In recent years, there has been a growing trend of Christians deconstructing their faith. This is often done to “reform” Christianity to make it more palatable to a secular world. While there is nothing wrong with Christians engaging in examining their faith, we must be careful not to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is not in need of reform. It is the secular world that needs to be reformed.
What is Deconstruction?
Deconstruction is a philosophical and literary theory that was first popularized by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1960s. It is best defined as a critical methodology that questions traditional assumptions about religion, history, and philosophy. When applied to Christianity, deconstruction encourages believers to question long-held beliefs and traditions about their faith.
Why Deconstruction is Dangerous
While there is nothing inherently wrong with Christians examining their faith, we must be careful not to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is not in need of reform. It is the secular world that needs to be reformed. When Christians deconstruct their faith to make it more palatable to the secular world, they are effectively trying to conform Christianity to the world instead of reforming the world through Christianity.
The Bible tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world, but rather transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). This means that our thinking should not be shaped by the world around us, but rather by God’s Word. When we allow the world to shape our thinking about Christianity, we are no longer living according to Biblical truth. We are living according to worldly truth, which is always in flux and can never be fully known or understood.
Who Needs To Be Reformed?
Christians need not fear examining Christianity; however, we must always keep in mind who we are representing. We are not called to deconstruct or reform Christianity; rather, we are called to proclaim the gospel message of Jesus Christ and extend an invitation for others to come and experience new life in Him. It is only when the lost sheep hears and responds positively to the good news of Jesus Christ that true reform takes place—in individual hearts and minds, and ultimately in society.
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