I began writing down my thoughts as I was listening to an interview of Lisa Gungor and Alisa Childers on the Unbelievable? podcast with Justin Brierley. Both women went through what we now popularly call a period of deconstruction. Christians might have formerly called this experience backsliding (or falling away).
People in certain Christian circles have long characterized this experience as sinful (calling it backsliding or falling away). The more modern characterization of this experience focuses on doubt (deconstruction). The unspoken tension between these views is in how we view doubt. Is doubt bad (sinful)?
Hold that question.
Lisa Gungor says that she emerged from her period of “deconstruction” as a progressive Christian, no longer believing that Jesus is the only way, the only truth or the only life, no longer believing that Jesus definitely rose from the dead. Lisa Gungor says she now doubts that truth can be known in any absolute or definitive way.
Alisa Childers, on the other hand, come through her period of “deconstruction”, with a stronger faith and a more certain foundation. She doubled down on her quest for truth, putting her faith to the test, and she is now a Christian apologist.
Both woman went through periods that they call a deconstruction of their faith, but one of them came out the other end with a stronger, more resilient and truer faith. In this blog, I explore why that might be. I hope also to shed some light on the question whether doubt is sin.
Continue reading “Deconstruction Can Lead to a Stronger Foundation for Faith”
Navigating by Faith 