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²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 20–23 ESV)

An accurate diagnosis is necessary for a correct treatment and prognosis. What is true in the medical field regarding physical health is equally true for spiritual health. A biblical ministry to deconstructionists does not just involve an accurate diagnosis of their spiritual condition. It also involves a corresponding ministry of reaching out to those who have abandoned the faith they once claimed to possess (I Tim. 4-1-2). Additionally, it involves a ministry to ourselves to remain faithful believers in Christ.

The Epistle of Jude provides an accurate diagnosis of the spiritual condition of apostate deconstructionists. What was true in the first century church remains so in the 21^st century believing community. Jude also provides some sound treatment; not only for unbelievers but also for the faithful. The practical principles are found in today’s text.

First, faithful believers are to continue building yourselves up in your most holy faith. Building yourselves up (ἐποικοδομέω; epoikodomeo) is a present active participle. Building ourselves up is to be a daily and active discipline for each believer in Christ. It means to bring something nearer to completion. In the context, this refers to all believers in Christ continuing to grow in their faith (2 Peter 1:3-15; 3:17-18). This is a most holy trust, commitment ,dependence and worship of Christ. It is set apart from sin.

Jude, like Peter (I Peter 2:5) and Paul (I Cor. 3:16-17) compares the church to a building (1 Cor 3:10, 12, 14; Eph 2:20; Col 2:7). Daily meditation in the Scriptures is absolutely necessary to prevent intrusive apostasy in the church; individually and collectively (Psalm 1).

Second, believers in Christ are to be praying in the Holy Spirit. This is a personal, active and collective response to being in the Scriptures ((1 Cor 14:15–16; Eph 6:18). We read the Word of God, meditate upon what we have read and then pray that we would obey the truth we have read (Gal. 5:16-18; Eph. 6:18).

Third, believers are to keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. To keep (τηρέω; tereo) is an active command to be obeyed. It means to watch over, guard and protect. Believes have a responsibility to persevere in the faith and to support others in their perseverance by exhortation and encouragement (Heb. 3:12; 12:12-17). Believers continue to do so while they are waiting for the Lord’s return. Waiting (προσδέχομαι; prosdechomai) means to look forward to and to welcome the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fourth, as believers in Christ strengthen themselves they will then be prepared to have mercy on those who doubt. To have mercy (ἐλεάω; eleao) means to presently, actively and obediently have pity and compassion on those who doubt (διακρίνω; diakrino).  These are they who personally and presently no longer trust in, commit to, depend upon and worship the Lord.

Additionally, stronger measures may be required in ministering to other deconstructionists. Believers in Christ are to save others by snatching them out of the fire. When a house is on fire you don’t take time to explain to someone in a burning building why they need to evacuate the premises. If they are unwilling to leave their home or apartment, you pick them up and get them out of harm’s way. Time is of the essence.

“Others, who are committed to the errors taught by the apostates, need immediate and forthright attention before they are further entrenched on the road to the fire of hell (cf. v. 7) as a result of embracing deceptive lies,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“Christians must keep each other in the love of God through mercifully encouraging the doubting (vs. 22) and snatching the disobedient from sin’s destructive fires (vs. 23),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.  

Finally, to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Believers in Christ are to show unmerited favor to apostates, but with great caution. Sometimes in ministering to deconstructionists, our faith becomes adversely deconstructed.

“These people are to be given the true gospel, but with great fear, lest the deliverer be contaminated also. The defiled garment pictures the apostate’s debauched life, which can spread its contagion to the well-meaning evangelist,” states MacArthur.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul from Colossians 3:12-14 in seeking deconstructionists. ¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  

May the Lord use us to minister and love the deconstructionists in our lives. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁴ Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. ²⁶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.” (1 John 2:24–26 ESV)

The Apostle John identified individuals who presently oppose biblical Christianity, although they previously professed faith in Christ, as antichrists. This may seem to be a harsh diagnosis. Truth often is difficult to bear, but it is absolutely necessary to bring clarity and hopeful healing to the individual in question. This is true when the diagnosis is cancer of the body, or the spiritual condition of the soul.

The first characteristic of deconstructionists is that they depart from the faith and fellowship of other believers in Christ (I John 2:18-19). In spite of what they may have previously preached, sung, or wrote, their actions reveal their true spiritual condition before the Lord and the truly converted in Christ.

The second characteristic of deconstructionists is their denial of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Savior and Lord. This reveals their lying spirit and unconverted soul (John 8:44).

The third and final characteristic the Apostle John reveals about the character and behavior of deconstructionists is that they try to deceive true believers in Christ. The biblical truth deconstructionists once professed, and now reject, they want true believers in Christ to reject.

