Deconstruction? Part 1

You'll most likely have to admit you cringe at the word "deconstruction," yes? I mean I don't often associate anything positive with that word. I want to make sure it isn't mistaken for "demolition." Demolition is something I can definitely embrace. Give me a hammer, sledge, pry-bar, ladder; a cat's paw, shopvac, and a few other tools of my choice and I will tear something down in a heartbeat. Putting it back together, well, that's a different story.

Demolition is when one crashes down the building without regard to preserving any of the architectural designs. Basically, it is rip and tear; my specialty. I like it. It's fast, dirty, rough, and possibly dangerous to a degree. Dust flies and nails stick their heads up like snakes looking for someone to bite. Holes in the floor beg for a misstep. Loose shingles lurk along with enough splinters for all participants, and failing floor supports acting like they are actually doing something even though it's a passive/aggressive ruse waiting for my two hundred-sixty-five-pound body skipping around like a goat playing in the yard and then "wham". Its two days of ice and heat, leg up, and t.v. on autopilot. Mally puts a bell by the chair so she can minister to my ailments along with a cuppa, (naw, I'm kidding about the bell...lol).

Demolition is healthy for a person. It lends to new possibilities; a shed, barn, mother-in-law addition, a pergola, new kitchen or even a screened in back porch where you can set while drinking coffee, reading, and watching the hummers, (one of my favorite birds by the way). Over the years, we had more than a few friends visit that porch. Problems were solved, plans made, and friendships solidified. Lifegroups, church parties, and get togethers have all been made possible through the wielding of a sledge, digging holes, putting up timber, and swings. Then there are the lights and plants. After that, Mally puts the finishing touch on things to make everything pretty.

Man, demolition sure paved the way for a lot of sweet memories around the Harman home. And then there were the bees and the honey; a memory all of its own sweetness...hehehe, get it? We are still eating the honey from those hives. Demolition has an end-game. It is purposeful, it is controlled, (although Mally might argue that), it is intended to replace the old with something new. Oh, there is something about the smell of demolition in the air? Wait, that's not original. Someone used a similar phrase in some movie a few years back. Anyone remember? Something to do with napalm. Sorry, there comes my digression. Let's get back on tract.

Demolition can be and in most cases is a useful practice; however, it can be harmful if it be via those ill-intended motives by those ill-intended ones. As an example, take a look at the Book of Nehemiah in your bible. You might recall Jerusalem was run down and in 445 B.C. several members of the nation of Israel had returned to their home in Jerusalem. The problem was everything, well most of the place, was in a state of disrepair, including the perimeter wall. In 446 B.C., Nehemiah gets the news about the sad state of the structural condition of his homeland. Being a politician and builder, Nehemiah was very concerned about returning to strengthen and fortifying his beloved Jerusalem.

I won't give all the details. You can read it for yourself in the OT book of Nehemiah. It has a lot of drama, intrigue, deception, strategic offense and defense, and especially on Nehemiah's part, a great model of commitment regarding faithfulness to God. So, the story involves a few villains, and some brick, mortar, weapons, and watchtowers. Got your interest yet? The point of my using this illustration is demolition had occurred in a negative sense at the hands of the Babylonians around 587 B.C., followed by a return of many of the exiled Jews who were then encouraged by Nehemiah to rebuild the wall.

It didn't go without opposition. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, (ok, I gave away the villains) went to great lengths to thwart Nehemiah's building project. Their motive was to demolish the wall. Spoiler alert! What God wants to happen will happen and what God forbids will not. God paved the way from start to finish in rebuilding the wall. God emboldened Nehemiah to approach the then King of Persia (Artaxerxes) to request permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. He also had "King Art" for short, supply Nehemiah with letters of passage to clear the way for his return to Jerusalem. He further supplied Nehemiah with all the necessities to rebuild the wall; wood timbers, funds, and passage. You can't stop God, just ask Haman, (that's another story you can find in the OT book of Esther).

