We’ve been hearing a lot in recent years about Christians undergoing a ‘deconstruction’ of their faith – an unpacking and reconsideration of their belief systems. For some this may ultimately result in a stronger faith; for many it leads to them dropping it altogether.
Deconstruction
I well remember how the Christian world was shocked by the announcement that British Olympic athlete Jonathan Edwards had given up his Christian faith –once so strong that he refused to compete on a Sunday. Such stories of deconversion have become remarkably common over the years since then. One of the most publicised was that of American ex- pastor Joshua Harris, author of best-selling book ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’, who hit the headlines in 2018 when he announced he was abandoning his evangelical faith.
The ‘deconstruction’ phenomenon seems to be particularly common among Christian musicians. Back in the late 90s and early 00s, I was impressed with the eclectic, innovative worship sounds of Michael Gungor, so was somewhat shocked and disappointed to find he has since ‘let go of his belief in God’ – even writing a book on his personal ‘losing God’ journey.
More recently, Marty Sampson, former Hillsong worship leader and songwriter, bid farewell to his Christian faith. Two years ago, DC Talk's Kevin Max said he had been deconstructing his faith for decades. Numerous others have gone down a similar path.
Such individuals of course require to be taken seriously and their testimonies not scorned or lightly dismissed.
Such commonality of faith-loss among Christian musicians makes me wonder if it is to some degree infectious. I know a small church where, over a six-month period, two out of four church leaders, along with their spouses, plus several members of the congregation, all abandoned their faith following a personal ‘deconstruction’ process.
Reasons for ‘deconversion’ are never simplistic, and are usually multi-faceted. Studies have shown that people who lose their faith tend to have an above-average intelligence, and low tolerance for submitting to authority and for right-wing political ideas; valuing self-determination and being open to experience. Such individuals of course require to be taken seriously and their testimonies not scorned or lightly dismissed.
There arises also the question of whether a person who has put their trust in Christ can ever lose their salvation; a much-debated topic which lies outwith the scope of this article (consider, for example, 1 John 2:19).
Anti-Christian
What we perhaps hear less about is Christians who abandon their faith (whether nominal or active), only to rediscover it some years later. C.S. Lewis is a case in point. Raised as a Christian, he rejected faith in his teens, only to rediscover Christianity in a profound, personal way in his 30s while a tutor at Oxford, under the guidance of close friend and fellow academic J.R.R. Tolkien.
I made an amazing discovery recently, when I purchased a book by well-known English writer and columnist A.N. Wilson at a book-sale. ‘The Book of the People: How to read the Bible’ is described in the cover-notes as “a deeply personal look at the author’s faith and how it has shaped his life”.
Thoroughly researched, it was a devastating critique, leaving me with many doubts and questions, which in turn led to my own 'dark night of the soul'.
This confused me somewhat, for although I knew next to nothing about this author, I was very aware of his staunch anti-Christian views. Years previously, I had read his profoundly sceptical book ‘Jesus’, 
a brilliantly written biography, which endeavoured to establish that Jesus had been no more than a failed prophet. Thoroughly researched, it was a devastating critique, leaving me with many doubts and questions, which in turn led to my own ‘dark night of the soul’.
In a recent interview, Wilson shared that as a young man, he had succumbed to the relentless anti-Christian bombardment of British secular society. Like many who lost faith, he felt anger with himself for having been conned by the Christian story. “I felt at some visceral level that being religious was unsexy, like having spots or wearing specs.”
Ring of truth
What I hadn’t been aware of was that after about ten years of accepting secularism, Wilson made a spectacular personal return to a belief in Christianity. “And every year that passes", he noted, "my faith becomes simpler and clearer. I fail to live up to the teachings of Christ in innumerable ways, but the truth of it is not in doubt.”
Wilson said that one of the things that greatly influenced him to reconsider his faith position were words spoken by a wise Christian scholar, Charles Gore: 'The majority are always wrong.' He began looking at the Scriptures with fresh eyes, and discovered to his surprise and delight that many of the stories in the New Testament carried what Bible translator and author J.B. Philips termed ‘the ring of truth’.
.... words spoken by a wise Christian scholar, Charles Gore: 'The majority are always wrong.'
Referring, for example to the account of the two men on the road to Emmaus, Wilson reflects: “The whole tenor of this gospel story — the fact that the two men do not even recognise Jesus, then the sudden moment of recognition in the breaking of bread — has the unmistakable ring of truth. 
A. N. WilsonIf the author had wanted to invent the story, he would have had the men recognise Jesus immediately.”
Irrational atheism
Wilson believes that Christianity does not answer difficult questions by “clever-clever logic. Nor is it irrational. On the contrary, it meets our reason and our hearts together, for it addresses the whole person".
The author is fully aware that he is not alone in his belief in God and the resurrection of Christ. “J. S. Bach believed the story, and set it to music. Most of the greatest writers and thinkers of the past 1,500 years have believed it … One of the strongest arguments in favour of Christianity is that it transforms individual lives …
Atheism says we are just a collection of chemicals. It has no answer whatsoever to the question of how we should be capable of love or heroism or poetry if we are simply animated pieces of meat.”
Wilson believes atheism is not merely an arid creed but itself totally irrational. “Atheism says we are just a collection of chemicals. It has no answer whatsoever to the question of how we should be capable of love or heroism or poetry if we are simply animated pieces of meat.”
Wilson’s testimony does not stand alone. Many other similarly encouraging accounts could be shared (for example, read here and here).
Returning to Christ
Sadly, it is the case that many prodigals who abandon their once dearly held faith do not do so as a deliberate act, but rather gradually slip away from faith in God owing to pressures in life overtaking them, or being overtaken by a sinful lifestyle (Luke 15:11-32).
Experience shows, on the other hand, that ‘deconstructionists’ will generally have carefully considered their beliefs and made the deliberate decision that Christianity is no longer for them.
a deconstructed faith is one that can be reconstructed.
Nevertheless, the reality is that a deconstructed faith is one that can be reconstructed. James exhorts us; "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (5:19-20).
Let us pray that those who have chosen to turn away from the hope and truth that can only be found in Jesus are drawn back into such a life-changing encounter with the risen and glorified Christ that they never experience serious doubts again.
Endnote
1 The Daily Mail 8th April 2023.