The word deceive (πλανάω; planao) means to lead someone astray from the truth. It means to stray from what is right; either physically, ethically or spiritually.

There was a young man in our church’s youth who was intelligent and self-confident. He professed faith in Christ. He was a leader. However, there always seemed to be a rebellious edge to him. Any authority, including his parents, church leadership, or school leadership was met with questioning objections. When he enrolled in college, he was confident that he could convince the college’s administration what classes he would take for his degree. He lasted one semester. His philosophy was he was going to do what he wanted to do, and no one was going to tell him differently.   

As an adult, he rejected his professed faith in Christ and identified himself as an atheist. Not content to follow this path alone, he began to hold small group meetings in order to convince attendees that they should become free thinking atheists also. He embodied the content of I Peter 4:1-4.

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” (1 Peter 4:1–4 ESV)

Abiding in Christ, or persevering in one’s faith in Christ, is a fundamental characteristic of true believers (John 15:1-11). Failure to abide, and seeking to influence others to reject their faith in Christ is a character trait of the unconverted. There is no middle ground. How do believers in Christ prevent straying from the truth? I John 4:1-4 provides an answer.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. ⁴ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:1–4 ESV)

First John 2:24–25 emphasizes the active role that we are to take in our perseverance. Verse 24 tells us we must let what we have heard from the beginning abide in us. It would be easy for us to become passive in our sanctification because of the words of assurance given by the apostle (2:12–14, 21). Being a faithful pastor, John knew true assurance must result in the passionate pursuit of truth and holiness,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“We have already seen this teaching in places like James 2:14–26 and 3:13 as well as 1 Peter 1:13–16 and 2 Peter 1:3–11. John emphasizes the importance of right doctrine today while these other passages focus more on right living. However, all students of the Bible know that while we may distinguish these things for the purpose of instruction, true doctrine and right living are inseparable.”

How may persevering believers in Christ minister to deconstructionists? Rather than passively defend the Christian faith, how may we actively share our faith in Christ to those who have rejected Christ? This is what we will biblically consider next time.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁰ But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. ²¹ I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:20–23 ESV)

The Apostle John identified individuals who presently oppose biblical Christianity, although they previously professed faith in Christ, as antichrists. This may seem to be a harsh diagnosis. Truth often is difficult to bear, but it is absolutely necessary to bring clarity and hopeful healing to the individual in question. This is true when the diagnosis is cancer of the body, or the spiritual condition of the soul.

The first characteristic of deconstructionists is that they depart from the faith and fellowship of other believers in Christ (I John 2:18-19). In spite of what they may have previously preached, sung, or wrote, their actions reveal their true spiritual condition before the Lord and the truly converted in Christ.

The second characteristic of deconstructionists is their denial of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Savior and Lord. This reveals their lying spirit and unconverted soul (John 8:44). Again, John identifies such an individual as an antichrist. Even if they acknowledge their belief in the existence of God, this is refuted by their rejection of Christ. To deny Jesus Christ’s incarnation is to deny God the Father, and to deny the Holy Spirit. To confess one is to affirm all three members of the Godhead. The Father, Son and Spirit can be distinguished in their work, but not in the personhood and unity to each other.

“The particular denial in view here is not just a denial that Jesus is the Messiah but a denial of the incarnation. Confession of the incarnation is essential to orthodoxy and a vital way by which we are assured of salvation (I John 1:1–4). The false teachers John has in mind probably accepted the view of a heretic named Cerinthus who called Jesus “the Christ” but who denied the apostolic definition of the title. Instead of viewing the Christ as the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, these heretics said that Jesus remained a mere man His entire life, only possessing the “spirit of Christ,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Today many people are willing to call Jesus “the Christ,” but they deny His incarnation. Muslims, for example, accept Jesus as the Messiah but deny this means He is the incarnate Son of God. However, 2:23 reminds us that if we call Jesus “the Christ,” but do not accept the apostolic testimony about His person, we have in reality denied Him and His Father as well.”

John Calvin wrote, “it is not enough in words to confess that Jesus is the Christ, except he is acknowledged to be such as the Father offers him to us in the gospel.”

We must never compromise the biblical identity of Jesus Christ. He is truly God, truly man. He was virgin born, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death on the cross in place of sinners, and bodily rose from the dead. He is Lord. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:18–19 (ESV)

The Apostle John identified individuals who presently oppose biblical Christianity, although they previously professed faith in Christ, as antichrists. This may seem to be a harsh diagnosis. Truth often is difficult to bear, but it is absolutely necessary to bring clarity and hopeful healing to the individual in question. This is true when the diagnosis is cancer of the body, or the spiritual condition of the soul.

