My Deconstruction Story, Part 9

This whole journey is taking much longer than I expected. When I set out to write about my deconstruction journey, I didn't realize where it would take me or how significant this process would be, even for me. On one hand, it is absolutely incredible to look back at what God has done and where He has taken me. On the other, however, it is very sobering, because I'm afraid the American Evangelical community is making some serious mistakes about justice, with unintended consequences. 

Let me say clearly, I do not believe that our current definition of "social justice" accurately represents "true justice." But I absolutely believe that Christians must engage in the social justice arena. 

This is not an easy stand to take. It has been costly, in the form of lost relationships, lost reputation, and lost resources. But I cannot be silent. I cannot, because I believe, with all my heart, that the Gospel message is the key to true justice. 

The ramifications of this reality continue to reverberate through my soul, ultimately taking me back to why I wanted to be a missionary in the first place. It was from reading a book I mentioned before, The Star of Light by Patricia St John. 

In that simple, beautiful story of a gentle Jesus-loving woman living out the Great Commandments and fulfilling the Great Commission in a far away place amidst a very different culture, I saw (as a child) and still see today the power of the Gospel, not just to get people into Heaven, but to create more just communities here on earth. 

Not everyone sees what I see. But in that beloved children's story, I see a demonstration of the Gospel that I want to be part of! Some will define what I'm describing as "social justice," and say that it has nothing to do with the Bible. Some will probably suggest that I'm a heretic, possibly with a low view of Scripture and guilty of sloppy exegesis. But maybe what I am, at heart, is a child who sees in Jesus the hope and the light of the world. 

In a way, this brings me back to the deconstruction of my faith... concepts that I assumed were clear-cut are not. The theological framework that defined much of my Bible education is insufficient for the horrors in the world. The Gospel is not simply about how people are sinners and Jesus can save them. It is much, much deeper... more beautiful, more complex, more robust. It is, in the end, robust enough to confront the ugliest and most broken circumstances with a light and hope that can truly change the world. 

This is a much longer topic than can be covered in one blog post, or even a series of posts. But I'm going to keep trying. Hopefully you'll continue to share this journey with me.