Deconstruction: Finding Faith Again Through Rediscovering Truth 

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We often hear the word “deconstruction” these days in the church. Usually, we associate it with someone who has decided that everything they believed about God, truth, and the church no longer hold true. But what if, instead of walking away from the house of faith that you’ve built, you tore down some walls and reconstructed your beliefs based on the solid foundation of God’s Word? 

Here are some things to consider as you head out on a journey to rediscover the truth. 

Tear Down the Walls of Religious Traditions

Traditions make things comfortable. Like every Christmas, without fail, our family enjoys eggnog and Pepperidge Farm cookies the night we decorate our Christmas tree. Every Easter I make my hot Swiss cheese onion dip for our gathering of friends. If I even hint at not doing those things, there’s an uproar in my household.  

But traditions can often get in the way of actually knowing God. Isaiah 29:13 says, “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.’” 

Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 15:7-9 when He confronted the Pharisees about their objections to the disciples not washing their hands before they ate. The Pharisees didn’t care whether the disciples had clean hands; they cared that a rule was being broken. Jesus had a lot to say about that. If Jesus can question traditions and “the commandments of men,” surely He would not frown upon us questioning some of the religious traditions we follow today. 

In finding your way back to faith, ask yourself: Is this religious tradition commanded by God or something created by man? 

Don’t be Afraid of Deconstruction

As a parent, when my kids were younger, I think I feared that their questions about faith meant they didn’t believe anymore. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Yes, I do have two children now who have decided they don’t believe Jesus is who He says He is anymore, but it’s not because they were discouraged from asking questions. 

To figure out how something works, you often have to take it apart. Rooting out what’s skittering around in your attic might take tearing some things down. To get to the core of what you believe about God, you have to deconstruct what’s been constructed around you. In the religious tradition I grew up in, we took communion every week. My parents insisted that we could not eat anything before taking communion. By the time the church service was over, we were starving!  

But I can’t find anything in the Bible that commands that nothing be eaten before celebrating the Lord’s supper. The only reference to eating outside of this remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice is in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. 

So, ask your questions. Let your kids ask their questions. God’s not afraid of them, and you don’t need to be either.

Deconstruction can help build a more solid foundation on God’s Word. 

Give Grace to Those Who Doubt

A friend of mine wrote an article for an issue on deconstruction in an online magazine for which I am the editor in chief. It was one of the most influential articles I’ve ever read. She talked about doubting Thomas. He gets a bad rap. Yes, he questioned the Resurrection saying he would never believe unless he could stick his hand into the wound in Jesus’ side and put his finger in the nail prints in His hands.  

But Thomas stayed with the disciples. And the disciples stayed with him. They didn’t kick him out. In those eight days from when the other disciples saw Jesus alive, what did they talk about? I don’t think the others begged Thomas to believe. I doubt they peppered him with facts about Jesus and the prophecies. And I’m guessing they didn’t berate him for doubting.  

I bet they prayed. And then you know what happened? Jesus walked into the room. That was all it took. Jesus showed great compassion, and Thomas believed declaring, “My Lord and my God!” 

Give space for the questions of your doubting friends—and for your own doubts. And leave space for Jesus to walk into the room. 

Listen now to a short segment of this devotional from Abide based on John 20:27. Let God speak to you in your doubt.

In the end, deconstruction does sometimes lead to someone walking away from God. But it doesn’t have to end that way. Let deconstruction lead you back to your saving faith. 

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Stephanie Reeves is the senior editor for Abide. She lives in Orlando along with her husband, 3 adult children, and 1 adorable grandson.