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I\u2019ve been around construction in a variety of capacities for almost my entire life. From design to build to demolition, I have first hand knowledge of how things get put together to either stand tall or fall flat. Regrettably, this skill set is a dying art for many in this current generation. No where is this more evident than in the various religious camps who are being decimated by the message of grace. <\/p>\n
Now I know trying to tie construction to religion is big stretch for many, however, Paul claims that he built, by the grace of God, a foundation which no other man can build upon, focused on Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:10-14). These religious camps of all sorts find themselves in a massive remodeling project once they accept the reality of grace. As with any remodel, the first thing that has to occur is demolition, or what is more commonly called in religious circles, deconstruction.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been around any construction workers plying their craft a couple of things that you\u2019ll notice is that it is dirty, and it is often reflected in their language towards one another. Ripping things apart is strenuous and being polite while you\u2019re trying to protect a fellow worker from being leveled by a falling timber or a ceiling of plaster is not a top priority. Grunts and groans will eventually lead to yelling and cussing; then add a schedule delay just to see how explosive personalities can become. <\/p>\n
Deconstructing your beliefs is no different. There is a lot of yelling, screaming, cussing, throwing of things, ego-bending humiliation punctuated by red-eye, snot flowing bellowing. And these are on the good days! Mostly it\u2019s just trying to hang onto your sanity with one hand while trying to secure your footing with the other. At the end of the day your mantra of \u201cIs this worth it?\u201d will not be answered. You will persevere though \u2013 you have no other place to go \u2013 since there are so many watching you to see if you\u2019ll make it. You will. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been down this path a number of times, and honestly, it doesn\u2019t get any easier. (I\u2019m traversing it right now.) I\u2019ve just learned to allow the process to run its course. I\u2019ve helped many others navigate through the shoals of discontent towards the peaceful waters of discovery. All I can say is that no two people are the same in how they handle the change of a paradigm. Keeping that in mind, let me offer this piece of advice which is fundamental to deconstructing everything. Deconstruction is all about getting to the foundation and this is where all of your work stops.<\/p>\n
What got you to where you are? Not the mess, the starting point, the first flirting glance of a supremely, divine romance? This is your foundation. This is what you\u2019re revealing by pulling away the crap of white-washed tombs applied by idle hands bent on containment.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had people tell me that they\u2019ve lost their faith. This is a good thing! It\u2019s not your faith after all, it\u2019s His. I\u2019ve had far too many confess how they doubt if they\u2019ll ever believe in God again. It\u2019s hard to accept the death of our idols! God still believes in you. There are those who express dismay in not feeling able or even wanting to pray anymore. Great! God has been waiting a long time for you to shut up, so He can finally talk to you. And He will in ways you never thought possible. And then there is the bible\u2026well, there are some things you\u2019ll have to work out on your own, so for now, the lesson is learning how to let it reside on the shelf or coffee table as a book and not as a severed appendage to your arm.<\/p>\n
Grace blows the hell out of people minds, their church and friends, their creeds and dogmas. It causes every question to flood into the impact crater of our discontentment and permeates the air with the sickly-sweet aroma of burning prideful flesh. There is nothing like the smell of grace in the morning\u2026almost as good a hot coffee and doughnuts. Deconstruct that!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve been around construction in a variety of capacities for almost my entire life. From design to build to demolition, I have first hand knowledge of how things get put together to either stand tall or fall flat. Regrettably, this … Continue reading