By Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism.
Matt Schmidt, founder and CEO of the evangelistic and apologetics ministry, Engage 360, spoke at the Southern Evangelical Seminary apologetics conference on Oct. 10 on why Christian teenagers may still believe and yet leave the Christian faith. An earlier article last year reviewed Schmidt’s discussion of presenting the gospel in a post-Christian world, and also touched on the issue of deconstruction of Christian faith by many. Outreach 360 describes itself as seeking to empower Christians in sharing, growing, and sustaining their faith. The ministry has focused in particular on training in churches and outreach on college campuses.
In this discussion, Schmidt seeks a “common thread” in stories of deconstruction, mainly by teenagers. He does see a common thread, “even if it’s a little bit multi-faceted.”
Building a House of Faith
Everyone, Schmidt said, especially teenagers are “building a house of faith.” This happens whether one is intentionally doing it or just allowing it to happen. In building a house, it might be made delightful on the inside, which is not wrong, but it must have a proper foundation. Once young people are out of their families, what matters to many are the beliefs and attitudes of their peers, not those of their families or pastors. They also take seriously ideas advanced by their professors and other authorities they find credible in the general culture. Young people who leave the faith may not find Christian doctrines intellectually untenable but feel that Christian faith has failed them in their lives or has not been lived consistently in the lives of other believers they respected. What church and family have not done well is in showing the basis for faith, and thus its truth regardless of what anyone thinks or feels, which will be vital when faith encounters adversity.