A Must-Read: ‘The Deconstruction of Christianity’

In 2021, I wrote a post called Christian Deconstruction: A Trend That’s Here to Stay. Although I believed it was a significant problem in the Church, I only heard a few prominent Christians addressing the issue at the time. It has been two and a half years since I published my post, and I feel more convinced than before that churches across the country are losing people to progressive ideas promoted through the deconstruction narrative. Also, let’s not forget the families and friendships torn apart by deconstruction. Meanwhile, in my experience, many (most?) Christians still don’t know what deconstruction is, let alone how to handle it. Isn’t there someone to teach us?

The Must-Read Book On Deconstruction

Sometimes I hear about something and think, “I wish there was a book about this that I could use as a reference to teach others.” Deconstruction was one of those topics, and now there is such a book! Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett recently released The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is, Why it’s Destructive, and How to Respond.

This book is broken down into three main parts: “#Exvangelical,” “#Deconstruction,” and “#Hope.” The authors do an excellent job of explaining deconstruction’s history and current impact on Christian culture. The reader is left with little doubt that deconstruction does, in fact, exist and poses a problem in the Church. Thankfully, Childers and Barnett didn’t simply tell us there’s a problem and leave us in despair. Rather, they spent a large portion of the book describing what deconstruction looks like, possible causes, and most importantly, how to move forward when a loved one deconstructs.

The Authors

So, who exactly are the authors, and do they know what they’re talking about? If you’re not asking yourself that, then you should. I’m not going to go through their entire work history and Bible training, but I’ll give you a snapshot and links to find out more about them on your own. I can’t stress how important it is to consider the source when you learn new information.

Alisa Childers

Alisa Childers was a Contemporary Christian Music artist in a girls group called ZOEgirl from 1999 to 2006. In the time since ZOEgirl disbanded, she has gone through a crisis of faith, taken seminary classes to better understand the Bible and address her doubts, started a blog and podcast, and she now travels to speak about topics such as deconstruction and progressive Christianity.

In addition, Childers has written three books: Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity, Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed, and most recently The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is, Why it’s Destructive, and How to Respond.

Tim Barnett

Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason, a ministry which aims to teach Christians how to defend and understand their faith. He is also the creator of Red Pen Logic with Mr. B on YouTube through Stand to Reason.

What Is Deconstruction?

Unfortunately, defining Christian deconstruction isn’t as easy as opening up a dictionary and pointing to a clear definition spelled out for all of us in black and white. Depending on the person, the church, and the specific scenario, we can end up with all sorts of conflicting definitions. Helpful, right?

Some people define deconstruction as a net positive. They see it as a good thing because deconstruction from this viewpoint is closely examining one’s faith and only keeping what is congruent with the Bible. All right. I think that’s a pretty solid Christian task to take on at some point.

On the other hand, deconstruction is defined as a bad thing by those who believe it is an exercise in poking holes in one’s faith, looking for ways to disprove it, and often done in bad faith.

For the sake of our conversation about this book, we’ll discuss deconstruction as defined by Childers and Barnett. On page 26, they say, “Faith deconstruction is a postmodern process of rethinking your faith without regarding Scripture as a standard.” This is a concise and accurate description of the deconstruction that Christians like me are pained to see as they play out on social media and in the lives of church families.

A Short History Of Deconstruction

On pages 30-31, Childers and Barnett take the reader back to 2016 when many would agree that modern Christian deconstruction took off. A man named Blake Chastain changed the social media landscape for Christians with a new hashtag – #exvangelical. He grew up in the evangelical church and deconstructed in college, eventually sharing his changed beliefs on social media.

Chastain is now a writer and podcaster who focuses on sharing the “good news of deconstruction” (my term, not his) by featuring stories of deconstruction and analyzing the Christian faith through a skeptical worldview set on dismantling it.

Clever Marketing

Chastain’s hashtag is a marketing team’s dream. It’s catchy, clever, and cuts to the bone. He is a man who has rejected his evangelical upbringing, and by changing one letter, he has created an entire movement among doubting Christians and churchgoers. Evangelicals are abandoning the God of the Bible to become exvangelicals. I’d be impressed with his wit if I weren’t so devastated for him and saddened by what he has encouraged.

What Is An Evangelical?

Clearly, #exvangelical was meant to tear down evangelicalism, but what exactly is it? As usual, I am burdened with the task of informing you that no one really knows how to define this word. No wonder Christians struggle to unify! We can’t even precisely define the terms we use and identities we claim.

