Earlier while researching issues of faith, I came across a helpful article entitled “Five Reasons Young People Deconstruct Their Faith.” This article can be viewed below:
This post expounds on quotes from this article and explores how that we support our younger believers in their journeys of faith. Please take a moment to read the referenced article and consider the author’s views.
Author & Organizational Background:
Carey Nieuwhof studies and produces content related to church leadership, growth, and contemporary topics related to evangelical church communities. This particular article is written by Joe Terrell, Nieuwhof’s content manager.
Purpose Statement for this post
This post’s purpose is to encourage anyone working through a challenging time in faith journey. Tragically, the hurtful behaviors of “Christians” are a major reason for people leaving a fellowship in local church.
God understands our struggles and loves us deeply because of His nature! Mature believers strive to understand, and support our younger brothers and sisters in their journeys of faith.
Key Term: Deconstruction
Seasons of Trial and Growth
During our journeys of faith, we will experience times of testing and difficulty. These “seasons” can lead us into a time of questioning and re-examination of our beliefs. Let’s define a key term and how it applies to faith journey. Check out this previous article:
https://wordpress.com/post/wordsofencouragementinchrist.com/1347
What is “deconstruction”? This term means different things to people. Some assume that deconstruction is a destructive process that leads people to abandon their faith. However, it’s not necessarily a destructive process! Consider that we may have beliefs/expectations and thoughts about life, God’s nature, and our spiritual journey that are incorrect! Deconstruction (if examined properly) can lead us to a deeper understanding and trust in God. I explore this concept in more depth:
https://wordpress.com/post/wordsofencouragementinchrist.com/834
For example, God walks with us through the trials of life refining and maturing us. This process involves Him challenging our experience and understanding of Him! It’s how we respond that really matters! Do we “lean in” closer and seek to know Him better?
The biggest argument against deconstruction is deconstruction itself. There’s no limit to how far you can go. And you can easily come out the other side a lonely and bitter person with no hope to offer the world or yourself.
Deconstruction without reconstruction is a tragedy. If the path you’re on isn’t making you a more generous, compassionate, hopeful, and merciful person (or, in other words, more like Jesus), then the destination isn’t worth the journey.
“Five Reasons Young People Deconstruct Their Faith.”
There are situations in which we need to deconstruct our understanding of God especially when our understanding isn’t in line with God’s Word and keeps us from growing in Him!
Beliefs and thoughts have to be broken down to be rebuilt again on a stable, true foundation! Our faith journey is dynamic, not static! But we consider if the path is leading to a “better” destination or bitterness.
Are you willing to share your journey and insights with others? One issue is the lack of mentoring and encouragement of our younger believers! Why is it that more mature believers will look down on or ignore the younger believers because of differences?
Quotes and Reflections
All quotes are from the previously referenced article to foster discussion and encourage us to think about how our youth and communities can interact better!
The Value of Curiosity and Mystery
For many young people, ambiguity, curiosity, and mystery are essential components of their faith journey. Unfortunately, many faith communities narrow the discipleship path to a rigid set of doctrinal stances that doubles as a source of tribal identity and pride.
God is so wonderfully larger than our finite ability to understand Him and His ways! The issue here is that churches “push” a particular understanding of God (theological viewpoint) onto others. The “tribal identity” and “pride” are fruits of this tendency. Do we define ourselves by Christ or by our political preferences?
This also extends to the issue of worship styles, clothing, and many other “preferences” that exist within a faith community. Is it wrong to have preferences or a preferred worship style? It’s not the preference that is the issue: it is the reduction of God or worship to a neat little box that the community enforces on its members.
Young people often ask “hard” questions as they are seeking truth and spiritual growth. It’s beneficial when we are honest with them and don’t give simple, rote answers! Why don’t we talk about God as being mysteriously good and amazing? Why do we feel as though we have to explain everything? Think about how Jesus taught His disciples: parables and other “word” pictures to point them to a better understanding of His Kingdom and Heavenly Father.
Dealing with Doubts, not understanding
When it comes to spiritual matters, questions and doubts are inevitable. And a satisfying answer or approach to a difficult theological topic may exist in an older or deeper part of orthodoxy’s stream.
Some will say that the path to liberalism is having an “anything” goes approach. God’s Word gives us the boundaries for sound doctrine. How often do we judge others and make comments about that “other” church or denomination that has a different view? Our young people are watching, taking note! They notice how we speak and treat others!
Seeking teens/young adults may be growing in faith as they seek answers! The fact that they are asking questions and seeking truth indicates God at work in their hearts! What may seem like “stupid” questions may be a honest search for truth. We need to encourage them and come alongside them. The process of questions presents opportunities to exploreGod’s Word and the great authors of our faith.
