So many young people are wrestling with their faith that there’s a term for it in the culture: deconstruction. Deconstruction basically means you strip your faith to the bone and see what – if anything – survives.
That process can be scary to watch if it’s your adult child who’s questioning every value they’ve been taught. It can also lead to confusing questions. What are the boundaries with someone who’s deconstructing? How do you come alongside your child while allowing him or her to struggle?
One approach is to treat this part of your relationship as a marathon, not a sprint. Listen to your child with genuine interest and empathy. Be slow to speak. Give them room and time to sort things out. In fact, encourage it. The ability to discern between conflicting ideologies is the very DNA of mature Christian thinking.
Much more could be said about helping an adult child who is struggling with faith. So much so that I invited Dr. John Marriott to join me for a conversation about the topic on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
Dr. Marriott teaches at Whittier Christian High School and the Department of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology. His answers to my questions are thoughtful, thorough, and practical. He’ll help you sort through your child’s deconstruction and offer insight into how best to approach matters of faith.
Join me for our full conversation on your local radio station, online, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or listen on our free phone app.
Before I close, I’d like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Dr. Marriott’s book Before You Go: Uncovering Hidden Factors in Faith Loss as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
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