Review and discuss article "What if Deconstructing Christians Want More Jesus — not Less?"
But in spite of what you may have heard, an overwhelming number of those who deconstruct their faith — as many as 86%, according to a 2022 HarperCollins study — don’t walk away from the faith altogether, but instead find another form of the Christian faith that fits them better.
So what is it that deconstructors are searching for — and not finding — in their home churches? The answer, as it turns out, is faith.
I (Scot) taught college students for seventeen years, and many were among the finest Christians I have ever met. Some of them confessed they no longer went to church, but they were always quick to add, “Not because I’m not a Christian. Not because I don’t follow Jesus.” In fact, more than one person said, “Because I follow Jesus, I don’t go to church.”
What we learned from them in their deconstruction and reconstruction phases of faith was that they believed their church attendance kept them from following Jesus.
So what did they do instead?
They served the homeless. They spoke out against injustice. They prayed and read the Prophets and the Gospels. They met with a few other followers of Jesus.
They did these things because they followed Jesus. The churches they knew were filled with church attenders and admirers of Jesus, but not real Jesus followers. And whether they were right or wrong, they thought they could discern the difference. They told me they wanted a Jesus-first religion, not a church-first religion. So they chose to follow Jesus and left the church.
The Gospel of John informed its readers that Jesus performed an astounding miracle by turning “five small barley loaves and two small fish” into food for five thousand men (John 6:9). Since the women and children were not counted, we can assume that some ten to fifteen thousand people were there.
If you think there is some serious exaggeration at work in this account, you would not be alone. What is not an exaggeration is the reality that Jesus is someone who does astounding things.
And the incidents that came next were no less astounding. After feeding all those people, after collecting the leftovers that were more than the original loaves and fishes, and after pushing his disciples out onto the Sea of Galilee to get away from it all — after all this, a storm broke out, and the disciples were scared witless and rowed like madmen to outrun the storm.
Four miles out from shore, Jesus showed up. Barefoot surfing without a board or a sail. They saw him, and they were scared. And then Jesus spoke to them. Many translations render his words as, “It is I,” but the Common English Bible gets it exactly right: “I Am” (John 6:20, CEB).
Do you know what “I Am” evoked in Jesus’ world? It’s the divine name — I am who I am — found in the book of Exodus (3:14). When Moses wanted to know God’s name so he could go back and tell all the Israelites about a crazy plan to liberate them from Egypt, he asked God, “Who do I tell them sent me?” And God replied, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
Everything about the Christian faith depends on Jesus being the I Am. What it means is this:
Jesus reveals God.
Jesus is God.
The God of Christians looks like, or ought to look like, Jesus.
When Jesus goes invisible, God does too.
Why?
Because deconstructors are not playing games. They are pleading with the church to remember who their God really is. To remember that God is Jesus and Jesus is God.
This is why we need to listen to deconstructors. If Jesus is to be the center of our churches, and people are leaving because it’s not a reality, then maybe they’re saying something we need to hear. Can we really blame them for wanting a place where Jesus can be found?
If we are willing to listen, the deconstructionists of today are saying, “I want this Jesus. I want him to be front and center. I don’t want religion. I don’t want an institution. I want a community centered on listening to Jesus and living like him during the week.” When they read of Jesus’ claim to be the I Am, they mutter, That’s what I’m talkin’ about! In their deconstructing, they are not motivated to leave the church; they are looking for a community built around a reconstructed faith that exalts Jesus as Lord of all.
If church leaders are willing to listen, this is what the deconstructor’s exit interview will reveal. They want a Jesus-first way of life.
What if Deconstructing Christians Want More Jesus — not Less?
In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of Christians who are “deconstructing” their faith, critically analyzing Christianity and finding that it falls short. Many end up leaving behind the beliefs and commitments they formerly held.But in spite of what you may have heard, an overwhelming number of those who deconstruct their faith — as many as 86%, according to a 2022 HarperCollins study — don’t walk away from the faith altogether, but instead find another form of the Christian faith that fits them better.
