You Can't Actually "Deconstruct" OR "Reconstruct" Christian Faith

Two Equal and Opposite Approaches

A few weeks ago, I wrote about four kinds of deconstruction, and why it’s extremely important for we evangelicals not to fill in the blanks when someone describes themselves as “deconstructing”. Most of what is happening here, at least in American culture, is folks from the evangelical mold (like me) trying to separate American evangelical subculture from Christianity itself. And on the whole, I think that’s a very, very good thing. That’s because American evangelical subculture is a major theological and ethical departure from historic protestantism (unlike the evangelicalism of the early 19th century and before, or global evangelicalism).

So yes. Lots of folks talk about deconstructing faith, and I understand what they mean, and we need to be good and careful listeners to be sure we’re not pegging them with same kind of “deconstructed” faith we hear about from online talking heads. On the other hand, more conservative responses tend to emphasize that even though we might deconstruct faith for a time, we can “reconstruct” our faith in a way that is healthy and wise.

Again, it’s important we know what people mean when they say these things, and not jump to conclusions. But let me add a caveat: no matter what we mean when we say the words “deconstructing” and “reconstructing”, at some point in our journey we need to realize that we cannot deconstruct OR reconstruct Christianity itself. If we think we can “deconstruct” or “reconstruct” Christian faith itself, then I’d suggest we still have a very individualistic, very American evangelical framework for faith.

Why?

Because Christianity isn’t ours.

Can you hear the error on both sides of this issue? To assume that I can deconstruct Christian faith is to assume that I’m the architect of Christian faith. But also, to assume that I can “reconstruct” my faith also assumes that I’m the architect of the Christian faith! Neither of these are true, because here is the historical fact: Christianity is a centuries old global movement that will remains standing no matter what we think of it. You can’t deconstruct it. You can’t reconstruct it.

What you can do, however, is observe the ways American culture has severely deviated from historic protestantism. American evangelical subculture is something we constructed, and it is something we can deconstruct. So although I’m friendly to the term deconstruction - because I think deconstructing the American project is what most people are describing - I’m very unfriendly to the term “reconstruction”. “Reconstructing” faith is what white progressive Americans have done: they’ve traded in one culturally bound version of Christianity for another culturally bound version of Christianity. And, ironically, they’re working with all the same assumptions conservative American evangelicals have: that we’re in charge, and Christianity is whatever our culture says it is.

Wrong.

Christianity is an ancient, global movement that existed long before us, and will continue to exist long after us: “The gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-19). In other words, try all you want to “deconstruct” Christianity, but at the end of the day, you’re just tossing pebbles across the Christian castle’s mote.

So, rather than deconstructing and “reconstructing” faith, here are some better phrases I’ve found:

Being renewed in the Christian faith.

Rediscovering the Christian faith.

Being restored in the Christian faith.

Deconstruct American Evangelicalism all you’d like. Tear it down. We don’t need it. But at the end of the day, when the rubble is clear, I hope and pray that we simply find the historic, global Christian castle standing as its done all along, welcoming us with open arms. That was always the vision of the reformation. I pray it becomes our vision as well.