It seems like everything is being put to the question these days. It is tempting for Western, modern Christianity to reshape itself according to its cultural context, and to some degree that is a good thing. Faith should always be relevant to the people it’s meant to help, and it’s bizarre to ask new believers to abandon all scientific knowledge and think like someone who lived 2000 years ago. That said, Westerners sometimes live with the conceit that their... Read more
Over the past few months, I’ve been fascinated, excited and occasionally dismayed by the ongoing discussion around deconstruction. As I argued in a previous post, deconstruction is often a necessity for the thinking believer, but that doesn’t mean it comes without pitfalls. For me, deconstruction is only half a job if not followed by reconstruction, leading to the establishment of a meaningful, peaceful practice of faith. What’s the purpose of deconstruction? Put simply, the purpose of deconstruction is... Read more
Why don’t New Year’s Resolutions work? Why is screwing up our eyes and saying ‘this is the year’ so predictably ineffective? One answer might be that it’s an inorganic approach to the organic process of personal growth. The foundation of effective change is first of all to embrace that life is a journey, and the only mindset to have on a journey is that of a pilgrim. Making resolutions with a settler mindset is like planning an overseas vacation... Read more
The mystery of incarnation never gets old for me. When I read Luke’s account, I can easily imagine the spiritual tension in the air, as the Divine pierced the mortal realm and became flesh. I can feel the awe and wonder of the shepherds as angels ranged across the sky, announcing the birth of Jesus. I thrill with the anticipation of the magi, as they chase the signs and portents of their own religion, in pursuit of the Prince of... Read more
This much-quoted Biblical phrase, from Proverbs 9:10, is often stated to imply that the fear of the Lord is something we should always know, in our dealings with God – that if we lose fear, we are on dangerous ground; that God cannot be resisted or argued with, because of his might; that even when we know the friendship of the Divine, we should step back and remember fear, to keep ourselves balanced. I’m going to argue a different... Read more
In the final instalment of this series, I want to share the most important truths I’ve learned while deconstructing faith. I hope these will give you the tools to navigate your own voyage of discovery, and find your way to a better, more welcoming destination. Everybody deconstructs, whether they admit it or not Every time the world changes, Christianity moves with it. When slavery was abolished, the Church had to rethink its understanding of texts about the attitudes... Read more
In the church of my youth, there was only one way of viewing what happened at the cross, and that was Penal Substitution – the idea that Jesus took our place on the cross, receiving the punishment each of us deserves. Progressives largely reject penal substitution, but rather than explain the thoughts of others, I want to examine the cross afresh. Without doubt, the Bible makes it clear that all have sinned, but what does that mean? What is... Read more
In the first part of this series, I argued that de/reconstruction is a necessary reaction to the repressive nature of orthodoxy, and in part 2, that there are pitfalls to be aware of as we embark on this journey, using attitudes to sex as an example. In this instalment, I’ll be looking at what, for me, defines whether or not de/reconstruction leads us well or awry. The Bible details several ways in which people stray into heresy. Firstly, denying... Read more
In the first instalment of this series, I looked at the necessity of deconstruction. The rigidity and thoughtlessness of reformist/evangelical doctrine, along with its approach to scripture, leads to an inevitable exodus, as believers look for better answers and a healthier atmosphere, in which the questioner is encouraged rather than silenced. As a result, many sincere Christians, who love Jesus, end up taking their faith apart and rebuilding it from scratch. Though a valuable experience for some, there are... Read more
Many of my posts challenge the assumptions of Evangelicalism, but in this series, I’ll be examining Progressive Christianity, exploring its tenets and principles, and whether it is a step towards or away from Jesus. The heart of Progressive Christianity is not a commonly-held set of beliefs; it is a shared process – the deconstruction and reconstruction of faith. For me, this journey was embarked upon as a necessity, because the faith of my youth no longer provided me with satisfying... Read more
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