Deconstructing One’s Faith

 

It’s a really fancy word for examining your faith and figuring out which parts are helpful and loving and worth keeping, and which are not. As if anyone would actually know that. For me this is the enemy’s latest ploy to stick a dagger into the heart of Christianity.

                  “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat.’ God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’” – Genesis 3:1-4 NLT

                  Now why did I bring this portion of scripture up? Satan lies. He compromises God’s word by questioning it, though he doesn’t have the authority to challenge God. If Satan, who is more powerful than mortal man, doesn’t have the authority to challenge anything about God; His word, His power, His position, etc., then what on earth gives mortal man the idea that He can challenge the meaning of anything in scripture? 

                  To challenge anything in scripture is certainly permissible without question, but to do that without facts to back you up is a fools errand. To challenge based on the fact that you simply don’t agree with something written in the Bible is unfortunate because we are picking apart your own faith based on your likes and dislikes. That which makes you uncomfortable isn’t a reason to toss it out as illegitimate. Christianity IS NOT all about us. It never has been. It is about God and His plan to save His own creation from themselves. 

                  Deconstruct your faith at your own peril. The fact that you would even entertain doing that shines a spotlight on the fact that you DO NOT trust God. You want to place your faith in something that makes sense to you, not something you have to work at understanding with the chance that understanding it may not be possible depending on your level of faith. Open up to the Word with an open mind and a trusting heart, rather than looking at the Bible with a non-committal, distrust that can only lead to weakening or even losing your faith altogether. 

                  Just because you think it isn’t fair that people go to hell, doesn’t make it so. God provides two options regarding eternity. You can willingly receive Christ, and all that association provides or you can choose not to do that. The latter decision isn’t God sending you to hell, it’s you, by virtue of your rejection of Christ or your noncommittal response that sends you to hell. God honestly had nothing to do with your decision. Just because you don’t believe all that doesn’t make it go away, like closing your eyes so as not to see that which is bothersome to you. Scripture tells us that God doesn’t wish that ANYONE would go to hell. 

^“Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”^{[2 Peter 3:8-10 Amplified Bible]}

Readjust your focus so that you can see Christ and not some made up controversy to place doubts in your mind about your personal beliefs. Trust God and commit to knowing Him more. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries