A growing number of people say they are actively deconstructing their faith. For a variety of reasons, these long-time church members find themselves questioning what they’ve been taught. This deconstruction process is especially prevalent in the evangelical church.
What Deconstruction Means
For those who have never doubted their faith, deconstruction can be a scary word. It sounds like your friend or loved one is gleefully dismantling the beliefs you once shared. Maybe they’ll become an atheist, agnostic, or even a Cubs fan.
But deconstruction is not about rejecting faith; it’s about searching for the truth.
Religious deconstruction involves examining the foundation of your faith to separate what is indisputably divine from what is man-made. Ultimately, people who deconstruct are those who are looking to build their life on rock, not sand.
In this sense, I’ve been deconstructing my faith since at least high school, and I hope you have too. There is no virtue in simply believing what you’ve been taught. When Paul said, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Cor 13:5), he acknowledged that Christians must be intentional about building on the right foundation—even if you’re involved in a Christian community.
So, despite what you might have heard, deconstruction is not spiritual apostasy; it’s valuing divine truth over human teaching. Deconstructing doesn’t mean you can no longer have faith or be called a Christian. It means seeking the truth, even when it contradicts what you’ve always been taught and believed.
Faith, Fear, and Deconstruction
In this series, I’ve been describing one aspect of my overall deconstruction journey. I have challenged myself to be honest about the ways evangelical, fundamentalist Christianity has produced a spirit of fear in my life. This doesn’t mean I’ve “lost my faith” or “rejected Christ.” It means I’ve recognized that the church, which is capable of great good, is also capable of great harm.
I now want to bring that specific critique to a fine point for two reasons: (1) to make pastors and church leaders aware of the ways they may unknowingly be creating a spirit of fear in their members; and (2) to empower Christians to recognize a potential source of fear in their lives and to break free from it.
Here is the specific critique. Far too often, pastors and church leaders instill fear in people as a way of producing the results they desire. These results may include church attendance, membership, monetary donations, service, and even voting for their preferred political candidates. They teach people to be afraid of eternal damnation, the return of Christ, martyrdom, religious persecution, the removal of God’s blessing, the judgment of other Christians, ostracization, and being excluded from Christian community.
In most instances, they do so, I believe, with the best of intentions. But that doesn’t make their use of fear and spiritual manipulation any less damaging. You know what they say about good intentions.
Deconstructing the Role of Fear in the Gospel
To those who would justify using fear, manipulation, and other forms of spiritual coercion by saying, “I’m just preaching the gospel,” I want to say clearly and concisely: “No, you are not.”
The gospel says that God is love and that God loves the whole world.
Christian theology teaches that God is perfect—and thus his love is perfect love.
The Bible says, “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).
The gospel, then, doesn’t create or instill fear; it drives it out, replacing it with the knowledge of God’s infinitely gracious and merciful love.
Therefore, anyone who uses fear to manipulate, coerce, control, or “motivate” others is not preaching the gospel and not demonstrating God’s love. They are doing their own thing for their own reasons.
And this is what deconstruction is all about—it gives you the freedom and courage to question what you’ve always been taught and to seek the truth instead of simply accepting religious doctrine.
A Community Free from Fear
If you are seeking relief from religion-based fear, I want you to know that you are welcome here. This is a safe space where you are free to explore anything that contributes to your spiritual wellness. You need not fear of judgment, rejection, or ostracization. Freedom to explore without fear is what we’re all about here.
As this series continues, we’ll get into ways to address the fear that still resides in your body and soul. So go ahead and subscribe—on this page or my home page—to my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive weekly prompts to read new posts, and other exclusive information for those in this community.
Return to Faith over Fear (Series beginning)
This is very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks, Anneke! I’m grateful to hear that from a fellow author!