Faith Deconstruction: Finding Truth, or Just Losing Faith?

Is deconstructing your faith a path to deeper belief or total doubt? In this episode, Mike Stone breaks down the growing conversation around faith deconstruction—why people question Christianity, what leads some to walk away, and how others come out with an even stronger faith.

📖 We'll explore:
✅ Why so many Christians are deconstructing their faith
✅ The dangers of deconstruction without wise guidance
✅ How to wrestle with doubts while holding on to Jesus
✅ Real-life stories of faith struggles and what Scripture says

If you're struggling with your faith or know someone who is, this episode is for you! Don't walk through doubt alone—watch, comment, and share! 👇

🔔 Subscribe for more faith-based content ➡ https://youtube.com/@behindthemikepodcast

💬 What’s your experience with faith deconstruction? Drop a comment below!

⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome to Behind the Mike Podcast
00:27 – What is faith deconstruction?
01:18 – Common questions that lead to doubt
02:11 – Why are so many deconstructing their faith?
03:49 – Is deconstruction always bad?
04:13 – How to deconstruct faith in a healthy way
04:45 – Seek God, not just answers
06:22 – Find a safe, faith-based community
07:55 – Hold on to Jesus, even when doubts arise
09:29 – The danger of confusing Jesus with church culture
10:03 – Mike’s personal journey of faith exploration
10:58 – Encouragement for those questioning their faith
11:24 – Closing thoughts – Keep seeking truth!

🔥 RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
📚 The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel
📚 Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
📚 The Reason for God – Tim Keller

#FaithDeconstruction #Christianity #Doubt #FaithJourney #Apologetics #LeavingChristianity #ChristianPodcast #Jesus #ChurchHurt #WhyIBelieve

