Deconstructing Deconstruction

“Your questions and your doubts can actually lead you to a stronger faith.” — Pastor Anthony Lombardi

In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Matthew Johnson and Anthony Casuccio talk about a cultural topic that’s become increasingly common in recent years, deconstruction. The word shows up often in social media and modern faith discussions, but what does it really mean for followers of Jesus? Together, they explore whether deconstruction can ever be healthy, what makes it dangerous, and how to approach questions about faith with honesty and hope.

The conversation begins lightheartedly as Matthew and Anthony share stories about building furniture, home renovations, and unfinished projects. From there, they pivot to the opposite idea, deconstruction, the act of tearing something down. In today’s world, the term has been applied to faith. People are reexamining what they believe and, in some cases, walking away from Christianity altogether.

Anthony defines deconstruction as “a reexamining that often leads to a stripping away” of beliefs, values, and convictions a person once held dear. Many Christians, he explains, have built their worldview around what they were taught growing up- by family, churches, or culture. When they begin to evaluate those foundations, it can feel like a crisis of identity.

Matthew adds that deconstruction is not automatically negative. He believes that questioning faith can be part of spiritual growth, not a threat to it. Like inspecting a home’s foundation, deconstruction can expose weak spots so they can be repaired, not destroyed.

The pastors discuss how deconstruction has become popular in Western culture, often fueled by disappointment with church leaders or institutions. Social media amplifies those stories, and cultural voices offer a seemingly kind alternative: “Follow your heart. Create your truth.”

Matthew warns that while that message sounds empowering, it eventually leads to instability. “You don’t discover that it’s false until you build your life on it,” he says. Instead of abandoning everything, believers should remove the broken pieces and replace them with truth rooted in Scripture.

Anthony compares this process to a home inspection. If one brick in the foundation is cracked, the answer isn’t to tear the house down but to repair what’s damaged. Likewise, when someone realizes that parts of their belief system don’t align with God’s truth, it’s an opportunity for reconstruction- not rejection.

The conversation turns to what must remain unshakable during deconstruction. Anthony lists the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith:

• God is the Creator of all things.
• Humanity is fallen and sinful.
• Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God, who came to rescue and redeem.
  
  

These truths form the core of faith and identity. Matthew and Anthony agree that when everything else is stripped away, believers can rest on this simple gospel: God is real. We are broken. Jesus came to save us.

Many who begin deconstructing do so because of church hurt- pain caused by other Christians or leaders. Matthew acknowledges that this is real but warns against using it as justification to abandon the community. “We cannot disqualify the message because the messenger fails,” he says. Every believer, including pastors, is broken and in need of grace.

Anthony adds that the most unhealthy form of deconstruction happens in isolation. People who step away from church often end up surrounded by voices that affirm their doubts without offering truth. Healing, he explains, comes from staying connected to trusted believers who are also committed to growth.

Both pastors urge listeners to seek safe people, friends or mentors, who reflect Christ’s heart and can walk alongside them through questions and pain.

Throughout the discussion, both men share deeply personal moments of wrestling with God. Matthew opens up about his struggle to understand why God heals some people but not others. Anthony describes a recent season where he felt emotionally heavy and even abandoned by God, though he knew that wasn’t true.

Together, they emphasize that God is not threatened by our doubts. In fact, Scripture is full of examples of people who questioned Him- David in the Psalms, the prophets, and Thomas in John 20. Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for doubting. Instead, He met him in the very place of uncertainty.

Matthew quotes Mark 9:24: “I believe, but help my unbelief.” That verse, he explains, captures the heart of deconstruction done in faith- a willingness to be honest with God while still trusting His goodness.

Anthony and Matthew both reflect on how the church has sometimes contributed to unhealthy deconstruction by failing to make space for questions. In past generations, doubts were often met with rebuke instead of relationship. They agree the modern church must do better.

At The Tree Church, they’ve worked to cultivate authenticity through worship, prayer, and honest teaching. Not every song has to celebrate victory, some should express sorrow and struggle, just like the Psalms. “People need to feel safe saying they’re not okay,” Matthew says.

That culture of openness extends to leadership, too. The pastors model vulnerability by sharing their own weaknesses and encouraging members to do the same in community.

As the conversation nears its end, the pastors acknowledge a hard reality: sometimes, following God means standing against cultural norms. Issues like morality, identity, and sexuality often place God’s truth in direct conflict with modern values.

Anthony reminds listeners that God’s design is not restrictive- it’s protective. Because He is both Creator and loving Father, His boundaries are for our good. Culture constantly shifts, but God’s truth remains steady. “Every time I’ve trusted Jesus, even when it’s hard,” he says, “I’ve found life, joy, and fulfillment.”

To close the episode, Matthew and Anthony outline practical steps for evaluating the process of deconstruction:

Unhealthy Deconstruction

1. Letting hurt or anger drive the process
2. Rejecting all authority or tradition
3. Building theology from emotion or culture
4. Cutting off community
5. Confusing questioning with unbelief
   
   

Healthy Deconstruction

1. Seek truth rather than proof for doubt
2. Do it in community, not isolation
3. Stay rooted in Scripture
4. Pray for humility and discernment
5. Be patient- allow time for God to rebuild
   
   

Deconstruction, they conclude, doesn’t have to lead to destruction. It can lead to a stronger, more personal, and more resilient faith when guided by truth, community, and God’s grace.