the culture and the Bible is seen as a tool of oppression to be rejected. Today’s culture likes to redefine words, making clarity unclear and communication confusing. Many deconstructionists have “the same vocabulary but they are using a different dictionary” (page 21). Childers and Barnett define deconstruction as “a post-modern process of rethinking faith without regarding Scripture as a standard” (page 26). Essentially deconstruction is about a question of authority. The Bible tells us to evaluate our faith, our beliefs with discernment (Hebrews 5:14) to seek understanding (Proverbs 2:2-5), to abound in knowledge (Philippians 11:9-10) and holding onto what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:2). However, deconstruction is at odds with Christianity because it has little to do with achieving a correct theology. It is about tearing down doctrine that is morally wrong to an individual, to match one’s own internal conscience, moral compass with a never ending cycle of skepticism. Deconstruction also seems to focus on the evangelical label as they lump it together with white supremacy, Christian nationalism and Western civilization. Therefore, they seek to “decolonize” one’s theology and try to delegitimize the authority of the Bible. To many deconstructionists, Biblical interpretation needs to be subjective or it is to be rejected. 

The origin of deconstruction begins in the Garden of Eden and Satan as he postulates to Eve the question: Did God really say…? As well as to deny God’s word and twist the meaning of His word. Doubt enters into our human minds all the time, especially in terms of our faith and God himself. Childers and Barnett quote a pastor who says “Doubt drives you in one of two directions. It either pushes away from God or it pushes you to run toward God (page 84). God welcomes our questions. He doesn’t rebuke us for our doubts, he wants us to come to him with every question, doubt and insecurities. The most famous doubter that comes to mind is John the Baptist. In Matthew 11, John is in prison and he hears the stories of what Jesus is doing, so he sends his disciples to ask “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (verse 3). Jesus gave his answer to John and told him to look for the objective evidence (verses 4-6). The main picture here is Jesus can handle our doubts. He didn’t belittle John for his question or say how dare he doubt me! He even complimented John for his question (verse 11). Doubts can lead to a reformation, a moving back. If someone comes to you with a question, it is acceptable to say “I don’t know.” However, it is important to follow through with “but let’s find the answer together,” by using Scripture as a guide.

Deconstructionists also like to state that faith is irrational, self-oriented and not truth based. However, that is not the case. Biblically, faith is built on reason as it is a response to evidence, not a lack of it. A “saving faith is active trust based on the evidence” (page 173) as seen in “signs, wonders, and various miracles” (Hebrews 2:4). Faith is belief in a future occurrence based on the evidence of the past. However, having faith doesn’t mean doubts disappear. In Matthew 8:26, Jesus rebukes the disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Here were men who saw amazing miracles and yet were afraid in a storm. It is proof that faith is in flux. It can easily go from confident to shaky and back again. I have been a Christian for almost thirty years and my faith isn’t always confident. There are times when I doubt, when I am afraid and uncertain what the future holds. I keep to the faith that God will keep His promises despite my doubts. What is the faith? The faith, a genuine Christian faith, is objective reality. It is true regardless how we believe or feel about it (page 162). The example Childers and Barnett uses is that someone can deny gravity but will still fall to the ground when he jumps. Gravity is true regardless of the individual’s beliefs. The genuine Christian faith is based in the truth of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

In conclusion, The Deconstruction of Christianity goes into much more depth and topics within the deconstruction movement that I can write about here. Deconstructionism is nothing new. It is a reaction to and motivated by sin. And our questions and doubts do not mean a lack of faith. God welcomes it all. Doubts and questions are not a lack of faith and sometimes necessary on the path to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity involves understanding the difference between biblical truths and extra biblical religiosity and we do so by asking questions. After finishing this study, I am reminded that behind every deconstruction is a very real person. A person with complex wounds, desires, triggers, hurts and experiences. Each one is seen and loved by God and we need to be loving, kind and compassionate when and if they come to us with questions. And to remember that we do not change their minds. Only God can open minds and heal broken hearts. 

