I have begun to describe myself as “post-deconstructionist.” That is not to say that I am done deconstructing ideas, because they are ever-evolving and refuse to behave, but I am observing what seems to be a sort of an addiction to deconstruction.

My friend, David Swanson wrote this a couple of years ago on FB:

“Questioning, deconstructing, & rebelling are healthy stages of faith… but lousy foundations for faith.” 

David Swanson

There must be something “post-deconstruction” for the Christian. Deconstruction can be healthy and for some, even intoxicating (feels like life), but in the end, where does it lead without some other way out? At some point, either you peel all of the layers off, and you find something authentic (or maybe I should say tolerable – because there is no perfect landing place) or you end up finding your purpose in just pointing out everything that is wrong. My concern is, many people are satisfied and even exhilarated with the later.

In a way, deconstruction is one-direction repentance. True repentance moves away from something, but always toward something else. Something pure and undefiled, whether it is cultural entrapments or an exploitative church or modernity. The prophet Jeremiah speaks to this when he creates this two-way movement of righting the life of Israel. He says that we must “pull up” and then “replant,” we must disassemble or deconstruct if you will, but then rebuild. It is never, at least with ultimately hoped-for results, mono-directional.

While I have a significant predisposition to cynicism, and deconstruction can become a very entertaining sport, but taken without some form of re-construction, it does not create the kind of world or faith I want to live out my days in.