They went out from us, but they were not of us. It is because the individuals John has in mind are opposed to the Gospel, the resulting effect is that they have left biblical Christianity. Leaving the faith, along with fellowship of the church, indicates their true, spiritual condition. They did not truly belong to Christ.

For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. Likewise, had these I question remained in the faith, and the church, they would have revealed their true conversion in Christ. They would have persevered, in spite of difficulties, struggles and offenses.

All true believers in Christ encounter struggles in the walk with Christ (John 16:33; I Peter 1:1-9). The evidence distinguishing a true believer in Christ, from a pretender, is that a true believer will persevere in the Christian faith. Difficulties, struggles and persecution are not unusual or to be unexpected for believers in Christ.  However, the true believer will not defect from the faith by difficulties, but rather grow stronger because of difficulties.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5 ESV)

But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. The departure of people from the truth and the church unmasks their true identity. No amount of sentimentality can disguise the nature of apostates and their apostasy.

“The first characteristic mentioned of antichrists, i.e., false teachers and deceivers (vv. 22–26), is that they depart from the They arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship and lead people out with them. The verse also places emphasis on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Those genuinely born again endure in faith and fellowship and the truth (1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Tim. 2:12). The ultimate test of true Christianity is endurance (Mark 13:13; Heb. 3:14),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

What struggles have you encountered and endured as a Christian? Your endurance is an evidence of your true conversion to Christ. Therefore, we can rejoice in our tribulations. Take time to do so today.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:18–19 ESV)

“What is a Christian? A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a disciple of Jesus Christ is a follower of Jesus Christ. A follower of Jesus Christ is an active worshiper of Jesus Christ as a part of His community in a local gathering of fellow disciples of Jesus Christ,” explains Pastor Burk Parsons

There have been several qualifications for Christianity within the contemporary church. These include social Christianity, moralistic Christianity, charismatic Christianity, liturgical Christianity, seeker-sensitive Christianity, and even carnal Christianity. Modern man has qualified the Christian faith in various ways to express a particular philosophy and emphasis of ministry. Added to the list is deconstructionist Christianity.

Is it biblically accurate to say that an individual who rejects faith in Jesus Christ, fellowship in the church and any and all values and ethics associated with Christianity is a Christian? Or, have they lost their salvation following their deconstruction? What is the biblical answer?

Today’s text provides an explanation for the quandary that is deconstructionism. The Apostle John set forth the principle that individuals who professed faith in Christ, but left the Christian faith, never truly possessed faith in Christ.  

Today’s text begins with the phrase Children, it is the last hour. John is writing to true believers. He states that the time they were living in was the last hour. The last hour is a recurring phrase in the New Testament (NT). Along with the latter days or last days, these terms refer to the period of time between the first and second advent of Jesus Christ (I Tim. 4:1; James 5:3; I Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18).

John describes a particular characteristic of the latter days. It will be a period of time filled with antichrists. Not only will the antichrist be coming, but many antichrists have come. This is the first occurrence of the title “antichrist.” It is found only in John’s epistles (4:3; 2 John 7).

John used it to refer to the coming final world ruler Satan empowers. He will oppose and seek to replace the true Christ (Dan. 8:9–11; 11:31–38; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:1–12; Rev. 13:1–5; 19:20). Antichrists refers to many individuals. John used the plural noun form to identify and characterize the false teachers who were troubling churches with their false doctrine. They distorted the truth and opposed Christ (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22; Acts 20:28–30).

Antichrist(s) means a principle of evil, incarnated in men. They are hostile, and opposed, to God (cf. 2 Cor. 10:4–5). John writes to expose the false teachers, the wolves in sheep’s clothing, who purvey damning lies (cf. Eph. 5:11).  

Opposition to the Gospel and to Christianity is the first characteristic of those deconstructing Christianity. They once professed to be followers of Christ. They pastored large churches, produced popular Christian music and wrote bestselling Christian books. Yet they ultimately rejected, and are opposed to, the faith they once professed. This is a characteristic of the latter days. It is a characteristic of our own day.

“Just as Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him, so every Christian is called to discipleship. And discipleship is a life, not a program in the church or being busily engaged in church activities and duties,” explains Parsons.

Do you know anyone who once followed Christ but rejected the faith they once professed? It is painful to watch individuals, who once served the Lord alongside you, not only reject the Lord but also reject you. My heart is burdened in prayer for these who still need Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

³ Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 3-4 ESV)

In examining the topic of faith deconstruction, the answers as to the who, how, when, where and why of this spiritual condition must come from Scripture. Not everyone will agree with what Scripture says, but it remains the Lord’s inerrant revelation of Himself (Psalm 19; Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is the preeminent source for answers to this situation.

