Deconstruction & Progressive Christianity
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
legalism
performance-based spirituality
abusive leadership
distorted views of Scripture
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
Jesus is Lord
The Bible is true
Salvation is by grace through faith
The resurrection is real
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.
Understanding Biblical Canon
The first of the Summer Lecture Series was last week, and we promised to share the content for those in attendance and those not able to make it. Below, you’ll find a rough outline of the content, as well as the audio from the teaching. Enjoy!
I. Introduction
The canon refers to the collection of books recognized as authoritative Scripture.
From Greek kanon, meaning "measuring stick."
Biblical literacy and trusting the Scriptures is on the decline, yet is vital for a Christian
J.I. Packer – "If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folks from digging into the Bible."
The Bible we have today was not created by the church; it was recognized by the church.
N.T. Wright — "The church did not create the canon; the canon created the church. The apostolic message was the foundation, not the product, of the church’s life and worship."
II. The Story of Scripture: From Inspiration to Canon
Written over 1,500 years by 40+ authors, in 3 languages, on 3 continents.
Single unified message: God’s redemption through Jesus Christ.
The Doctrine of Inspiration: The Bible is inspired by God — He "breathed out" His Word through human authors (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Oral tradition played a key role before writing: a trusted, communal memory.
Written texts emerged for precision and permanence.
Bruce K. Waltke – "God revealed His Word in history and preserved it in writing for the edification of His people. The Scriptures are both a divine deposit and a human responsibility."
III. Old Testament Canon
Structure: Law (Torah or Pentateuch), Prophets (Nevi’im), and Writings (Ketuvim).
The threefold structure is affirmed by Jesus Himself (Luke 24:44).
Old Testament written over a span of roughly 1,000 years (from about 1400 to 400 BC)
39 books (in Protestant Bibles)
Written by prophets, kings, scribes, and poets, all under divine inspiration.
Old Testament canon was gradually recognized based on long-standing usage, prophetic authority, and divine inspiration
The Apocrypha: Jewish intertestamental texts.
Not recognized in Hebrew canon for a variety of reasons
Included in some Bibles, but clearly distinguished.
IV. New Testament Canon
Criteria for Canonization
Apostolic origin
Was it written by an apostle or someone closely connected to an apostle?
Orthodox Teachings
Did it align with the “rule of faith” taught universally in the churches?
Theological continuity was a key criterion — consistency with the message of Jesus and the gospel entrusted to the apostles
Widespread Usage
Was it consistently read and used in worship across diverse Christian communities?
The church recognized, not created, these books — it was a gradual, Spirit-guided recognition of which writings bore the unmistakable marks of divine inspiration and apostolic truth.
By the 2nd–4th centuries, the 27 books were already widely acknowledged.
F.F. Bruce — "What the church did was not to impose something new upon the Christian communities, but to maintain the apostolic tradition and ensure that it was not lost in the flood of competing claims and teachings."
V. Objections and Clarifications
Objection 1: "Weren’t other books left out of the Bible—like the Gospel of Thomas or Gospel of Judas?"
Later Gnostic writings, not apostolic.
Not lost—known and excluded for clear reasons.
Darrell Bock – "The early church was not hiding alternative Christianities; it was preserving the authentic one."
Objection 2: "Isn’t the Bible full of contradictions?"
Most stem from misunderstanding the genre, translation, or context.
Tim Keller – "If you pick and choose which parts of the Bible you believe and which you don’t, you have a God of your own making, not the real God of Scripture."
Objection 3: "Wasn’t the canon decided by politics—like at the Council of Nicaea?"
Council of Nicaea (AD 325) dealt with Christological debates—not the canon
Dan Wallace — "The canon was not imposed from above but emerged from below—from the worship, teaching, and experience of the early Christian communities."
Objection 4: "Why should we trust a book that’s been copied and translated so many times?"
Bible is the most well-attested ancient document in history
Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament and thousands more in other languages
The process of transmission was painstaking and reverent
VI. Why This Matters
Trust: Reliable and rooted in history.
Witness: Equips believers to engage culture and respond to questions.
Discipleship: Shapes our faith, formation, and mission.
The Bible we have today was not created by the church; it was recognized by the church.
Pastor Robbie — “Behind all of this history, theology, and manuscript evidence is a fundamental truth: God has spoken, and His Word can be trusted.”
Kevin DeYoung — "The most urgent need in the Christian church today is the recovery of sound doctrine. And at the center of that recovery must be a renewed commitment to the absolute truthfulness, trustworthiness, and authority of Scripture."
VII. Conclusion: The Gift of the Canon
The Bible is not just a historical book—it is the living Word of God.
We don’t just have a Bible—we’ve been entrusted with a Bible.
Trusting its formation strengthens our confidence and fuels our worship.