The problem with the word deconstruction, at the risk of committing an etymological fallacy, is that it carries the philosophical baggage of postmodernism, particularly the denial that truth can be known. It also carries the assumption of permanent doubt and the skepticism of authority. That’s why, when applied to Christian faith, so much deconstruction is about severing links, between the Church and Jesus, Christianity and Jesus, moral teaching and Jesus, and (especially) the Bible and Jesus … as if the Church isn’t His Bride, Christianity isn’t His worldview, morality isn’t His teaching, and the Bible isn’t His Word.

Variations of the word “deconstruction” have been used to describe everything from deconversions (like Kevin Max from DC Talk and Joshua Harris of I Kissed Dating Goodbye ) to soul searching (for example, Derek Webb) to theological revisioning (like Jen Hatmakerand Rob Bell). When used descriptively, the word can be helpful, describing what has become common features of evangelical celebrity-ism. 

Increasingly however the term “deconstruction” is used prescriptively. It is something that comes recommended to those questioning the faith they grew up with as being a courageous thing to do. This approach, to applaud or even recommend deconstruction, is unhelpful and can even be dangerous.   

It’s one thing to describe doubting, questioning and, ultimately, shifting faith commitments as “deconstruction.” It’s another to prescribe it as the means of coming to terms with Christianity’s unpopular truth claims or the baggage of a Christian upbringing. Simply put, the word carries too much worldview baggage.  

Scripture (especially in the Psalms) offers plenty of space for doubting and questioning and describes how God meets us in our questions and doubts. Doubting need not mean deconversion. And we should be very careful about political allegiances or other elements of American culture becoming corruptively bundled with Christian identity. We must constantly practice discernment.   

However, the word deconstruction is not the best term to use in these contexts given the much better words that are available. Not to mention, Scripture offers words such as conversion, reform, repentance, and renewal as ways of keeping God’s people squarely within a Christian vision of truth: that it is revealed, not constructed; and that it is objective, not subjective.  

Read More