Deconstructing or Reconstructing Faith?
Phil Miglioratti @ The Remagine.Network
“Most pastors have heard of deconstruction and some say they’ve seen it in their pews, but no one knows exactly what faith deconstruction means.
Just because someone is re-evaluating what they believe, doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve quit believing entirely.” Lizzy Haselstine
#ItSeemsToMe…some evangelicals are deconstructing but many of us are reconstructing. Inviting a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed review and, as necessary, revision of the containers we have designed to carry, the templates we have constructed to codify, our beliefs and perspectives. A faith journey to assess where true faith has been contaminated or compromised by traditions and/or cultural biases we have begun to think of as correct - faultless - universal expressions of Holy Scripture.
“Many have been influenced by culture instead of by the church” (LH) ... but reconstruction recognizes that norms and standards of culture have also influenced the church. Identifying customs-traditions-values that steer or dilute Scripture is essential to both personal discipleship and corporate culture.
“People rely on their circumstances to create their worldviews” (LH) ... but so does our theologizing. Our creedal statements remain foundational but our interpretations and applications need constant, thoughtful reflection to identify perspectives that are based upon or shaped byour tribal/temporal context.
“Before we self-righteously point fingers at someone questioning God, take time to consider what that person may have gone through or be facing and pray for them. When someone is deconstructing their faith, it is not a time to criticize or be skeptical of them but to love them well” (LH) ... and to listen. They may have wisdom from the Spirit that applies to us as well. Failure to listen and learn will only result in more deconstruction (unbelief) than reconstruction (renewed belief).
Comments
#ItSeemsToMe...
The cultural sensibilities, corporate systems, and mimnistry structures of many congregations are rooted in an 18th century, Industrail age, worldview.
Which centuries later is producing local churches that are
We need visionaries who can place the worship-fellowship-discipleship-stewardship-leadership components of the Body of Christ into a non-toxic technological social context.
For the ancient-truth Gospel to flourish, we need to be ready with Spirit-led, Scripture-fed changes that relate to our society without diminishing or deconstructing the life-message-ministry of Jesus.
Phil Miglioratti
Reimagine.Network
A VERY important distinction Salvatore!
Phil