You Don't Take God Seriously Anymore

I've heard it said that people who are deconstructing "don't take the Bible seriously" and "don't take their faith seriously".

One time I was engaging with someone on my Facebook page who was saying all sorts of things about how the Bible says that gay people are detestable and that gay sex is an abomination and as I was trying to put some of those verses in context to show a different understanding of them, the person said that it was a "real shame" that I had "strayed so far from the truth" and that I clearly didn't take God seriously anymore.

Why don't I take God "seriously anymore"? 

Because I don't see things like YOU see them? 

Because I don't think gay people are going to hell like YOU do? 

Because I don't think there is hell like YOU do? 

Because I don't think the Bible is the inerrant Word of God like YOU do? 

Because I don’t think about gay people the way that YOU do?

Why?

Why is it that YOU take the Bible and faith and God “oh so seriously”, but I don't? What gives YOU the right to say that about ME?

Suddenly the conversation took a different turn because although I was pretty calm and cool talking about the LGBTQ stuff, now this person made the attack personal and was coming after me and my faith and, really, my life's work.

Because, really - God, the Bible, Jesus ... it's all my life's work.

I went on to explain to this person that I've been studying the Bible on a devotional level since I was in the 4th grade and an academic level since I was 18. I have 3 degrees oriented around the Bible and the Christian faith and I've read everything I can get my hands on from John Piper to Bart Ehrman and everything in between. 

I've read.

I've studied.

I've written term papers.

Essays.

Sermons.

A dissertation.

Blog posts.

AND.

In the midst of all of that studying, I've come across some questions, I've had some doubts erupt in my mind and heart, I've had my soul shaken by questions and doubts and uncertainties about God and faith and the Bible.

"And you know what?", I said. "I stuck with it and dug in even deeper. Had I been someone who (like you said) no longer took God and faith seriously, I would have tossed it all away. But instead, I read wider, I dug deeper, I studied through literal tears and bloodshot eyes sometimes into the early hours of the morning. Why? Because my faith means more to me than anything else outside of my family. So, please don't tell me that because I don't see things like YOU do ... please don't tell me that that makes me a bad person or someone who doesn't take God and faith seriously."

The point I wanted to make this morning is that those who are on the path of deconstruction probably take their faith more seriously than anyone else on the planet.

We're not out here trying to "find a different Gospel".

We're not here trying to "find ways to justify our sin".

We're not here trying to "manipulate the Bible". 

INSTEAD ...

We're out here wrestling with God and you can't wrestle with something or someone from a distance.

Right? 

The only way I can wrestle with you is if I'm close enough to you to place my hands on you, to wrap my arms around you ... and so (likewise) the only way I can wrestle with God, the Bible, my faith, etc. is if these things are close enough to my heart so that I can wrap my hands around them, break a sweat, and engage them as we pin each other to ground and toss and turn and roll around on the mat. 

And so I honor you today, my deconstructing friend. To your former tribe it may seem like you've flippantly thrown it all away, but I see you - I see your sweat and I see your tears, I see your refusal to let go of the Divine until you have some answers to the questions that keep you up at night.

SO ... 

Keep asking questions.

Keep doubting.

Keep wrestling.

And remember, you can only wrestle with someone that's close to you and so no matter how far away the Divine may feel in the midst of the ocean of questions you find yourself in, may you remember how very, very close she is.

Much love,

PS - Shout out to my friend Matt Bush who preached a sermon on the idea of only being able to wrestle with a God you’re close to. Follow him, he’s doing much to create safe spaces for the doubters.

Glenn Siepert