Good News Week 35 : Good News Hope for Church Hurt

Good News For The Religiously Tired

Deconstruction, Discontent, and Deconversion

These are hot topics right now within the American Church.

One of the opening sermons of this series delt with these topics.

There are many podcasts, YouTube videos, articles, and TikTok's that approach the subject.

Some who have deconverted.

Some who are deconstructing.

Some who are discontented with the church.

There are also many difinitions of deconstruction.

For some it simply means clearing out unbiblical clutter that has been added to the faith by popular America Christianity.

For some it means tearing down their faith completely and rebuilding their life completely apart from historic Biblical faith.

For some it means questioning everything and looking for answers outside the faith.

So it’s hard to talk about deconstruction with any clarity without listening to the person talking or without defining the terms.

I’m not going to define deconstruction more than this, other than to say that any deconstruction that is more concerned with cultural acceptance and defining absolute truth outside of Scripture is a dangerous demonic scheme to lead folks to deconversion and does not lead a deeping faith, deepening life, or deepening spiritual experience.

But I do want to tackle the growing phenomenon of deconstruction for a few minutes this morning.

I’ve listened to many deconstruction stories and read many of their reasons for deconstruction.

There are a few common traits among deconstructionists.

Church Hurt

Many question the faith because they have been hurt by people in the church.

Hurt by pastors or leaders.

It’s important here to understand that church hurt is real.

But it’s also important to understand legitiment church hurt and simple disagreement or personality clash - being accountable to leaders, striving to live in unity and love, those are biblical concepts that we sometimes don’t like so we claim church hurt.

There is legitimate church hurt - abuses of power, sexual abuse, and ungodly character, those things are real and when they occur can really cause the hurt party or those who have witnessed the hurt question the faith and leave the church and maybe even walk away from the faith altogether.

Cultural Questions

Many deconstruct because of questions that are specific to our cultural moment.

Questions lIke science and faith, or gender and sexuality, or racial strife, artificial intelligence.

We ask these questions like they are new.

The specifics may be new but the foundations are not.

They may be specific to our cultural moment but the are not new questions.

Scriptures answers them all.

Christian faith has answers.

They begin to view their faith and the scripture thru the lens of culture instead of viewing culture thru the lens of the faith and the scripture.

The begin to seek out answers that haven’t been tested.

They think their questions are new questions that have never been asked in the 2000 years of Christian faith and tradition.

Now, I’m not saying that there aren’t questions I’m saying that there are good, sufficient, tride and true answers that do not lead away from the faith but that find there foundation in it.

God never pushes us away when we come close with our doubts. He always invites us closer to himself.

Christian Hypocrisy

From listening to stories I would say that the recent uptick in deconversion has really been accelerated by what is seen as Christian hypocrisy.

What I mean is that especially over the last 10 years there has been an increasing belief that what Christians want more than the salvation of their enemies is power over their enemies.

I do not believe that is true of the true Church.

But there is a Christian Hypocrisy.

There is a vocal Christian Hypocrisy that demands from others what they don’t live up to themselves.

The church has preached against sexual sin while others who claim Christ cover up sexual sin by it’s leaders.

The church has preached against racism while others who claim Christ embrace racist rhetoric and unjust policies.

The church has preached against sinful politicians while others who claim Christ embrace a political power at all costs mentality (republicans and democrats).

This Christian Hypocrisy doesn’t look like Jesus.

And if the world doesn’t see Jesus when they see the Church they won’t believe in Jesus when the Church speaks.

This is actually a common theme in the ministry of Jesus.

Religious Hypocrisy.

And it’s actually one of the things Jesus railed against.

Jesus always had his strongest rebuke for the Religious Hypocrits.

It’s actually the reason that I don’t get bent out of shape or rant against sinners.

Sinners are going to sin.

Offer them hope.

But the Church, the church is supposed to be holy, the church is supposed to be righteous, the church is supposed Christ-like, the church is supposed look different than the world.

I believe we should call the Church to live like the Christ’s Bride.

I’m not going to rant against the other team.

But I am going to call out my team when my team is running dumb plays.

I’m also going to applaud my team when my team gets it right.

And I’m going to warn my team against the strategies of the other side.

And I’m going to encourage my team to follow the playbook they’ve been given, and to live out what is true and right.

That’s what I see in Jesus.

Loving the sinner.

Preaching righteousness.

Calling out hypocrisy.

Encouraging those who want to know and love God.

And in Luke 11 and 12 Jesus confronts these Religious Hypocrits that are pushing folks away from true religion, from true relationship with God, from true understanding of the scriptures.

So… let’s dig in to Jesus words to these religious leaders and lawyers.

Called Out But Not Cancelled

Jesus didn’t cancel people.

But Jesus would call them out.

Look at Luke 11 & 12 with me.

Luke 11:37 CSB

As he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table.

Alright, lets start here.

The Pharisee, the religious hypocrite in the story, actually in much of the Gospels, invites Jesus to his house for dinner.

Jesus goes.

Jesus always goes were he’s invited.

He could have said, I don’t want to be seen with you.

But he didn’t.

He was willing to associate even with those who would seek to kill him.

And this Pharisee is about to be called out for his hypocrisy.

Luke 11:37–54 CSB

As he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner. But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. Fools! Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others. “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. “Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.” One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.” Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers. “Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world—from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.” When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; they were lying in wait for him to trap him in something he said.

The religious hypocrite is always more concerned with the outside than the inside.

They are always more concerned with appearances than character.

They are always more concerned with power than integrity.