Gotquestions.org, crosswalk.com, and biblehub’s online commentaries are great resources! The Bible Project does a great job in explaining and introducing the books of the bible. There are many online, free resources to help with discipleship and mentoring. Confessions of faith such as the Baptist Confession and other similar documents help with understanding main tenants of theology.
C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer as well as other writers (C.K. Chesteron, Dr. Martin Lloyld Jones, and etc.) give unique and challenging perspectives on faith. There is a great wealth of believers who have grappled with various challenges and provide insights!
Orthodoxy:
But suppose a church or denomination doesn’t encourage a generous approach to orthodoxy. In that case, inquisitive and skeptical Christians usually face two options: They can self-censor for fear of being labeled “divisive,” or they leave and find community elsewhere.
Definition of Orthodoxy
“A widely accepted belief or theory is an orthodoxy. You could call the scientific theory of gravity an orthodoxy, since it’s generally considered to be an established fact.
The word orthodoxy comes from the Greek root words orthos, which means right, true or straight, and doxa, opinion. So orthodoxy describes the true opinion. The noun orthodoxy, is most commonly used to talk about religious beliefs. When you conform to the orthodoxy of a particular religion, you follow its accepted doctrines, like a Christian’s belief in an all-powerful God.”
“Orthodoxy.” Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/orthodoxy. Accessed 13 Aug. 2023.
Right belief is critically important to the journey of faith. Sound doctrine helps a person to understand and therefore properly relate to God. For example, the doctrine of sin teaches us that we are sinners in need of a Savior. A person who doesn’t recognize that humans possess a sinful nature will have a dramatically different understanding of the role of Jesus.
However, there are multiple approaches to certain topics within the Christian faith. Consider the views of the millennium and Christ’s return! What about the various views on the Book of Revelation? Is one answer the only answer?
Good Test: Conformity vrs unity
Here’s a test: If everyone in your church is expected to look, talk, think, and believe exactly like you, your church isn’t as welcoming as you assume. Instead, you’ve created a culture that sacrifices unity for conformity.
Why don’t people return after visiting a church? Why do young people stop attending as soon as they get a job or enter a new life stage? Perhaps it’s because he or she didn’t “fit” in or wasn’t accepted for who they are. This is a common issue in youth ministry and the church in general. Teens drop out when get a job or move away to college. Others are forced to attend church by parents and just go through the motions until they can “escape” to college or another stage of life.
What if diversity and differences in people is a reflection of God’s goodness and creativity? I’ve noticed that God uniquely gifts and works in the hearts of youth. Each youth brings something necessary and valuable to the larger group! Each teen has a story of redemption and struggle! It’s tragic that we value sameness and conformity over uniqueness. Sometimes the church seems more like the Borg Collective or a dystopian cult than an organic group of people who love God and seek to grow together.
Authentic Community is Necessary!
Honest and authentic community doesn’t shame or vilify those who have doubts or raise questions. On the contrary, healthy communities open up space for difficult conversations, ambiguity, and growth.
Openness, honesty, and vulnerability are the foundation for spiritual community and growth. The leader(s) of faith communities need to be authentic and genuine.
The leader who has to have all the answers: failing model
However, all of this must be modeled from the top. For younger generations, a humble, vulnerable, and authentic leader is easier to follow than a leader who “has all the answers” or “always has to have the last word.”
The issue of placing leaders on pedestals leads to disappointment and later issues. Every person struggles with sin, personal limitations, and life on a fallen world. We expect leaders to set an example this is both proper and necessary according to Paul’s writings. Why is it that many churches seek the “charismatic, celebratory” type pastor who is in fact a narcissist? What about the harsh, know-it-all theological Pharisee who is quick to condemn others? And we wonder why young people have no interest in God or God’s Word?
Honoring Christ in deconstruction
Make no mistake, there are things within Christian culture that need to be challenged and re-evaluated, but a Christ-honoring deconstruction revels in truth and beauty, not cynicism and arrogance.
Are we encouraging those who are struggling to respond with humility and draw closer to Christ? How do we respond to those who are angry and hurting? Anger is a sign that someone is hurting. What if God is moving and we only see and react to the obvious emotion(s) instead of seeing the person?
Moving Forward to Authentic Community
Solutions: can you think of any other ideas or comment on how your community has worked? I list three ideas below:
- encourage questions and provide framework for learning about faith through questioning, book studies, and biblical interpretation. Link to helpful guide:
2. accept others as they are and work with them where they are in the journey of faith: helpful to have start home groups and/or other fellowships for people to join that are designed for seekers and address specific needs,
3. partner mature, experienced believers with younger believers for mentoring and support.
Words of Grace & Hope 
Your faith journey is a reminder of the power of hope and trust in Him.
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Your testimony of God’s faithfulness has given me so much encouragement!
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