Deconstruction and the Garden

Deconstruction and the Garden: the challenge to Truth and God’s Word began in the Garden of Eden. It was initiated by the Serpent asking seemingly innocuous questions.

Many of the following points are taken from the book, “The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is, Why it’s Destructive, and How to Respond.” It is co-authored by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett (Red Pen Logic).

The authors spend some time discussing the various definitions of Deconstruction and it’s meaning for Christians. They finally note that, “The practice of deconstruction is fundamentally at odds with Christianity.” Citing former Christian and TikTok influencer, Melissa Stewart, they write,

Deconstruction is not about getting your theology right. It’s not about trying to make your views match reality. It’s about tearing down doctrines that are morally wrong to you to make them match your own internal conscience, moral compass, true authentic self, or whatever else it’s being called these days. (Bolding mine)

In other words, you do you!

The authors continue,

Yet the goal for all Christians should be to align our beliefs with the word of God, despite our own personal feelings or belief on this topic.

What is Your Truth?

The title of one of my previous posts was “What is Truth.” Tim Barnett made a great point when he placed his computer on podium and asked if it was there (pages 101,102). He said that his computer was on the podium and asked what made the statement true. Well, it was true because it was on the podium.

However, the authors point out that Deconstructionists operate on the presumption of an Upper and Lower Story of truth—in other words a two-tiered truth. The Lower Story is inhabited by logic, science and facts, whereas the Upper Story is the realm of preferences.

The question is; which Story does one place God’s Word as revealed in Scripture? So this leads us back to Eden…where it all began

That Old Garden Discourse

Under the sub-heading, The Origin of Deconstruction, Childers and Barnett note that, “Deconstructed beliefs always begin with questions.” It’s not that questions are bad in themselves—often they are necessary—the issue id the motive and sincerity of the one posing them. Do they seek the truth, or are they intended to subvert it?

The authors observe that Satan sought to deceive Eve by questioning God’s word. Did God really say that? Then he moved on to denying God’s word. “You won’t die; God is fibbing to you.” And in so doing, Satan deconstructed God’s character by maligning His intentions for Adam and Eve.

In essence, Satan deconstructs the idea that God is loving; that God is truthful; and that He is sufficient. Satan says, “You cannot trust God. You can’t trust His Word. Follow your heart (Upper Story.”

A Cacophony of Voices

Among other things, “following your heart” also means listening to the culture and the multitude of correct voices. By “correct,” think D.E.I., Diversity, Equity, Inclusion.

This explains my perplexity after reading ELCA’s Barbara Rossing’s book, “The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.” Rossing’s work distanced itself from dispensational theology, but also from Revelation itself. She barely dipped her finger in the deep pool of Scripture. Later on I came across an essay by her extolling the hermeneutics of diversity. The premise is that Scripture cannot be properly understood without the input of marginalized voices.

She was simply applying her Upper Story beliefs on Scripture.

This was what progressive Christian Rachel Held Evans did. Leaning on the likes of Jacques Derrida she asserted that by presenting the Bible as clear and plain, “we diminish its relevance to peoples across time and space and [thereby] fail to recognize that the Bible is anything but univocal.” See page 155 of “The Deconstruction of Christianity.”

What are they really saying? “Did God really say that? Shouldn’t you be listening to these other voices?” They multitude of voices is designed to drown out God’s clear word.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passion; and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Tim 4:3-4

Maranatha!