Building a Better Faith
In recent years I have met quite a few young people who say that they have deconstructed their faith.
In recent years I have met quite a few young people who say that they have deconstructed their faith.
One of my former pastors used a blessing at the end of the weekly worship service that contained the following line: “May the God who loves you take delight in your living.” I found the line striking because it contrasted sharply with ways I had learned to think about God.
When I was young, I was taught to read the Bible as a message directly from God. It was recognized, of course, that the message came through human writers.
Robert Brownson was a professor of New Testament who had taken what he calls a “moderate traditional position” on biblical teaching about same-sex sexuality. But his thinking on the topic was challenged when his eighteen-year-old son revealed that he thought he was gay.
People generally recognize the absurdity of thinking that God is a supporter of their favorite football team or basketball team. We may be passionate about wanting our team to win, but it is hard to think that God takes sides in that way. When we pray before a game, we feel okay about praying for people not to be hurt or for the game to be enjoyable. But praying for our side to win seems over the top. On the other hand, many people find it natural to assume that when it comes to war, God is on the side of their nation.