I appreciate both of your articles. Influence from the digital world is the scariest thing as a parent. My deconstruction (not sure if it’s the right word for me), however, came from realizing that my pastor and church of 15 years were leading me away from a biblical worldview - specifically that the Bible is not authoritative. I’d have to give some credit to “celebrities” - authors, podcasters and instagramers for helping me sort out the emerging doubts of what my local church was telling me. The hurdle for me was that I felt like I had no place to contradict an ordained pastor of 35 years with a theology degree.
It was close friends who helped me see that my idea of an inerrant Bible isn’t as radical and narrow minded as my community was telling me and to ultimately trust the Holy Spirit to lead me. And I have found a new local church but i think it will be hard for me to trust fully a pastor.
So I just comment on this because I hear what you are saying about trusting in your local community over impersonal celebrities, but there should be a caution to have discernment with personal relationships in the church just as there has to be in the media. It was ultimately studying the Bible that led me to question the contradictions in my church after so many years of just assuming other people were smarter or more “enlightened” than I could be, so trusting their words were enough.
I hear that completely. And I for sure don't want to downplay the usefulness of online content. I owe a lot to it myself and even work in digital Christian content now. I absolutely think it has its place. But even like you said, you ended up back in a church after a time of figuring it out, and I don't believe content can replace the church. Ultimately, it's in our relationships where we are formed. Content can never do for us what relationships can, even if it can play a helpful and even vital role in our faith.
I appreciate both of your articles. Influence from the digital world is the scariest thing as a parent. My deconstruction (not sure if it’s the right word for me), however, came from realizing that my pastor and church of 15 years were leading me away from a biblical worldview - specifically that the Bible is not authoritative. I’d have to give some credit to “celebrities” - authors, podcasters and instagramers for helping me sort out the emerging doubts of what my local church was telling me. The hurdle for me was that I felt like I had no place to contradict an ordained pastor of 35 years with a theology degree.
It was close friends who helped me see that my idea of an inerrant Bible isn’t as radical and narrow minded as my community was telling me and to ultimately trust the Holy Spirit to lead me. And I have found a new local church but i think it will be hard for me to trust fully a pastor.
So I just comment on this because I hear what you are saying about trusting in your local community over impersonal celebrities, but there should be a caution to have discernment with personal relationships in the church just as there has to be in the media. It was ultimately studying the Bible that led me to question the contradictions in my church after so many years of just assuming other people were smarter or more “enlightened” than I could be, so trusting their words were enough.
I hear that completely. And I for sure don't want to downplay the usefulness of online content. I owe a lot to it myself and even work in digital Christian content now. I absolutely think it has its place. But even like you said, you ended up back in a church after a time of figuring it out, and I don't believe content can replace the church. Ultimately, it's in our relationships where we are formed. Content can never do for us what relationships can, even if it can play a helpful and even vital role in our faith.