Again, Childers and Barnett have created a definition that seems to work well enough for our purposes. So, let’s refer to them to help us define evangelical. They turned to David W. Bebbington, historian, to define evangelicals as “historically focused on the Bible as the source for essential truth, the cross as the atoning sacrifice of Christ, personal conversion as necessary for salvation, and activism primarily expressed as preaching the gospel” (p. 31). Even with all those identifying characteristics, the definition is broad enough to include someone like Joel Osteen and Paul Washer. Could stranger bedfellows exist?

The Exvangelical View On Evangelicals

Exvangelicals spend a great deal of time telling people why evangelicalism is toxic, and they like to share their escape stories. When someone who has undergone deconstruction shares her tale, she often claims her evangelical church was filled with believers who are racist, sexist, homophobic, and blinded with MAGA fever.

The Church, and those inside it, stand for everything they are against. Someone who has deconstructed has, in their opinion, broken free from the bondage of hate and judgment. Sadly, many of these individuals have no clue what true Christianity looks like and represents. Christians are presented as a caricature version of themselves at their worst rather than the imperfect but true reality.

Deconstruction is an attack on evangelicals, yes, but it’s ultimately an attack on God and His Holy Word. Christians need to educate themselves on deconstruction and have a plan for when it strikes their churches, friends, and families. Willful ignorance is not an option any longer.

The Deconstruction Of Christianity Is Essential Reading

Childers and Barnett have given Christians easy access to the information we need, and I strongly believe every Christian in America, but especially parents, should read The Deconstruction of Christianity.

Admittedly, deconstruction isn’t a new phenomenon. People have fallen away or left the faith since, well, forever. As the Bible says, there’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). On the other hand, as the times change, the methods the Enemy uses to propagate lies about our Lord change, also. This book examines how deconstruction is promoted to our youth and offers suggestions for how we can respond in a Christlike manner.

Not everyone will read this book, though, and I want to make sure none of y’all miss out. So, let’s look at a few of the highlights.

The Can’t-Miss Highlights

1. The 5 Common Christian Views Deconstruction Removes

No deconstruction is exactly the same, but according to Childers and Barnett, there are five Christian beliefs that almost always face removal from the deconstructor’s values/beliefs (pp. 33-41). You’ll notice some of these are inaccurate observations of the Christian faith.

Literal Interpretation Of The Bible

For anyone looking to reject parts of her Christian faith, this is the obvious first place to attack. The Bible’s authority and trustworthiness must come into question in order to undermine biblical teaching. However, the attack is often based on a sophomoric understanding of what “literal interpretation” means. They claim evangelicals think we should read the Bible literally, no matter the context. For instance, in John 10:9, Jesus is saying He is literally a door when he says “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Fact check: False.

The Bible uses multiple genres, and a literal interpretation simply means that we should read it as it was meant to be read. For example, Acts, Judges, and Exodus are historical narratives. They tell the story of what happened. Meanwhile, Song of Solomon and Psalms are poetry while Proverbs is wisdom literature that uses poetic and metaphorical language at times. So, when we say read the Bible literally, we mean you ought to read it as it was intended to be read with its plainest meaning.

“Women Are Submissive To Men”

Welcome to one of the most loaded topics in the Bible. Come, enjoy feeling triggered by something I say no matter how careful I am.

Those going through deconstruction will argue that the Bible teaches toxic masculinity and an abusive form of patriarchy that they assume is just plain ol’ patriarchy. I guess there’s no such thing as a healthy and functional patriarchy in their view?

Patriarchy doesn’t stand alone in the crosshairs of removing submission from their lives, though. Complementarianism must also go because it is inherently misogynistic. They, again, don’t understand what they are talking about.

Patriarchy is simply male headship. It is not toxic, but there are men who will take it to a toxic place. I won’t deny that. That doesn’t make patriarchy a big, bad threat, though. As for complementarianism, well, how is that misogynistic? Two people who complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses is not a sexist thing. But we live in a world which denies that men and women even exist, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

Can you guess the most important false narrative many people in deconstruction believe and share on the topic of female submission? “The Bible teaches that women must submit to men.” Well, no. Actually, that’s false. I’m under no obligation to submit to and follow the leadership of every man I encounter. I’m instructed to submit to my husband.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

Ephesians 5:22-24

I know that sounds like a lot to take on, but can we think about the next verse and what expectation husbands must stive toward?

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Ephesians 5:25

Christ gave His life for us. He literally gave all a person has to give, so how much must a husband be willing to do for his wife? How much should he be willing to sacrifice? So, this rhetoric that women are taught to be doormats and men can do whatever they want is a lie that deconstructors believe and fight against as they pick apart their faith.