Always more concerned with rules than justice.

Always more concerned with reputation than behavior.

Always more concerned with preservation of self than love of neighbor.

Jesus calls this out.

Called Out For Financial Hypocrisy

Luke 11:41–42 CSB

But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Jesus calls out financial hypocrisy.

He says these religious Hypocrits make sure that thier religious reputation is good but neglect the poor and needy.

Some would say that Jesus is rebuking them for tithing.

Jesus is clearly not rebuking them for tithing.

He is rebuking them for thinking that tithing to God while ignoring the poor is pleasing to God.

He specifically tells them that they should tithe.

He also specifically rebukes them for not giving to help those in need.

Religious hypocrisy says tithe so folks see me as religious but don’t concern yourself with the poor and needy.

Jesus says both are required.

Called Out For Prioritizing Social Standing

Luke 11:43–44 CSB

“Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. “Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

Jesus calls out Religious Hypocrits for caring about their seat at the synoguge and the standing in the marketplace.

Religious Hypocrisy cares more about being seated at the head of the table than bring people to the table.

It’s about appearances.

About the show.

But Jesus says you care about being seen but really your an unmarked grave.

There’s death in your hypocrisy.

Called Out For Extrabiblical Burdens

Luke 11:45–46 CSB

One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.” Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.

Religious Hypocrisy is seen in demanding from others what you are willing to live up to yourself.

Called Out For Rejecting The Prophets

Luke 11:47–51 CSB

“Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world—from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.

Jesus is calling them out for rejecting the prophets.

By rejecting the prophets they were rejecting the wisdom of God.

The prophets were concerned with Religious Purity and Justice Issues.

Jeus is saying that when we ignore religious purity and justice issues, love of God and love of neighbor, that we are responsible to the blood of the prophets killed for their faithful witness.

Called Out For Twisting Scripture

Luke 11:52–54 CSB

“Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.” When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; they were lying in wait for him to trap him in something he said.

Religious Hypocrits love to use scripture without knowing the God of scripture.

Religious Hypocrits don’t take the scripture seriously enough.

What I mean is they see scripture as a way to control others instead of God’s way to conform us to the image of Christ.

Scripture is God’s revealed word to us.

Jesus is God’s revelation of himself to us.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Religious Hypocrits miss out on the Christ of Scripture.

Hope For Those Hurt By Hypocrisy

Hear me this morning.

This is not a sermon to bash religious Hypocrits.

That’s not my intention.

My hope this morning is to cause us to examine the religious hypocrisy in each of our hearts.

But more than that

My intention this morning is to offer hope for those who have felt the sting of religious hypocrisy.

There is hope.

Jesus is your hope.

Luke 11:51 CSB

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.

This generation will be held responsible.

Jesus is saying that those who are harming others by their religious hypocrisy will face a great judgement.

Its a warning against hypocrisy and a hope for those hurting.

Jesus care about you.

Jesus cares about the church hurt, cultural questions, and Christian hypocrisy.

Jesus cares about you.

Jesus doesn’t take lightly the weight and burden that has been placed on your neck.

This generation that will be held responsible.

Secrets Will Be Exposed

Luke 12:1–3 CSB

Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Listen, this is a warning to the religious Hypocrits.

Those things they thought they’d get away with… those things that it looks like they have gotten away with, those back room deals, those unwanted sexual advances, those racists remarks, those poltical power plays, that twisting of scripture, that false teaching, that manipulative sermon, that NDA, those things will be exposed.

Those secrets will be revealed.

Perhaps not in this life, but at the judgement seat of Christ what was whispered in an ear will be proclaimed from the housetops.

There is hope for those harm be religious hypocrisy becasue God will not excuse sin.

Listen, you may have a lots of questions, you may be facing a crisis of faith becuase of church hurt cultural questions, or Christian hypocrisy, but you do not have deconstruct unto deconversion.

You don’t not have to walk away from the faith.

You don’t have to fear that the guilty will go unpunished.

God is faithful.

Jesus cares about those hurt by those who claim his name.

So Jesus says this “Fear God”

Fear God

Luke 12:4–7 CSB

“I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

What is Jesus talking about here?

Don’t fear those who can kill the body but for the one who I has authority to throw people into hell after death.

I believe Jesus is talking about not fearing the Pharisees, not fearing the Religious Hypocrite.

They plotted Jesus death, but Jesus called them out.

They plotted Jesus death, but Jesus declared them guilty of blood.

Jesus is saying to the crowd, to those hurt by the hypocrite, don’t be afraid of them, they can harm you but they can’t destroy you.

There will be justice for them.

You who have been harm, youre more valuable than the sparrow.

Jesus has you in mind.

Jesus cares for you.

The religious hypocrite needs to fear.

Hopefully that fear will lead to repentance.

Hopefully that fear reveals the kindness of God.

Jesus is letting the hurting know that there is reason to hope.

Justice will be given out.

Put your faith and hope in Jesus.

Claim Christ, Christ Will Claim You

You who have been struggling with questions and doubts, discontentment, deconstruction, and deconversion, Christ is for you.

Claim Jesus.

While he will judge the religious hypocrite he will claim you in front of the angels of God.

There is hope for you.

God is just.

Jesus is good.

Luke 12:8–9 CSB

“And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

These religious Hypocrites were denying Jesus by their words and their life, but Jesus is offering hope for everyone who has been hurt by the church.

Jesus is saying they aren’t part of the true Church.

The true Church is a place of hope and rescue, or love and grace, and truth and rescue.

There is hope for all who have been hurt.

Come back to Jesus.