Related to Christian deconstruction is the subject of apostasy. The Epistle of Jude is the only New Testament (NT) book exclusively and extensively addressing apostasy. Apostasy is a defection from true, biblical faith (Jude 3-4). Apostates are those individuals who defect from biblical truth (2 Thess. 2:10; Heb. 10:29; 2 Peter 2:1-22; I John 2:18-23).

Jude wrote this epistle to not only condemn apostates and apostasy but also to urge true believers in Christ to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3). Jude called for a vigorous and rigorous defense of biblical truth.

In today’s postmodern age of tolerance of anything and everything, even by many in the church, the Epistle of Jude is certainly counter-cultural. Where some individuals reject biblical fellowship and embrace anti-authoritarianism, Jude places stresses the importance of propositional truth as the foundation for true, biblical fellowship.

Granted, not all churches are biblically sound and healthy. Not all pastors are biblically grounded in God’s Word. Spiritual abuse has, and does, occur in the name of Christ. My wife and I have been the recipients of such abuse, as have many others. However, deconstruction from Christianity and God’s Word was never an option.

Jude is not alone in his condemnation of apostasy and apostates. Others who parallel Jude’s warnings include the Lord Jesus (Matt. 7:15; 16:6-12; 24:11; Rev. 2-3), the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:29-30; I Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:1-4), the Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:1-2; 3:1-4), and the Apostle John (I John 4:1-6; 2 John 6-11).  

Jude also vividly described the apostates in terms of their character and unconscionable activities (vv. 4, 8, 10, 16, 18–19). Additionally, he borrowed from nature to illustrate the futility of their teaching (vv. 12–13). While Jude never commented on the specific content of their false teaching, it was enough to demonstrate that their degenerate personal lives and fruitless ministries betrayed their attempts to teach error as though it were truth. This emphasis on character repeats the constant theme regarding false teachers—their personal corruption. While their teaching is clever, subtle, deceptive, enticing, and delivered in myriads of forms, the common way to recognize them is to look behind their false spiritual fronts and see their wicked lives (2 Pet. 2:10, 12, 18–19),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

What is the spiritual condition of deconstructionists? Are the wayward brothers and sisters in Christ? Have they lost their salvation because of their spiritual deconstruction? We will seek to answer these questions next time. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

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¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19(ESV)

For the next several days we are taking a sabbatical from our study of the Gospel of Matthew. Instead, the subject to be studied will be Deconstruction Christianity.

Faith deconstruction, also known as deconstructing faith, evangelical deconstruction, the deconstruction movement, or simply deconstruction, is a Christian phenomenon where people unpack, rethink and examine their belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their involvement in organized religion or the church.

Having listed some recent examples of individuals deconstructing their faith in Christ, what examples and teaching do we encounter from God’s Word about this subject? Are there instances where individuals deconstructed their faith in the LORD? What were the results of this behavior?

It can be argued that any decision to sin, or making a greater commitment to the LORD, involves a deconstructing of one’s past that impacts one’s present walk with Christ. To this end, there are many instances found in Scripture, both positive and negative, of such deconstructing behavior. The following examples are but a select few.

Israel’s sin of worshipping the Golden Calf (Exodus 32). In spite of the Exodus and God’s providential care, many of the Israelites rebelled against Yahweh and chose to worship an idol.

The Prophet Habakkuk’s complaint against God’s impending judgment of the Kingdom of Judah (Habakkuk 1-3). Habakkuk objected to the LORD’s impending judgment of Judah because of their sin. While the prophet acknowledged Judah’s wickedness, and wanted God to judge them, Habakkuk protested the LORD using the Babylonians to do so.

The Prophet Jonah’s behavior before God (Jonah 1-4). Jonah fled from the presence of the LORD because he did not want to submit to the LORD.

Jesus’ Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1-23). Jesus addressed the subject that not all who hear the Gospel, and respond to the Gospel, are truly converted by the Gospel.

The disciples who no longer wanted to follows Jesus (John 6:66-71). Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse on the sovereignty of God in salvation offended many who had initially followed the Lord (John 6:35-65). They chose to leave Jesus.

John Mark who left Paul and Barnabas on the First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:13; 15:36-41).

Demas, a fellow worker with the Apostle Paul who utterly abandoned Paul and Christianity because of a love with the present world (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:10).

The Apostle Paul’s warning to the Ephesians elders concerning those who would seek to draw away believers in Christ and have them follow their false teachings (Acts 20:28-30).