The Sin Of Homosexuality

Whoops! Did I just call homosexuality a sin? That’s an unforgiveable offense these days. Churches aligning with the LGBTQ+ agenda have become relatively common, but most evangelical churches seem to hold to a biblical stance, at least in writing.

Nonetheless, if someone in deconstruction has allowed social media and modern woke culture to influence her worldview, then coming to the defense of the LGBTQ+ community is a no-brainer. Someone attempting to disprove the sinfulness of homosexuality will go through mental and verbal gymnastics trying to make the Bible fit their preference. However, Scripture is so, so, so clear.

God created a man, Adam, and told Adam to name the various creatures on Earth. Despite the many living creatures, Adam still had no suitable companion or “help meet.” Therefore, God created Eve, a woman, as Adam’s partner in life. Together they would work, raise a family, love, and worship God. That was the plan from the very creation of mankind.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24

The Genesis account should be enough, but God also clarifies homosexual behavior as sinful.

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”

Leviticus 18:22 (ESV)

Well, that’s crystal clear. No comment from me on that one.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (emphasis mine)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)

I absolutely love this passage. Homosexuality is included in a long list of sins, but the message isn’t “too bad for you guys…” The church in Corinth had people in it that did all of these things at some point, but they were saved by Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It says, “such were some of you.” They repented and were no longer in bondage to those sins. Amen!

Anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ is in sin, but Christ can save them from that life. A typical person going through deconstruction won’t accept that. Instead of seeing hope and love through Jesus, they see homophobia and hate.

Believing America Has The Best Way Of Life

The political Left has made hating our country commonplace. Thanks to liberal agendas, progressive “Christians,” and people who literally hate our country, even many Christians are beginning to look around the world and wish the United States was like other nations. They point to “free” healthcare and paid maternity leave. They forget about those minor fringe benefits in America such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and the freedom to worship any religion you choose.

Christian nationalism scared a lot of evangelicals, and I don’t blame them depending on their experience with it. Whether or not one believes the U.S.A. is currently a Christian nation, we can’t deny that many believers end up leaning politically conservative. And, as you have probably noticed, conservatives are the ones who tend to praise the United States and openly display love for the country.

Somewhere along the line, people in deconstruction have come to believe that evangelicals have merged their Christian and American identities into one. I don’t doubt some have, but most Christians understand that being American is not the same as being a Christian. Moreover, they would always put Christ before America.

So, is it wrong to love our country, Christian? No. It’s our home until we go to our true home with the Lord. Not to mention, America offers freedoms we can’t find in other countries, the ability to move beyond the level of success our parents had, and a Declaration of Independence built on the knowledge of God’s existence and rights we all have due to Him.

Christian Identification With Conservativism

People undergoing deconstruction make it sound as if Christians believe and teach that God blesses conservative politics, and in order to be a Christian, one must be a political and social conservative. As usual, I must concede that there are people who represent Christianity poorly, and consequently, do exactly what is being accused of us all. On the other hand, no believer with any Bible knowledge would claim something as wild as “Jesus is a Republican.”

Are Christians more likely to be conservative, though? Actually, I think so. Small government, personal responsibility, blaming sin rather than systems, and seeing people as more than the color of their skin or sexual preference are all supported by Bible teachings. Those truths also tend to be conservative beliefs. The big issue, though, is abortion. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face. Christians can’t support abortion. So, if only for that reason, Christians are more likely to support conservative policies.

Deconstructors get it wrong to think believers become conservatives because it’s part of their religious identity. Instead, Christians become conservatives because it is often the natural progression from Bible teaching.

2. Deconstruction: Who’s Doing It?

After what I have just shared, it might be easy to vilify deconstructors as mean-spirited people who deserve what they get. Let ‘em leave, right? I sincerely hope that isn’t your attitude. I would ask you to consider the spiritual condition these people are in, how their relationships have suffered, and what they have gone through to choose deconstruction. Are you heartbroken for them? We should be. They aren’t monsters. They’re people. In fact, except by the grace of God, they could be you and me. Childers and Barnett remind us in The Deconstruction of Christianity of five identities deconstructors have (pp. 182-194).

Image Bearers

Each and every one of us was created in the image of God.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Genesis 1:27

We are inherently valuable, and we all have an eternal soul. With that in mind, how should we treat someone who is deconstructing her faith? Should I scream and yell and put her down? Or should I assure her that God loves her and values her? Even if she hurls insults and lies about God to us, we should demonstrate love and patience with a deconstructor.

