7 Myths and Realities about Deconstructing Christianity

#3: Deconstructing Christians may go to Hell; We are not God

Much of the criticism of Christian “deconstruction” stems from misunderstanding what it is, its motivations, and its processes.

To deconstruct faith is to interrogate one’s beliefs and determine which to still believe, which to discard, which to change, and why.

Here are 7 myths and realities about people who deconstruct their Christian faith.

Myth #1: They want to deconstruct

Many people think Christians who deconstruct their faith want to do so. They assume questioning one’s beliefs stems from wanting to change those beliefs so they can live a different, more sinful lifestyle.

Reality #1: Deconstruction happens to you

Deconstruction happens to people. They encounter something they just can’t easily reconcile with their existing beliefs. Then they begin the long, difficult process of interrogating those beliefs.

For me, I couldn’t reconcile my wife’s chronic health challenges with my idea of God. The situation put the “problem of evil” in stark relief, and I had to begin investigating and reconsidering my beliefs.

Questioning beliefs doesn’t mean that one wants to live in debauchery guilt-free.

Myth #2: Deconstructing Christians have weak faith

Some Christians may view deconstruction as evidence of a weak faith. Questioning ideas about God, the Bible, or orthodoxy shows that you weren’t a strong Christian — maybe not even a “real” Christian — to begin with. Strong Christians just believe.

Reality #2: Deconstruction is faith

How can we grow and mature in faith if we never question our faith?

To grow, we need to interrogate our beliefs. We need to determine both what we believe and why we believe it.

If we hold beliefs only because someone else told us what to believe, then we can’t assume full ownership of those beliefs. Our faith will struggle when we run into life’s inevitable challenges or when we encounter contradictory information and perspectives about religion.

Doubt leads to exploration, contemplation, and communing with God. Doubt builds faith that can withstand challenges and questions. Some beliefs may change or cease, but one’s overall faith becomes wider and deeper.

At the same time, critically analyzing previous beliefs leads to an attitude of holding beliefs more loosely. Post-deconstruction, people tend to be more open to different viewpoints, admitting their limited knowledge, and embracing the mysteries of the life of faith.

The process of deconstructing faith is faith.

Myth #3: Deconstructing Christians may go to Hell

Many well-meaning Christians worry that their deconstructing brethren will lose faith, believe the “wrong things,” and go to hell.

Reality #3: We are not God

I used to worry that other people would go to hell if they weren’t Christian or sufficiently orthodox.

Then I deconstructed that concern and realized that I’m not God. I don’t decide where people will spend eternity. That’s above my pay grade.

If you worry that deconstructing Christians may go to hell, take heart! You’re not God either. You don’t decide what happens to people in the afterlife.

You can trust God with that judgement.

Myth #4: Deconstructing Leads to Heresy

But deconstructing Christians flirt with heresy, don’t they? The doctrines they question are essential, and they adapt their faith in ways that deny truth.

Reality #4: Christian doctrine is diverse

We’ve been exploring different ideas and opinions about God for 2000 years, and virtually anything a deconstructing Christian can come up with has been discussed at some point in Church history. Relatively few of these ideas have been considered heretical; you can find adherents to most of them today.

The Bible itself presents a diverse array of beliefs, attitudes, and ideas. The Biblical authors sometimes disagree with and debate each other, from Deuteronomy and Job offering disparate world views to Peter, Paul, and James parsing what it means to be a Christian.

Very smart, devout people devote their lives to studying Christianity and reach different conclusions on many things. It’s possible to hold different doctrines but remain steadfastly committed to Christ.

Apparently, God likes diversity of thought and believes we can benefit from it.

Myth #5: Deconstructing Christians don’t read or respect the Bible

Some Christians may think their deconstructing fellows just don’t know the Bible. They haven’t read it but should. Or they’ve read some of it, but they don’t respect its authority.

Reality #5: Deconstructing Christians honor scripture

Ironically, reading the Bible as an adult often leads to the most dramatic deconstruction.

Not because deconstructing Christians want to tear apart the Bible, but because they want to believe its teachings.

Taking the Bible seriously prompts serious questions and consternation, which then drives serious reading and study.

Deconstructing Christians tend to read a lot of scripture, consume a ton of resources about the Bible, and honor the Bible by trying very hard to grasp the contexts and intentions of the Biblical authors.

Myth #6: Deconstructing Christians don’t know theology

Christians secure in their beliefs may suspect that deconstructing Christians just don’t know or understand theology. They need a better understanding of God. Then they can believe.

Reality #6: Studying theology is why Christians deconstruct

Irony upon irony, studying theology often creates crises of faith.

People are raised with a certain understanding or narrative of God. When they learn different ideas about God, then they begin questioning other things they were taught.

For example, many Evangelicals raised their children to view God as an angry, judgmental smiter. Then they left home and encountered faith communities that emphasize God’s never-ending grace, sparking reconsideration.

And if that narrative was flawed, what else may have been wrong? Deconstruction begins.

I could give many other examples of theological questions that raise ever more questions, furthering the journey of discipleship.

Myth #7: Deconstructing Christians don’t know Church history and tradition

Some may think deconstructing Christians don’t know the history and tradition of the Church. If they understood the Church, they would love it as much as they do.

Reality #7: Knowing Church history and tradition often leads to deconstruction

Again, most deconstructing Christians actually know their Church history and tradition very well.

Discovering the history of Christianity’s active role in colonialism, racism, sexism, and oppression throughout the millennia pushes many people to deconstruct their perspectives on their religion.

Learning the traditions of Christianity can also drive people toward rethinking their faith. For instance, you grow up being taught Jesus is the Son of God, and then you learn that the Church fathers didn’t establish the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity until the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

It’s reasonable to wonder how Sunday School teachers taught Jesus’ divinity so confidently when the earliest Christians took a couple centuries to reach certainty about it.

Far from not knowing Church history and tradition, deconstructing folks tend to devour it as part of their journeys.

Conclusion

Deconstructing faith is not something people embark on whimsically or even willingly, but it is a process of discipleship, not destruction. It is growing and maturing in faith.

As Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote, “There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds.”

Relevant Reading

If you want to explore how to better evangelize and disciple ME and Gen Z, please sign up for my newsletter to get free course at Udemy.