“I am not a Christian.”
This shocking announcement came from Joshua Harris, author of the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye that had been based on his proclaimed Christian faith. The book played a significant role in shaping many Christians’ perspectives on relationships. He was accepted and applauded by adults of all ages.
In recent years, a rising trend of “spiritual deconstruction” among churchgoing youth and young adults has sparked important conversations among Christians. What is spiritual deconstruction? It is a process of questioning and reevaluating one’s faith, leading to a change in religious affiliation. In other words, deconstruction is often the path to walking away from the faith entirely.
Falling away from Jesus
In an Instagram post on July 26, 2019, Harris publicly announced his apostasy: “I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is deconstruction; the biblical phrase is falling away. By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.”
Harris is not the only well-known individual to publicly walk away from Christ. Internet celebrities Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal previously identified as dedicated Christians, and both served with Campus Crusade for Christ. However, when their internet career took them into a different spiritual environment, they began to question fundamental Christian teachings. Eventually, they announced their departure from Christianity on their podcast. These stories are only a few among many accounts of people who have renounced their faith in Jesus.
Falling toward Jesus
While Harris, McLaughlin, and Neal illustrate how doubts can open the door to apostasy, there is another who exemplifies how a similar path can lead to a very different result. Jinger Vuolo, a member of the well-known Duggar family, went through a process she calls “disentangling.”
In her book Becoming Free Indeed, Vuolo describes how her childhood was shaped by a view of God that was harsh, ready to strike if she ever stumbled or made a mistake. Under the bonds of legalism, she felt as if she had to earn the favor of God by being perfect – all while growing up in the public eye on television.
In her book, she describes how the influence of both her pastor/husband Jeremy and her brother-in-law led her to reexamine her beliefs. She discovered that certain aspects of her faith were based on man-made rules rather than on God’s Word. Her journey highlights the importance of personal conviction that questions about one’s faith can lead to further growth rather than falling away.
How churches can help
When encountering churchgoers who have real doubts or questions about Christian doctrine, it is important to differentiate between deconstruction and disentangling. Deconstruction often arises from doubts about or a desire to depart from fundamental truths, leading to a departure from Christianity or an embrace of unorthodox beliefs.
Disentangling involves studying gospel-centered teachings and taking ownership of one’s own beliefs. Disentangling can be a positive and healthy process, enabling Christians to strengthen their faith by reassessing their convictions and aligning them with the nonnegotiable truths of the gospel.
Churches must play a role in aiding this kind of spiritual growth, particularly among youth, by addressing difficult questions with empathy and honesty. Churches should encourage critical thinking, provide resources for further study, and offer guidance to members who wrestle with their faith.
All Christians deserve the opportunity and the challenge to critically examine their faith, separate core doctrines from peripheral teachings, and align their convictions with biblical truths. By acknowledging and respecting their struggles, churches can empower them to develop a resilient and authentic relationship with God.