So what is it that deconstructors are searching for — and not finding — in their home churches? The answer, as it turns out, is faith.
Following Jesus Out of the Church
We’ve been listening to deconstructors for more than a decade, and one consistent message we have heard is just how important Jesus is to them. Many will flat out say Jesus is their Lord, even if they think it’s cringey to parrot what institutional Christians say.I (Scot) taught college students for seventeen years, and many were among the finest Christians I have ever met. Some of them confessed they no longer went to church, but they were always quick to add, “Not because I’m not a Christian. Not because I don’t follow Jesus.” In fact, more than one person said, “Because I follow Jesus, I don’t go to church.”
What we learned from them in their deconstruction and reconstruction phases of faith was that they believed their church attendance kept them from following Jesus.
So what did they do instead?
They served the homeless. They spoke out against injustice. They prayed and read the Prophets and the Gospels. They met with a few other followers of Jesus.
They did these things because they followed Jesus. The churches they knew were filled with church attenders and admirers of Jesus, but not real Jesus followers. And whether they were right or wrong, they thought they could discern the difference. They told me they wanted a Jesus-first religion, not a church-first religion. So they chose to follow Jesus and left the church.
What Happens When Jesus Goes Invisible
A Jesus-first way of life was all the first followers of Jesus knew. They knew no other way.The Gospel of John informed its readers that Jesus performed an astounding miracle by turning “five small barley loaves and two small fish” into food for five thousand men (John 6:9). Since the women and children were not counted, we can assume that some ten to fifteen thousand people were there.
If you think there is some serious exaggeration at work in this account, you would not be alone. What is not an exaggeration is the reality that Jesus is someone who does astounding things.
And the incidents that came next were no less astounding. After feeding all those people, after collecting the leftovers that were more than the original loaves and fishes, and after pushing his disciples out onto the Sea of Galilee to get away from it all — after all this, a storm broke out, and the disciples were scared witless and rowed like madmen to outrun the storm.
Four miles out from shore, Jesus showed up. Barefoot surfing without a board or a sail. They saw him, and they were scared. And then Jesus spoke to them. Many translations render his words as, “It is I,” but the Common English Bible gets it exactly right: “I Am” (John 6:20, CEB).
Do you know what “I Am” evoked in Jesus’ world? It’s the divine name — I am who I am — found in the book of Exodus (3:14). When Moses wanted to know God’s name so he could go back and tell all the Israelites about a crazy plan to liberate them from Egypt, he asked God, “Who do I tell them sent me?” And God replied, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
Everything about the Christian faith depends on Jesus being the I Am. What it means is this:
Jesus reveals God.
Jesus is God.
The God of Christians looks like, or ought to look like, Jesus.
When Jesus goes invisible, God does too.
We Need to Listen to Deconstructors
This is where many deconstructors start. Knowing Jesus is God forms the foundation for their deconstruction.Why?
Because deconstructors are not playing games. They are pleading with the church to remember who their God really is. To remember that God is Jesus and Jesus is God.
This is why we need to listen to deconstructors. If Jesus is to be the center of our churches, and people are leaving because it’s not a reality, then maybe they’re saying something we need to hear. Can we really blame them for wanting a place where Jesus can be found?
A Jesus-First Way of Life
Christians today may not think much of a man saying, “I Am.” But first-century listeners would not have skipped by those words. They may have said, “What in the world?” while wondering to themselves, Who does this guy think he is? The problem we face today is that far too many believers skip past the audacious and amazing claims and teachings of Jesus. Christianity has become a religion with an institution (church) and a national culture.If we are willing to listen, the deconstructionists of today are saying, “I want this Jesus. I want him to be front and center. I don’t want religion. I don’t want an institution. I want a community centered on listening to Jesus and living like him during the week.” When they read of Jesus’ claim to be the I Am, they mutter, That’s what I’m talkin’ about! In their deconstructing, they are not motivated to leave the church; they are looking for a community built around a reconstructed faith that exalts Jesus as Lord of all.
If church leaders are willing to listen, this is what the deconstructor’s exit interview will reveal. They want a Jesus-first way of life.
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