Night Angels: historical fiction based on the remarkable true story

Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel is a historical fiction based on the remarkable true story of a diplomat and his wife and the risks they took on the eve of World War II. In 1938, Dr. Hi Fengshan is the consul general of China posted in Vienna with his Chinese-American wife, Grace. Grace is shy and unsure of herself with the societal obligations of a diplomat’s wife. She is an outsider in a beautiful city as the atmosphere turns ugly as the Nazis sweep through with their policies. When Grace forms a friendship with Lola Schnitzler, she sees firsthand at the ugliness of the Nazis against Jews. She is warned to keep her distance as the Third Reich is keeping them under a very vigilant eye. As the brutal pogroms increase, Dr Ho decides to help thousands of Jews escape Vienna as war is about to explode. 

I loved Weina Dai Randel’s The Last Rose of Shanghai and looked forward to reading Night Angels. Exploring the risks individuals took in order to save lives and the love and friendships formed in the face of a growing evil, Night Angels is, in a sense, a prequel to The Last Rose of Shanghai. I eagerly started the story as I expected an emotional, moving story. However, I was quickly disappointed as the story was very slow going. The chapters were fairly short and chopped up the flow. The characters were flat. It wasn’t until after I finished the story and looked more into the historical Dr Ho and while Night Angels is historical fiction, there were a lot of liberties taken that Dr Ho was not recognizable as the hero he was in real life. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and do not recommend Night Angels. 

Night Angels is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Scholar: two broken people find love, healing and made whole together

The Scholar is the third book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Theo Barnes has been in love with Louisa Lind since they were kids. However, she fancied his twin brother, Flynn. When he returns to Emerson Pass after studying at medical school, Flynn is married and Theo’s love for Louisa burns brighter than ever. Louisa feels she’s not worthy of love and marriage. A past that still haunts her, she feels she is too broken. However, after tragedy strikes her family. Louisa finds herself at the Barnes charity and tender, gentle attention of Theo and her heart begins to wonder if love and marriage is possible. Their road to marriage is rocky with obstacles, doubts, and wounds of the past. Can they find a way to heal together and build a life, love and marriage worthy of them both? 

I love the Emerson Pass series so far and I think Theo is my favorite Barnes family member. Even from the first book, I eagerly awaited his story and The Scholar does not disappoint. Deeply haunted by his memories of his childhood and the Great War, he comes home from medical school hoping to find his purpose and maybe even love. His ongoing love for Louisa is sweet and endearing. I cheered as she started to see him for the strong and loving man he had become. It is a clean romance with only references to sex and fade to black scenes. Overall, I loved this story. There were sweet, tender moments, heartbreaking moments and moments that tears fell freely. I am looking forward to the rest of the Barnes children’s stories. I highly recommend The Scholar and the Emerson Pass Historical series. 

The Scholar is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Parisian Dancer: a promise made during dark and dangerous times

The Parisian Dancer by Doron Darmon is a World War II historical novel based on a true story. Paris, 1939. Helena Fotticelli is an aspiring stage actress in the bohemian quarter of Paris. Forced to flee her homeland, she dreams of stardom while dancing at the infamous Folies Bergère night club. She befriends Marek and Annette Oppenheimer, a young Jewish couple who live in the apartment above her, along with their two young sons. One day, Marek disappears and everything changes. Helena finds herself vowing to keep and protect the boys as if they were her own. As the Nazis strengthen their grip on Paris, she learns that even the best of intentions may not be enough to protect them. Will her promise cost her her life? 

I thoroughly enjoy World War II stories. I was intrigued by the premise of The Parisian Dancer and looked forward to reading it as it appeared on my TBR list. However, the writing style was hard to get through, the story itself was dull and the characters were completely unlikeable. I particularly did not like Marek and Helena, especially Helena. She is supposedly risking her life to protect these young boys and yet, she really doesn’t. There were gaps in the timeline with little or no explanation. The alternating points of view were distracting and confusing. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I have read other World War II books that did a much better job with a similar premise. I do not recommend The Parisian Dancer. 