Ok, just as demolition has positive and negative aspects, the same applies to deconstruction which may certainly be applied to the building trade; however, in this post I am really looking at the use of deconstruction pertaining to spiritual things; you know, theological things dealing with biblical truths. One source's view refers to the "worldview of deconstructionism in which it encourages people to question the inherency of their beliefs and to ultimately abandon them. Biblical deconstruction means taking apart and examining the written Word of God along with our practices and beliefs to determine their truthfulness, usefulness, and impact."

Livingproof.com Deconstruction of Scripture is not a positive thing unless you view it as positively ludicrous, (you see what I did there?).

I have this guttural feeling deconstructionism in scriptural matters is a slippery slope which will eventually lead to apostasy. Just a thought!

This movement isn't anything new on the one hand; but, on the other hand, like cancer, it is insidious. It's motive, as I mentioned earlier, is to attack the core values of Christianity, the Christian life, and the validity of Scripture. They seek to break down the pillars of scripture: inerrancy, inspiration by the Holy Spirit, infallibility, truthfulness, dependability, and unchanging.

Scripture is as relevant today as it has always been, but those involved in the deconstructionism movement seek to differ. According to Abundant Life, this deconstructionism movement in rooted in pride revealed by their arrogance regarding who knows best. At the core of this lies the rejection of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death and the grave. I recall hearing RC Sproul speak about it, "that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the hinge on which Christianity turns; the foundation on which everything else rests. I would just like to add my two bits here.

To a large degree I agree with Dr. Sproul, but after further reading on Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, I have a real conviction that Christianity, while hinged on the resurrection, is also hinged on the work of the cross. Without the cross, there is no possibility of salvation and thus no need for the resurrection. They are both infinitely important, completely linked and interwoven, working in concert to solidify the truth and hope of the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14,

"If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

I'm not going to spend any time on this deconstructionism movement. Just let it be said (by me) that nothing good will come from it. Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:30,

"Whoever is not with Me is against Me...."

You can apply this in your own way when you analyze what a person or person's motivation is in undermining the value of the Word of God.

I'd like to finish part one of this post with a word pertaining to part 2 which is "Divine Deconstruction." Is there such a thing? At first thought, I would think not; however, as I begin to look into what Scripture has to say about the workings of God in a person's life, I am inclined to think there is such a thing.

I say this with reverence to the Father. You might recall hearing people make comments like, 'God invaded my life,' or 'God turned my life upside down,' just to name a couple. It can be voiced in many ways, but the point is when a person has a salvific encounter with Almighty God, something has got to give. Things cannot remain the same. Something new happens. "Life as usual" is no longer applicable or even an option. Life altering changes occur. What once seemed right, is now acknowledged as wrong. What was done without guilt or concern is suddenly cringed upon at the mere thought of it. What happened?

The mighty fortress of "self" is reduced to a tent; an old rickety tent at that. The wall has crumbled, all at the hand of God. It has been deconstructed. Years of blood, sweat, and tears in building that wall is in a split second gone. Now, there is another word we could substitute for deconstruction. We could use "dismantle" if it is a bit softer. We could say God has come to me, opened the window of my mind, heart, and soul, and began prying lose my grip on "myself." Oh, it's often a tight grip, an iron grip; but who can thwart the grip of God? Jesus tells us in John 10:29 that,

"...My Father who has given them to Me (believers that is), is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of My hand and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

So, if this is indeed true, and I absolutely, one hundred percent believe it is; than what are some of the ways the Bible describes this handiwork of God? In my follow-up post I will examine just a few verses showing God at work in changing or dismantling our lives. Now keep in mind, God does this work through the Third Person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit of God. Man, I just keep on giving out those spoilers!

All kidding aside, I have had some overwhelming truth and conviction from God's Word in relation to my life in the last few months. I think you will be challenged in many of the ways I have been. More about that in part 2.

Deconstruction is not at all what it is being promoted to accomplish! Be on guard! Be a Berean!

Wear Jesus Well,

Blessings,

Steve

Steve's "Demolition" of our Amherst, Virginia kitchen