Reconstructing Faith
– by Kent Wagner

I have LOVED hearing all the incredible stories during this sermon series, Stories of Impact, of how God has been working around the world to lead people to Himself.  I hope it’s been encouraging to you and I want to thank those of you who shared what you expect to be able to give over the next year.  It really is helpful for us to know how to budget.  

Our last missionary, David Wissel, who is planting a church in Japan, said something during his sermon that I think a lot of people may not have understood – even though it was a passing comment.  He talked about how a lot of people are “deconstructing”.  This is a concept pastors talk about, but isn’t something that is probably in the mainstream of Christianity unless you know someone who is deconstructing.  The basic idea of deconstruction is this:  as young followers of Jesus feel the faith they were taught run up against the ideas of the world they begin to dig into those teachings to see if they were actually founded on truth or were just constructs designed to create a specific worldview.  That’s probably an overly simplistic way of describing it.  But deconstruction is a real thing and it is happening at unprecedented rates.  

It’s easy to blame “the world” for this phenomenon, but the reality is, it’s way more nuanced than that.  Celebrity pastors who are abusive and flame out in sinful behavior.  Normal everyday pastors who believe that their authority is the same as God’s and abuse it.  The lack of biblical literacy in our modern world.  The ability to literally have information at your fingertips in an instant.  An overly critical view of the world because so much of what we see is airbrushed and curated that we can’t help but look at things trying to find what’s wrong with it.  An overly simplified version of the Gospel that ignored the hard parts of the bible or following Jesus.  Conflagration of political ideologies with the Gospel on both sides of the aisle and missing the Kingdom of God almost completely.  These are just a few of the reasons modern young people (and some older people as well) are deconstructing – taking their faith down, brick by brick.

What do we do with that?  Is it hopeless?  Have we all believed things we shouldn’t have believed?  

Let me share with you my view of deconstruction.  I’ve wallowed in those waters a bit myself at points in my life and it didn’t take me long to realize that what I was really looking for was a reconstruction – not a deconstruction.  You may have noticed in my sermons that I preach some things from a different angle than the preachers you grew up with.  I am not moralistic in my approach to God (meaning I believe doing and being right about everything is the path to holiness) – this doesn’t mean that I believe morality doesn’t matter, I just see it as an overflow of a deep, rich relationship with Jesus.  You may have noticed that I preach a lot about the Kingdom of God as though it’s a thing that exists right now, not just in heaven – and that’s because as I read the Gospels I realized, that was the Gospel Jesus preached:

Mark 1:14-15

“14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””

You may hear me talk about giving differently – I believe generosity is a direct reflection of the heart of God and that He longs to bless you for your generous outpouring – but if you think I just want your money, then tithe to a church you believe is Advancing the Kingdom.  I care way less about how many butts we have in seats than I do with the number of hearts that are going ALL IN for Jesus in their everyday lives.  I could care less if we have lights and fog or if we have air conditioning and comfortable seats – those things are all extras that are fine and I enjoy them, but what I LONG for is a passionate group of people who would give their lives for their neighbors and Jesus.  

Seriously.  Deconstruction ends with no house at all – you’re homeless and left out in the bitter cold, rejecting people and God and it’s lonely.  

But Reconstruction – going back and trying as hard as you can to find the heart of Jesus and living that out.  That is freedom, that is healing, that is community, that is peace, that is joy. 

A lot of what most of us were taught as the core parts of Christianity wasn’t exactly the Christianity Jesus came to instill.  But that doesn’t mean abandoning Jesus – it means putting on your archaeology hat and going after Him with the whole kit and caboodle.  

I’ll leave you with the words of the Savior:  

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Which Kingdom are you seeking?  What are you building or destroying?  Let’s give it all for Jesus and see what He can do with it!

Serving Jesus,

Kent A Wagner

Kent A. Wagner

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