Deconstructing or Reconstructing?

[Reimagine Curator]

Confessions of a Deconstruction-Minded Christian

 

Phil Miglioratti

 

"Deconstructing."

Sounds like a painful process.

And, it is, whether it applies to demolishing a building or taking apart a system of belief “in order to expose biases, flaws or inconsistencies,” which is precisely what is taking place all across the evangelical spectrum.

Sadly, many church members who have become disillusioned with their evangelical church experience or disappointed by an evangelical leader are simply throwing the baby out with the dirty bath water. Some take that literally by renouncing faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. A growing number of "nones" ("people who answer a question about their religion by saying they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular”) are now labeled "exvangelical."

This recently appearing and rapidly growing movement has promoted me to ponder my own theology, which has led to a series of articles/essays on how our beliefs are affected (and sometimes infected) by our worldview (or philosophy of life), blindspots, pharisaical justification, eisegesis (how we translate and interpret Scripture, and syncretism (a fancy word I learned in seminary).

The journey, still in process, has revealed a simple but essential reality. Knowing the One who is the way, the truth, and the life, does not guarantee my views always point to the correct way, my beliefs are the whole truth or nothing but the truth, and my way of life is the perfect example of Christianity. Holy Scripture is inspired. Me and my version, not so much.

 

This realization should have taken root long ago. My discipleship should have included a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed "deconstruction" much earlier in the process. No fear of questions; rather a pursuit. But, not unlike every other perspective on the teachings of Christianity, I truly believed our version was the most accurate, insightful, devoted, statement of orthodoxy possible. And that resulted in a quest for biblical knowledge that did not include an evaluation of other viewpoints or a questioning analysis of my own. 

 

Until now.

• Deconstruction is simply "unlearning;" a willingness to be wrong (in order to become more accurate) and a willingness to change (the Word of God "will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35) but my theology, though based on the Word of God, is not the Word of God; it is my words about the Word of God) 
  
• Deconstruction is not the prime motivation nor an end in itself
• Deconstruction is necessary because it is impossible to compose a theology that is not impacted by one's worldview or influenced by one's culture, shaped by ​experiences or swayed by ​o​thers

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

• Deconstruction must be a prelude to Reconstruction; reviewing, revising (when necessary), toward a reviving
• Reconstruction cannot simply be a "revised standard version" ... just the next version that we assume is a "100% correct" system of beliefs or life applications
• Reconstruction must include humility (2 Chronicles 7:14: promises God's favor to those who humble themselves; Proverbs 11:2: with humility comes wisdom; James 4:6: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble) - lack of humility is what caused the need for deconstruction in the first place!
• Deconstruction & Reconstruction must both be a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed process that allows the mind of Christ to be discovered in the views and values of other fully devoted, truth-seeking, Christians

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