The End

Tearing it all apart

Deconstruction:

a method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language which emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.

As we start the new year..this first Sunday in January, We are going to dig into something that has the potential to cause a lot of head scratching and concern. But talking about these things when it comes to our faith really is important.

What’s the point?

Philippians 2:12 CSB

Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We talk about the non-negotiables all the time. Those things that we can’t ever change when it comes to being in relationship with God.

We as followers of Christ break down the whole thing in as simple terms as we can.

The ABC’s of Salvation

Admit / Ask

Believe

Confess

We know that salvation comes from Grace and Faith as a gift.

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

The questions that get asked during deconstruction can be scary, mainly because it is in that questioning that many people see doubt.

The Great Dis-qualifier

We get it in our heads, usually from what we have been taught at some point, or from reading scripture out of context, or from crafting God in our own image that if i have a doubt if i question it must mean I don’t have faith, it must mean I don’t believe. God must get angry at us when we doubt, or when we question.

But that’s not accurate. The secret is there is only one great dis-qualifier according to scripture when it comes to our faith and the power it has in our lives.

Matthew 12:31 CSB

Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

This is the only thing that can actually kill our relationship with God. This one sin is the thing that can pull us out of relationship with God. This one passage has been a thing that has frightened people to no end. The fact is this one thing is not so easy to pull off. NOtice it says every sin and blapshphemy will be forgiven.

So what is it?

Continually hardening your heart to the convicting power of the holy spirit. Feeling that tug of the spirit and knowing the truth and ignoring it over and over again. That’s the great dis-qualifier but all that other stuff when we question or wonder or have doubts. That’s not a problem.

If that were the case we wouldn’t see Jesus being so inclusive when it came to Thomas.

John 20:24–25 CSB

But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Jesus did’t toss Thomas out here he came to him and showed him and let him do that things that he said. He still loved Thomas.

My Own Deconstruction

This word has been used by many, some very prominent people especially in the evangelical world.

Josh Harris, Kevin Max from DC Talk, Lisa Gungor Jim Palmer. The list grows each day. But what’s it mean, and what happens when we take the time to do it.

(personal story of what happened and what it can look like mention talking about this with a colleague in the IFCA no names)

So what now?

Well as you can see deconstruction does not mean destruction. (changing the switch battery)

Over the next few weeks we are going to be digging into some of the things that we think are pillars of the faith and then we are going to line them up with what really are pillars of the faith. We are going to look at what Jesus did, what others did through the power and leading of the Holy Spirit and we are going to begin a process of being willing to do what it takes not to just be followers in word, but in WORD and inn DEED.

This Week’s Challenge

Write down the things that are, in your mind, foundational to your faith.