Sinners

We are all image bearers of God, but we are also sinners. Every one of us.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:23

Deconstruction is fueled, in part, by a motivation to justify our sin. We can intellectualize away any of God’s standards we don’t like and continue with the life we choose.

As a believer wanting to help someone deconstructing, we need to keep in mind that salvation, more than winning an argument, is what matters. Show love and share the gospel, and do these things while trying not to push that person away.

Seekers

Everyone seeks, but not everyone seeks the same things. Paul divides people into two groups of seekers: truth-seekers and self-seekers.

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”

Romans 2:6-8 (ESV)

People in deconstruction are much more likely to be seeking self rather than truth. They’ll often admit it by talking about “finding themselves,” wanting to express their authentic selves, and describing seeking answers from within.

Captives

You might be thinking deconstructors are captives to sin, but Childers and Barnett explain it as the Devil scheming against them by keeping them away from truth.

“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

2 Timothy 2:25-26

The authors suggest that the Enemy uses false teachers to fool some and keep them from hearing truth or believing it when they do.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Colossians 2:8 (ESV)

I said it already, but this only emphasizes how much people in deconstruction need someone with truth who can hear the arguments against biblical teaching and gently refute the lies.

Rebels

We want our own throne. In our flesh, we want to be the boss. Christians, even mature believers, sometimes find themselves rebelling against God in some way due to pride and a desire to put oneself on the throne.

Childers and Barnett observed that a common theme in deconstruction stories is a sense of freedom. The Christian faith felt as if it held them down, and those who walked away felt free. How long do you suppose that feeling lasts before the weight of sin overtakes a person?

I hesitate to say it because it might sound cliché, but it’s true.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32

The only true freedom is found in Christ.

3. Practical Suggestions

Childers and Barnett cannot teach you to make someone stop their deconstruction, but they do offer four pieces of advice in their aptly named chapter, “Advice.”

Pray

This is always sound advice for a Christian, but it feels even more important when something so serious is happening in a loved one’s life. Before you approach someone in deconstruction, pray about it. Ask God to help you speak in love, to listen, and know how hard to push and when to stop.

Dealing with deconstruction is a delicate business. Pray, pray, pray.

Stay Calm And Stay In Their Life

Deconstructors often don’t feel safe to share their doubts and deconstruction with believers. So, if one is telling you about it, don’t get upset. A bad reaction that feels too amped or judgmental could lead to losing him or her as a result.

I’m confident that other people who have gone through deconstruction will advise your loved one to cut you out if you come on too strong. You’ll have no positive influence in the person’s life if your relationship has been severed. Without compromising, do what you can to remain respectful and in his or her life.

Do Some Triage

Are you a fixer? Maybe you want to sit down with your loved one and fix all the theological problems in one fell swoop. I can’t see the future, but I feel certain that’s how you lose that person.

Think of this person’s deconstruction like a triage response in a hospital. There may be a multitude of problems, but you need to address the issues that require immediate assistance. Childers and Barnett gave a hypothetical example of a youth pastor’s sexual abuse leading a young lady to begin to deconstruct her faith. Although the spiritual issue is serious, the sexual abuse takes priority. Her trauma needs to be dealt with immediately by contacting authorities (if it hasn’t been reported), seeking out medical assessment and treatment, and counseling.

Each scenario needs to be assessed, and you must determine how to discuss deconstruction and when. I would add that this won’t be a situation in which you sit down together and get it all figured out during one conversation. This will be ongoing, and triage assessment could be required more than once.

Set Boundaries (And Respect Theirs)

Despite your desire to love and respect this person, you are allowed to have boundaries in the relationship. Maybe your sister has started drinking alcohol during deconstruction, but you feel convicted against alcohol consumption. Set up the boundary that she cannot bring alcohol into your home or drink when you go out to eat together.

At the same time, she may have boundaries of her own. She might not want you to give her children Christian books or take them to church activities when you babysit. You don’t have to like it, but those are her kids. She decides.

Does this sound like a very difficult relationship to navigate? It sounds tough to me, but sometimes relationships require these kinds of boundaries for two people to move forward. Eventually, tensions will lessen, and your relationship can feel more natural. You might even find yourself in the middle of a spiritual conversation that she asked to have.

Final Thought

Deconstruction is a problem in nearly every community, yet so many Christians have no idea what it is. The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is, Why it’s Destructive, and How to Respond gives believers the information and hope they need to tackle deconstruction head-on. I can’t recommend this book enough, and I can only pray that it will serve as an aid in your future encounters with deconstruction.

What experience do you have with deconstruction?

Image courtesy of Lacie Slezak via Unsplash.