Transcript

0:01

Hey, welcome back to behind the Mike podcast. I'm your host, Mike Stone, and today we're tackling a topic they spent stirring up conversations in churches, on social media, and even around the dinner table for years. It's the topic of faith deconstruction. Maybe you've heard the term. Maybe you've wrestled with it yourself. Maybe you know someone who has walked away from their faith they once held dear. Some people hear faith deconstruction and immediately think it means abandoning Christianity. Others see it as an opportunity to grow into a deeper, more authentic relationship with God. So which is it? Let's talk about. So you may have seen videos online or heard stories of people saying, I grew up in church, but now I'm questioning everything that process, pulling apart your beliefs and examining what you've been taught and figuring out what's actually true is called faith deconstruction. For some, it starts with the theological question Does God really send people to hell? Is the Bible truly without error? And why do bad things happen to good people? For others, it's more personal. How could God allow me to go through so much pain? Why did my church hurt me instead of help me? One example is the story of John Stein Guard, the former lead singer of the Christian band Hawk Nelson. He grew up surrounded by faith, singing about Jesus every night. But as he got older, doubts crept in. He started asking questions he felt that he wasn't allowed to ask in church, and eventually he announced he no longer believed in God. That's a painful reality for many. But here's the thing not everyone who deconstructs their faith walks away from it. Some actually find a deeper, more genuine relationship with Jesus. So why are so many people questioning their faith right now? Well, there's a few reasons. First of all, we have access to more information. The internet has made it easier than ever to research church history and theology and even criticism of Christianity. People have access to different perspective lives that challenge what they grew up believing second church hurt and hypocrisy. Let's be real, many have been wounded by churches or Christian leaders. Scandals, spiritual abuse and legalism have pushed people away, not necessarily from Jesus, but from the institutions that claim to represent him. Third, cultural shifts. The values of modern culture often conflict with traditional teachings. Issues like sexuality, justice, and politics have caused people to question whether their faith aligns with the world around them. Here's where the conversation gets complicated. Deconstruction isn't always about tearing faith down. It's often about rebuilding it into something real. Think about it as a house. If you find out that the foundation is cracked, do you abandon the house or do you reinforce what solid and rebuild what's broken? Jesus actually modeled this kind of deconstruction himself. He constantly challenged the religious leaders of his time, calling out their traditions and legalism where they didn't reflect God's heart. He didn't say, throw it all away. Instead, he called people back to the core of faith loving God and loving people. The key isn't whether you question your faith, but how do you do it and where do you land? So if you or someone you love is in a season of doubt, how do you walk through it without losing faith altogether? Let's talk about three ways to navigate deconstruction. Well, first of all, seek God, not just answers. It's natural to want clear, logical answers to difficult faith questions. And to be honest, Christianity has some hard ones. Why does God allow suffering? How do we reconcile science and faith? What about contradictions in the Bible? Here's something I've learned faith isn't just about having the right answers. It's about knowing the right person. Think about job. He lost everything his family, his wealth, his health, and he demanded answers from God. And when God finally responded, he didn't give Jobe a textbook explanation. Instead, he revealed himself. That's huge, because sometimes we won't get every answer we're looking for, at least not right away. But if we seek God, not just explanations, we find something even greater peace that surpasses all understanding. Now, that doesn't mean we ignore the hard questions. It means we don't let the lack of perfect answers drive us away from the one who holds them. How do we do this? Spend time in prayer. Even if you're struggling to believe, talk to God honestly. Like David did in the Psalms. Read the Gospels. Focus on Jesus, his words, his actions, his heart. Remember that faith isn't just an intellectual pursuit, it's a relationship. And relationships grow through time, trust, and experience to find a safe community. One of the biggest dangers in faith deconstruction is isolation. When you start questioning things, it can feel like no one understands. Maybe you're afraid your church will judge you, or you don't want to disappoint family members who raised you in the faith. But listen. Wrestling with doubts doesn't mean you have to walk away from community. In fact, you shouldn't. The right people can help you process your questions in a way that strengthens your faith instead of destroying it. Think about the disciples. They didn't always have it all figured out. They constantly ask Jesus questions, sometimes even dumb ones, and Jesus never pushed them away. Instead, he patiently guided them. Now, on the flip side, if the only people you're turning to are those who have already abandoned their faith, you're likely to absorb their cynicism without ever considering a different perspective. Deconstruction without wise counsel often leads to destruction. So how do you do this? Well, find mature believers who are okay with the tough questions. A mentor, a pastor, or even a small group of thoughtful Christians can be a lifeline. Avoid echo chambers, both in church circles, that shut down questions in an online communities that only reinforce reinforced doubt. Seek balanced guidance, read books and listen to voices that explore faith honestly but still point to truth. Authors like C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, John Mark Comber have wrestled with deep questions and found faith on the other side. Three. Hold on to Jesus. I saved this one for last because honestly, it's the most important when everything feels shaky. When theology, church, and Christian culture all seem confusing, grab a hold of Jesus and don't let go. There's a reason so many people deconstruct away from faith altogether, and they start by questioning Christianity and end up walking away from Christ. But here's the thing Jesus isn't the problem the way people represent him. Sure, that can be flawed. Church systems. Absolutely. They can fail. But Jesus himself, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Think about Peter. When Jesus started preaching some hard teachings, a lot of his followers left. Jesus turned to his disciples and asked, are you going to leave to. And Peter responded, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. That's the heart of faith. Even when we don't understand everything, when we're frustrated with church, culture or doctrine, Jesus is still the one who gives life. So how do you do this? Separate Jesus from the noise. Don't let your frustration with church or a pastor or Christian culture push you away from Christ himself. Focus on his character. Jesus loved the outcasts, welcomed the doubters, and challenged religious hypocrisy. He is worth following. Remember that faith isn't the absence of doubt. It's trusting in the midst of it. So if you're walking through a season of doubt, I want you to hear this. You are not alone and you are not beyond God's reach. Deconstruction doesn't have to mean destruction. In fact, if you seek God, stay in community and hold on to Jesus. Your faith can come out stronger on the other side. I remember a time just out of high school and I moved out on my own, and I really wanted to make sure that I wasn't living out my faith beliefs on the coattails of my parents and my grandparents. And so I did that healthy deconstruction where I decided I wanted to find out the truth for myself. And I turned to Scripture, and I looked at the teachings of other religions and even claims of atheism and all the options were on the table for me. But it clearly for me, came back to the Word of God. It was the only thing that truly made sense to me. Look, I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever wrestled with Faith? What helped you? Hold on? Drop a comment. Share this episode and let's keep this conversation going. And if you know someone who is struggling with their faith, don't panic. Listen. Love them. Pray for them. Because faith isn't about having every answer. It's about trusting the one who does. Thanks for tuning in to behind the Mic podcast. Till next time, keep seeking truth and keep the faith. Keep.