Deconstruction has gotten a bad reputation in the church. It has been linked to many taking what they want and melding it with other faith traditions. Some just walk away from faith altogether as a result of their spiritual abuse and church hurt. But deconstructing with Jesus is a holy work because when you seek Him out with your questions and doubts from your own experiences with abuse of power, you will find Him. 

1. Separating Religion from Faith

For too long, Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights have been linked to our spiritual development and have become the bedrock of our relationships with Jesus. Hustling for Jesus through serving, showing up, presenting the proper image, and aligning with your church's beliefs have slowly become the extent of our relationship with Jesus. Sure, we sometimes open our Bibles, journal, and pray, but we do all these things for Jesus, so it’s okay. 

I was caught in this cycle for so long. It was subtle how church and Christian things had become the main thing in my faith. Church was my idol, and I didn’t realize it until it all crashed. Jesus had taken a back seat to all the good things the church gave but couldn’t sustain. 

Deconstruction brought me to Jesus as the foundation of my faith. I was able to separate the activities of Christianity from my relationship with Jesus. What I do doesn’t make up my relationship with God but flows from it. 

2. Developing A Deeper Relationship With God

If the main thing is genuinely God and our relationship with Him, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t we spend time growing that relationship? I believe so, and while some churches are really good about encouraging everyone to get into their Bibles for themselves, some heavily promote spiritual growth that can only come from being connected with others in the community. Without community, you can’t grow.

Deconstructing the lies we’ve believed requires digging into our Bibles and seeking God for the truth. The only result that can happen from this diving deep is growing in trust and friendship with Jesus. When our roots are deep in the source of what is true, there is no other option but to develop a deeper faith and security in who God is. 

3. Keeping Church In Its Proper Place

Developing our relationship with Jesus through digging into scripture helps us keep the church in its proper place in our lives and hearts. Church was always meant to be a source of community and connection for us, nothing more and nothing less. When the church becomes more than what it was intended to be in our lives and hearts, it becomes an idol. And it’s how we make ourselves vulnerable to not being able to recognize spiritual abuse when it’s happening because we are so entangled in the culture of the church we just go along with whatever our pastors and leadership are doing and saying. Because sinful humans who are just as in need of Jesus every day as we are would never lead us astray. 

Keeping the church in its proper place in your life and heart is a beautiful result of making your home in Jesus through deconstruction. 

Deconstruction is profoundly personal and holy work because when you search for Jesus, you will find restoration in your mind, heart, and life.