Deconstructing or Destroying?

I was recently listening to the Faith and Feminism podcast, Episode 177 about Deconstruction. The author and host Meghan Tschanz interviews Amanda Waldron, a faith deconstruction and reconstruction coach. In this episode, Meghan tells a bit of her story, which involves being rejected from her church community when she admitted she voted for Hilary Clinton in 2016. Her family and church friends believed that evangelical Christians should support Donald Trump. Feeling that her values differed from her community started her on the path to deconstructing her personal beliefs.

Exvangelical is a name for those who previously were evangelical Christians and now are not. My childhood was in the mainline protestant church, and later I attended evangelical groups and churches for various periods. Each has a community and style of worship that I appreciate. The church I currently attend is a mainline protestant congregation with an evangelical orientation. Much of what I write aligns with the exvangelical movement. The exvangelical movement was created in 2016 and allows people who were hurt by the Evangelical Church to find solidarity and comfort. Many are angry or sorrowful at beung hurt by the Christian church. Some speak out against the power and hierarchy of the evangelical church, casting light on sexism, racism, spiritual abuse, #patriarch #abuse #churchtoo #Authoritarianism #ChurchOrCult and the narrow definitions of Biblical Womanhood and biblical Manhood. Exvangelicals who have not become agnostics or atheists may be looking for faith groups that better suit them.

Deconstruction is related to the exvangelical movement. Those who leave the church (or feel unwelcome) often deconstruct their faith. Faith deconstruction is the process of questioning and taking apart an idea, practice, traditions, belief or system into smaller components, in order to examine its foundation, truthfulness, usefulness and impact. Deconstructing may involve expressing doubt in certain teachings and traditional biblical interpretations. Its looking back at existing beliefs and forward at new ones.

The established church criticizes deconstruction because those in this process may reject certain church policies, traditions, structures, or Bible interpretations. Church leaders may say the concerns of exvangelicals are not valid and therefore failed to address their concerns. There is a fear and risk that the deconstruction process may destroy your faith and reject Christianity or the Christian church. The church has largely avoided admitting errors or being accountable.
 
 Others think of deconstruction as a way to work out their personal beliefs in a way that feels authentic and true. Reconstruction is rebuilding your personal beliefs and usually, it involves the use of alternative traditions and biblical interpretations. I believe this is consistent with the biblical instruction to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). My writing encourages readers to examine tough topics and work out what they believe using a variety of biblical interpretations so that they can find healing and hope. Having a genuine, personal faith is responding to the call to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

I have put together a summary of some so.e church responses to the movement and reasons people leave the church as well as how those deconstructing have responded.

#amwriting #HistoricalFiction Forgotten Followers (From Broken to Bold Book 1) Mara is broken by abuse, Joanna by racism. Both become bold #2022release #empoweringwomen #inspirational #biblicalfiction It shows Jesus encouraging, educating, empowering, and equipping women as disciples, speakers and leaders. It embraces biblical themes of love, inclusion and acceptance. Jesus called women to be patrons, disciples, and apostles. Just as the women in my novel overcome brokenness and become bold, you can too. May my writing bring you peace, healing, and hope.

Like and Follow my Page for insights and #inspiration

#writersprompt #writersofinstagram #empoweredwomen #inspiration #WritingCommunity #womanauthor #biblicalfiction #feministtheology #Christianfeminist #shepreaches #sheteaches #whenwomenspeak #whenwomenlead #egalitarianchristian #jesusfeminist #claimyourheroines