Deconstruction & Progressive Christianity

Jul 6

Our second Summer Lecture Series of the Summer was last week on the topic of Deconstruction and Progressive Christianity, although we didn’t make it to the Progressive content during the live talk. Below, you’ll find a rough outline of the content, as well as the audio from the teaching. Enjoy!

I. Introduction

Deconstruction is the process of critically dismantling previously held beliefs
- In a Christian context, it often means breaking down the theological or church traditions, often in response to pain or perceived inconsistency.
Cultural relevance: A growing trend especially among younger generations.

II. What is deconstruction?

For many, deconstruction means throwing away not just cultural baggage, but the very core doctrines of Christianity such as:
- The authority and inerrancy of Scripture
- The uniqueness of Christ as Savior
- The reality of sin and the necessity of the cross
- The bodily resurrection of Jesus
- The reality of eternal judgment
Key Thought: "What are you deconstructing—and what are you rebuilding on?"
Tim Keller once said: “To question your faith is not necessarily wrong, but you must doubt your doubts just as much as you doubt your beliefs.”
Healthy vs. Unhealthy:
- Healthy: Removing distortions to rediscover the Gospel.
- Unhealthy: Rejecting core truths, leading to spiritual ruin.

III. Why Do People Deconstruct?

Spiritual Abuse & Church Hurt
Lack of Discipleship & Shallow Answers
Cultural & Social Pressure
Personal Pain & Suffering
- C.S. Lewis wrote in A Grief Observed: “Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him.”
Moral Autonomy
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
Scandals & Broken Trust
- People usually leave the faith not because they’ve discovered something new, but because something they trusted let them down.

IV. The Merits and Dangers of Deconstruction

Merits
- Purifying faith
  - 1 Thessalonians 5:21
  - Healthy deconstruction can strip away legalism, cultural baggage, or false teaching, making faith more authentic and biblical.
- Challenging hypocrisy
  - Jesus was a master of “deconstructing” the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisees. See Matthew 23:27.
- Rebuilding stronger foundations
  - The goal of a healthy deconstruction is reconstruction — to build back stronger, truer, and more aligned with Christ.
Dangers
- No reconstruction (building on sand)
- Subjectivism
  - Judges 21:25
- Abandoning essential doctrine
- Reacting emotionally over truth
  - Jeremiah 17:9
  - John Mark Comer: “Feelings are great servants, but terrible masters.”
- Community Fragmentation
  - Hebrews 10:24–25
If your faith is being deconstructed, make sure you know what you’re putting in its place.

V. How to Minister to Those Who Are Deconstructing

Approach with Humility and Compassion
- James 1:19
Ask thoughtful questions
- Curiosity communicates care
Affirm what is good
- Agree where you can. Affirm their longing for authentic faith.
Keep Jesus at the center
- If you keep Jesus at the center, you help separate cultural baggage from true faith.
Avoid fear-based responses
Pray faithfully
Deconstruction is not a fight to win, but a journey to walk alongside.

VI. The Results of Deconstruction

Stronger, Refined Faith
Weaker, Confused Faith
Walking Away Entirely
Diluted, Redefined Faith
- Progressive Christianity
- Michael Kruger writes: “Progressive Christianity is not simply a different way of being Christian. It is another religion altogether.”
Trend Toward Universalism
- J.I. Packer, “Universalism is the ultimate way of saying ‘I don’t trust God to do what is right.’”

** This is where the live talk stopped; more detailed notes on the rest of the content below.**

VII. Progressive Christianity Defined

Progressive Christianity has become one of the most common destinations for those who deconstruct their faith without abandoning it altogether. But what exactly is it?

Definition and Self-Understanding
- Progressive Christians often describe themselves as open-minded, inclusive, and questioning.
- They want to keep Jesus but remove what they see as the problematic, exclusive, or harsh teachings of historic Christianity.
- According to the Center for Progressive Christianity, core principles include:
  - Viewing the Bible as a human book with divine inspiration, rather than the fully inspired Word of God
  - Emphasizing social justice as the primary mission of the church
  - Valuing personal experience and conscience above external doctrines
  - A willingness to reinterpret or discard historical doctrines if they conflict with modern sensibilities
Doctrinal Distinctives
- Scripture is not inerrant and may contain errors or cultural biases
- Jesus is more of a moral teacher than a Savior from sin
- The Atonement is not substitutionary but simply an example of love
- Hell is downplayed or denied altogether
- Salvation is broadly inclusive, sometimes universalist
- Sin is redefined as systemic injustice more than personal rebellion
- Ethics shift with cultural norms, especially regarding sexuality and gender
Why It Appeals
- It feels intellectually satisfying for people wounded by rigid religious backgrounds
- It offers cultural acceptance in a progressive society
- It removes uncomfortable doctrines like judgment and substitutionary atonement
- It presents itself as a more “loving” and “inclusive” faith
Biblical Response

VII. biblical Posture and response

It’s one thing to define Progressive Christianity or explain the phenomenon of deconstruction — it’s another to shepherd people through it. This section will help us think about how we minister to those who are questioning, doubting, or deconstructing.

Listen Before You Lecture
- James 1:19 — “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
- Most people who deconstruct are wounded — either by hypocrisy, church hurt, or personal trauma
- Our first calling is to be a non-anxious, empathetic presence
- You cannot speak to the heart if you do not know the story
Affirm Honest Questions
- God is not afraid of honest questions — the Psalms are full of them
- Doubt itself is not sin, but what we do with it matters
- Jude 22 — “Have mercy on those who doubt.”
- Create safe spaces where people can wrestle honestly with their faith
- Reassure people that faith has a solid intellectual foundation
Gently Challenge False Narratives
- Many deconstruction stories are based on false versions of Christianity
- Invite people to examine whether they have deconstructed something that was actually false rather than biblical
- Tim Keller once said, “If you pull apart a counterfeit, you are not destroying the real thing.”
Call People to the Real Jesus
- Jesus is not a brand
- He is not a political movement
- He is not a mascot for a social cause
- He is the crucified and risen Son of God
- John 6:68 — “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
- Encourage people to rebuild their faith on Jesus himself, not on Christian subculture
Provide Community and Companionship
- Isolation breeds deconstruction
- An authentic community can heal
- Invite doubters into small groups, Bible studies, and honest friendships
- Be consistent — relationship is more powerful than a one-time conversation
- Illustration: In a forest, lone trees topple in storms, but those in a grove support one another through their root systems
Hold the Line of Orthodoxy
- Compassion does not mean compromise
- There are non-negotiables in the Christian faith
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4 warns about itching ears seeking false teachers
- We cannot water down the gospel just to keep people from leaving
- Charles Spurgeon, “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”
Our calling is to be gracious, truthful, and courageous shepherds in a culture of deconstruction. We do not fear questions, but we cling to the hope and truth of the gospel as our anchor.

Robbie Earle