However you define it, deconstruction is impossible to deny. "I'm deconstructing my faith." As any pastor can tell you, hearing these words is simply a regular feature of ministry these days. How we respond to those who are deconstructing will reveal the kind of church-and the kinds of Christians-we really are. Ian Harber knows the fear and grief of deconstruction firsthand. In Walking Through Deconstruction, he tells the story of his own process of deconstruction and reconstruction over more than ten years and explores what is actually happening, both culturally and spiritually, when someone deconstructs their faith. Deconstruction doesn't happen in a vacuum; it is catalyzed by a comfortable society, cultural Christianity, compromised churches, and the compounding anxieties of life. But the Christian faith has better to offer. Harber lays out a vision for the kind of faith environment that can foster genuine reconstruction through healthy relationships, robust doctrine, healthy institutions, a better theology of suffering, and the peace of God. Walking Through Deconstruction
- tells the author's real life story of deconstruction and reconstruction - provides a clear definition of deconstruction - acknowledges the urgency of deconstruction while prioritizing patience and trust over fear - describes common contributing factors and phases of deconstruction, and - casts a vision for healthy communities that help people hold onto faith. We desperately need healthy models of ministry to those who are deconstructing. Whether you're a pastor, parent, or friend of someone on this path, Walking Through Deconstruction offers hope for a renewed faith-stronger than it was before.
"After growing up in the church, I deconstructed Christianity in college, as the apparatus of my youth group was removed and questions I'd never dealt with began to bear down on my fragile faith. I wish I'd had Ian Harber's Walking Through Deconstruction then, but I am immensely grateful that with we have it now. With both compassion and conviction, equal parts comfort and confrontation, this book will help those deconstructing see a path toward reconstruction, guiding us toward a faith more rich, robust, and dynamic in discipleship to Jesus."
Jay Y. Kim, lead pastor of WestGate Church and author of Analog Christian
