3 Things You Need to Know Before Deconstructing Your Faith & no, I’m not trying to talk you out of it.
- Stephanie M.
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
There’s a buzzword hanging around the block, and it’s roaring with popularity. It’s edgy, enticing, and pulling people in by the droves.
The problem? This one is dangerous.
Before you dive in and start tearing things apart, let’s take a look at some of the snares you will encounter.
Where did it come from?
Faith deconstruction occurs when a person questions, reevaluates, and potentially relinquishes some or all of their beliefs. At face value, it seems harmless. Everyone should, at some point, evaluate their faith and be sure of what they believe. However, the danger lies in the motive behind why someone chooses to deconstruct.
There are many reasons someone would choose to embrace deconstruction, but the three most common I’ve seen are:
Past church hurt or religious trauma
Lack of solid Bible teaching
Getting caught up in a trend
Let’s talk about the things you need to know before you decide if deconstruction is a path you want to tread.
#1: Past Hurt or Religious Trauma
Church hurt is real and heartbreaking. Our churches should be the safest place for believers and non-believers alike, but the unfortunate reality is that many times, church is where some of the deepest wounds are inflicted.
Take Jesus, for example. He should have been most welcome in and around the religious community. After all, weren’t they looking forward to the coming Messiah? However, that’s often where he was most rejected. The Jews even went so far as to call him demon-possessed after he taught about how they could be freed from sin. And that was during his early ministry, before he’d stirred things up.
The Jews answered him, ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ — John 8:48
Later, after he had continued preaching, teaching, and performing many miracles, one of his best friends turned him over to the authorities, and his own people asked for his crucifixion.
And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. — Luke 22:4–6
One of Jesus’ inner circle plotted, along with the leaders of the church, ways they could find him alone and capture him.
That’s the ultimate church hurt.
Jesus doesn’t want that for us. He doesn’t want us to be deeply wounded by those who call themselves his followers.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. — John 13:34–35
#2: Lack of Solid Bible Teaching
This isn’t a new issue, but rather something that’s plagued the church since its start. Scripture warns us repeatedly about false teachers.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. — 2 Peter 2:1
Friend, I say this with all the loving kindness I can muster:
If you are attending a church whose teaching isn’t aligned with Scripture, or only preaches stories about the Word instead of from the Word — RUN, don’t walk, to another one.
Even Bible-believing, truth-seeking churches are bound to hurt people from time to time because we’re all human; however, in churches like the above, who don’t carefully handle the Word of God, it’s simply a matter of when you’ll be hurt. Not if.
And that’s not what Jesus had in mind for his Bride, either.
#3: Getting Caught up in a Trend
Paul addresses this in his letter to the Roman church.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2
Fads come and go. We’ll see different movements become popular and fade away in our lifetime, but we should remain set apart from the world. As believers, we will never fit into whatever box society deems “normal.”
This isn’t prideful, but a reflection of our purpose. If we are truly followers of Christ, we will always look different because the world constantly evolves while our God remains unchanged. He’s the same today as he was two thousand years ago, as he will be in another two thousand years (if Jesus hasn’t come for us by then).
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever. — Isaiah 40:8Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. — James 1:16–17
If we model our lives after the world, we will repeatedly find ourselves caught up in the next fad, both in lifestyle and theologically. When we seek to follow Christ, however, we are transformed in our thinking and our minds will be set on him, not what this world has to offer.
Proceed with Caution
As I promised at the beginning, I’m not going to talk you out of deconstruction. It could even be necessary if you come from a faith background practicing harmful theology.
However, I urge you to evaluate your motive for exploring this path and prayerfully consider whether it’s wise.
If you proceed, please make sure to do so with the guidance of your local pastor or a trusted, Bible-believing mentor.
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Press on! 🫶🏻
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