The Parisian Dancer is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle: friendship, healing and finding home again

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle by Annie Rains is a story of friendship, healing and finally finding home again. Ten years ago, Melody Palmer left her hometown of Trove Isle after a tragic accident. Now she returns when she learns she has inherited her great aunt’s thrift shop, Hidden Treasures. There she discovers a charm bracelet that was lost so many years ago. A bracelet she shared with her sister, Alyssa, and her two best friends, Liz and Bri. While Melody fled, Liz stayed behind, working in her parents’ bakery, putting her dreams aside. For Bri, the consequences of that tragic accident led her on the road to self-destruction and a prison term. As she is set to be released, can Trove Isle feel like home again? Can Melody, Liz and Bri find peace about the past and look to a brighter future?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with an adult twist, The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle is a story of friendship, healing and resilience. The story runs the gambit of emotions from anger to grief to love and tears. I loved the characters of Melody, Liz and Bri who were all relatable and worthy to cheer for as they dealt with the moment that changed their lives forever. I also loved the secondary characters of Rose, Liz’s little sister, Matt, Liz’s love interest, and Christopher, Melody’s love interest. The romance is subtle and did not overpower the story of the three friends. Overall, I loved this story and devoured it quickly. If you love strong female characters, a small town setting with a story of healing, forgiveness and friendship, I highly recommend The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle. 

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Wild About You: grumpy sunshine young adult romance along the Appalachian Trail

Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill is a grumpy sunshine young adult romance. Natalie Hart is loud, unfiltered and she won’t apologize for it. However, at the end of her freshman year of college, she loses her merit scholarship and gains an anxiety diagnosis. She is hesitant to take out student loans and discovers an interesting way to get the tuition funds she needs. In a race through the Great Outdoors, Wild Adventures is a reality show a la The Amazing Race. While she prefers to pamper herself rather than roughing it on the Appalachian Trail, complete challenges and compete with other college students. Finn Markum becomes her partner and he is outdoorsy with a Capital O with a growl that would scare a bear. When the friction between them turns flirtatious, Natalie realizes that she’s in more of a wild adventure than she bargained for. 

Wild About You is a fun, young adult romance with an outdoorsy adventure. Filled with a grumpy-sunshine pair, enemies among the other contestants and a life changing experience. Along with the fun adventures along the trail, the story deals with heavier topics of anxiety. Despite her lack of experience, I’d admired Natalie’s determination to give the Wild Adventures her all. She was a bit annoying at first but I enjoyed seeing her growth by the end of the story. Finn was grumpy and standoffish at first, yet with Natalie on the trail with him, begins to lighten up. He was very unlikeable at first as well. Grumpy and unlikable doesn’t always go hand-in-hand. I’ve read some grumpy characters who were likable. Finn definitely had some walls and reasons behind his unlikability. Overall, I enjoyed Wild About You. If you enjoy young adult romances, I recommend Wild About You. 

Wild About You is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

All That Really Matters: a story of finding one's purpose, faith and what really matters

All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese is the first book in the McKenzie Romance series. Molly McKenzie has a bright personality as she gives trendy fashion and beauty advice on social media which has earned her an impressive following. When her manager-turned-boyfriend says she has an audition to appear as host on a makeover show that nominates underprivileged youth, her dream of a bigger following with greater fame is about to come true. However, she has very little experience interacting with underprivileged youth. To gain the experience, she partners with a local organization and begins volunteering with The Bridge, a young program, for the summer. Silas Whittaker is the program’s director who challenges her at every turn. It isn’t long before she begins to truly care for the kids and Silas. Molly wrestles with what she thought mattered, the lies she tells herself and realizes there is more to life than fame and followers. 

All That Really Matters is a slow and yet engaging story as Molly searches for herself in the world of fame and yet finds it among the underprivileged youth she is trying to inspire. Silas is a man who has worked hard to provide a stable home for those who have aged out of the foster care system and still need the skills to help them be productive adults and out of trouble. Every character was real and relatable. The last quarter of the story was filled with emotions, drama and the tears poured down my face as Molly faces the truth she has long pushed aside. Faith and God were handled with truth and reality as there aren’t always the answers we want or the outcomes we hope for and yet the strength to keep trying. I can’t wait to read more in this series. I highly, highly recommend All That Really Matters! 

All That Really Matters is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook