Psalm 84:10 reads, "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
For those deconstructing, the challenge is that they do not see and know the beauty of God seen through Biblical theology. They see the toxicity of the God seen through crisis, not God's Word.
The crisis could be a very real and painful circumstance.
The crisis could be a passage of scripture or doctrine that is hard to understand.
Here are three things we need to do to continue in this fight for the faith and love those who are deconstructing their faith.
GROW IN CONFIDENCE
through reading God's Word. Read with the purpose of knowing God more and more. Read with the plan to ask questions of the passage you are reading and seeking to interpret difficult passages by looking to scripture first.
through prayer for yourself. Specifically pray for your spiritual growth. Consider those areas of your faith that are not as firm as they should be. Pray specifically about these. Ask questions of the Bible and godly brothers and sisters in Christ.
through prayer for others. Pray for the salvation of those who don't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Pray that they would repent of their sin and believe in Jesus as the only way to be saved. Pray for the sanctification (spiritual growth) of those who have been saved by grace.
ASK QUESTIONS AND LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS.
Before preparing to answer questions that haven't been asked, show care and wisdom by asking clarifying questions and then listen to the answers. Proverbs 18:13 reads, "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame."
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS TOGETHER.
Instead of trying to give an answer when you don't really have a correct answer is not good. Try something like this instead. "That is a good question. I would love to take some time to think about it. Would you be willing to think about it and get together later to talk about what we learned?" This allows you to think a much better answer than a quick response in the moment. It also provides an opportunity for you to get together again.
Who God is
Psalm 84
Chapters 7 & 8