The individuals to whom James wrote concerning their spiritual adultery (James 4:1-4). James had in mind those who outwardly professed and associated with the church. However, they held a deep affection for the fallen, evil world system of thought and behavior.

Those who the Apostle John identified as antichrists (I John 2:18). He explained the reason they left the Christian faith was because they were never truly converted (I John 2:19).

The first characteristic mentioned of antichrists, i.e., false teachers and deceivers (vv. 22–26), is that they depart from the faithful They arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship and lead people out with them. They lack the perseverance of the saints. Additionally, they deny that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Savior and Lord (I John 2:22–23). Thirdly, they endeavor to deceive true believers (I John 2:26).

“Those genuinely born again endure in faith and fellowship and the truth (1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Tim. 2:12). The ultimate test of true Christianity is endurance (Mark 13:13; Heb. 3:14). The departure of people from the truth and the church is their unmasking,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Admittedly, this is a brief set of deconstruction examples. The Epistle of Jude offers an extended treatment of spiritual deconstruction. It is to this epistle we will briefly examine when next week meet.

Soli deo Gloria!

“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1 ESV)

For the next several days we are taking a sabbatical from our study of the Gospel of Matthew. Instead, the subject to be studied will be Deconstruction Christianity.

Faith deconstruction, also known as deconstructing faith, evangelical deconstruction, the deconstruction movement, or simply deconstruction, is a Christian phenomenon where people unpack, rethink and examine their belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their involvement in organized religion or the church.

“Deconstruction is the process of systemically dissecting and often rejecting the beliefs you grew up with. Sometimes, the Christian will deconstruct all the way to atheism. Some remain there, but others experience a reconstruction. But the type of faith they end up with embracing almost never resembles the Christianity they formerly knew,” states author Ivan Mesa, books editor at The Gospel Coalition.

What are some reasons behind Deconstruction Christianity?

Some individuals reject the church and its doctrine as falsehoods. In some cases, they abandoned not only the church, but their friends and family. They replace them with an unbiblical hostile attitude and behavior towards the same. This may result in great antagonism on the part of the deconstructionist, and corresponding hurt and sorrow on the part of those rejected by the individual.

“Many of the most common doubts and struggles seem to fall into two categories, with some overlap between them,” explains Trevin Wax, visiting professor at Wheaton College.  

“Is Christianity true? It’s easy to find some of Christianity’s truth claims implausible. Can we really believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, that the miracles we read about in the Old and New Testament truly occurred, and that the enchanted world of the Bible is a better description of reality that the scientific world of natural laws we experience every day? So many Christian stories – and doctrines like the full deity and full humanity of Christ –seem out of touch, irrelevant or farfetched.”

Another reason for doubt and deconstruction centers on questioning the goodness of Christian doctrine. What about the pain and suffering caused by individuals in the church against other believers in Christ? The recipients of such atrocious behavior sometimes recover and become stronger in the faith. Others, unfortunately, do not. Their faith is shipwrecked.

“As people scan Christianity’s record over the centuries and see the wreckage left by many who’ve done atrocious things in Jesus name, they grow unsettled with religious certainty that could lead to more acts of violence and unjust discrimination. Some aspects of Christianity’s moral vision, in particular the commands regarding sexuality and marriage seem backward and unworkable—the Bibles moral aspirations unattainable,” states Wax.

Others experience what is referred to as the dark night of the soul. They encounter a difficult situation and question God as to why this is happening. This was the case with the Prophet Habakkuk. He did not approve of God’s impending judgment of the Kingdom of Judah by the pagan Babylonians (Hab. 1). God had not fit into the prophet’s carefully constructed box. Habakkuk chose to wait in a watchtower until God appeared to answer the prophet’s objections.

Some have deconstructed themselves from a Christianity that was more in keeping with economic American capitalism than biblical exposition of sound doctrine and worship of God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). They became involved in a church plant that experienced exponential growth with multiple sites in a major metropolitan area. There were large crowds, high energy music, motivational talks with a vision and mission of ministry that was centered in bigger and better. This philosophy became unsustainable with the pastor increasingly becoming a sovereign dictator, a harsh taskmaster and/or an irresponsible financial manger of church resources . Dedication to the ministry transitioned into disillusioned deconstruction towards Christianity.

Is it wrong to ask questions of God and what the Bible teaches? Is it wrong to condemn all Christian pastors and churches because of the sins of the few, or the one? We will seek to address these questions when next we meet.

Who do know who is experiencing a period of deconstruction of their faith in Christ? Continue to earnestly pray and plead to the LORD on their behalf; even if they prefer you wouldn’t. Have a blessed day in Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!