It’s OK to do those Jesus-y things while deconstructing faith. Because it is WHAT WE DO that activates WHAT WE KNOW.
In other words, can we normalize continuing to follow how Jesus lived while we deconstruct, rather than putting on a practical agnosticism or atheism?
Too often I’ve know people who have genuine questions and doubts—in a process of deconstruction—, but they decided to totally drop out of everything spiritual.
But you can’t stop eating forever, even if a fast is good for you in the short term.
And you can’t sleep forever, even if you really need some rest.
So while you are diving into the deep question of deconstruction, continue to do the things Jesus did.
FOR MORE ON DECONSTRUCTING FAITH, see these 5 fundamental shifts while deconstructing faith.
LESSON #5: It’s OK to do the Jesusy things.
We see this with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
They had walked away from Jerusalem.
They didn’t understand what was going on.
They couldn’t see Jesus in it all.
But they keeping doing the things they had learned from Jesus.
“And they approached the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29 And so they strongly urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. 31 And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24: 28-31)
They continued
- the practice of radical hospitality, and
- a sacramental life.
Practice #1: Radical Hospitality
Yes, hospitality was a cultural value at that time, but it was also something that Jesus practiced.
Jesus was always opening up to unexpected people, always welcoming the unwelcomed, always inviting the uninvited.
These two disciples did the same.
They could have stopped taking initiative in their lives. They could have demanded that God show up and answer their questions. They could have turned inward and licked their wounds.
We’ve all done it.
But like Moses, who noticed something unusual—a bush burning that wasn’t burnt up—and took a risk to check it out, these two disciples stayed open to the unexpected and practiced radical hospitality.
Practice #2: A Sacramental Life
And when the meal was served Jesus turned the tables on them (see what I did there).
Jesus, who was the guest, became the host. Jesus, who was the stranger, because the one welcoming them and leading them forward.
Jesus took, blessed, broke, and gave them bread (Luke 24:30).
These are the same words, in the same order, used to describe the institution of Communion, the Lord’s Table, the Eucharist (Luke 22:19).
Jesus was drawing them back into sacramental practice—the practices that lead to unexpected experiences with God.
And what happened when Jesus did this?
“And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him” (Luke 24:31).
• They didn’t recognize Jesus on the road (processing their emotions).
• They didn’t recognize Jesus when he opened up the scriptures to them (processing new information).
• They didn’t recognize Jesus when they invited Jesus in (processing new people).
But they recognized him through the sacramental practice of Communion.
It was through this practice that everything came together (their emotions, new information, new people).
This practice gathered them back into the story of Israel, and Jesus’ regular table fellowship with sinners, and Passover.
It helped them to see.
Seeing After Deconstruction
So many of us want to see Jesus again.
So often the journey of deconstruction begins because we’ve lost sight of Jesus amid the mist of different theologies and the dust kicked up by political polarizations.
But we won’t see Jesus again if we aren’t doing the things Jesus did (and I didn’t even mention the practices of prayer or scripture reading).
So, in your journey of deconstruction, keep doing the Jesus-y things.
I’m going to finish the week drawing out short lessons from the Road to Emmaus about deconstructing faith. Pound the link to follow along, and to learn about “Deconstructing Faith Without Destroying it.”