Isaiah 62:1-2 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, UNTIL her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning…
I remember praying with a group of people in a new city about a future church plant—one that eventually became a reality. During that time, the Holy Spirit gave me a vivid image, a revelation for prayer that feels especially urgent today amid the wave of leadership scandals and the rise of deconstruction movements.
In my mind’s eye, I pictured what it must have been like for those who remained near Jerusalem after its destruction by Babylon. They walked among the ruins or saw them from a distance, witnessing firsthand the devastation brought about by the compromise and sin of God’s people. The sight of a desolate city—once filled with God’s presence—stood as a relentless reminder of judgment and loss.
God’s judgment had come. Because of persistent, unrepentant sin, He allowed Babylon to destroy both the city and the temple in 586 BC. The very nations that brought destruction were revealed as His instrument of discipline (Isaiah 10:5-6, 39:6-7, 47:6). For seventy years, the temple, the city, and its walls lay in ruins.
Babylon took the best and brightest (about 25% of the population) into captivity, repurposing them for its own use. The rest, those deemed insignificant, were left behind to tend the land and vineyards (Jeremiah 39:1-10). They lived among the wreckage of what had once been a holy city, surrounded by the consequences of a nation’s rebellion.
We are living in a time much like that. Some call it the deconstruction movement, which is a response to the exposure of corruption, moral failure, and abuse among church leaders. As these scandals come to light, many believers are experiencing a crisis of faith, questioning, pulling away, and dismantling their beliefs. Some use deconstruction as an honest search for truth. Still, for others, it becomes an excuse, an identity, even a badge of honor that justifies abandoning God’s ways in favor of self-serving agendas.
But here’s the danger: deconstruction without reconstruction leads to devastation. If we remain in a state of tearing down without seeking God’s wisdom for rebuilding, we risk being left disillusioned, disconnected, and wandering among the ruins, much like those who once walked the broken streets of Jerusalem.
DECONSTRUCTION without RECONSTRUCTION leads to DEVASTATION!
Why Deconstruction Happens
- Betrayal of Trust: When leaders fail morally, it can feel like a betrayal, causing believers to question not only the person but the faith they represent.
- Unanswered Questions: Scandals expose gaps in understanding about God, church authority, and human brokenness that many were unprepared to confront.
- Cultural Influence: Modern culture encourages questioning institutions, but without anchoring truth, that questioning can lead to spiritual drift.
The Danger of Continual Deconstruction
Without movement towards reconstruction, believers may walk away from the faith entirely, mistaking the failures of men for the failure of God.
Bitterness and Cynicism can take root, replacing faith with distrust and isolation, which is the complete opposite of God’s nature, which is love (1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:1-6 “Love believes all things and hopes in all things”).
Loss of Community (walking together with God and His family) often follows as people detach from the church body, cutting themselves off from God’s design for healing relationships. As both creation and God’s word teach us, when flocks scatter, they become easy prey for the enemy.
In my 47 years of following Jesus, I have seen the unfortunate fruit of people who went through challenging times, deconstructed their faith then continue to live in it. Many turned back to old ways of living that Jesus had delivered them from, causing devastation to their lives and families.
God’s Call to Reconstruction
Yet, even in judgment, God offered and continues to offer paths to reconstruction. Through Prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God spoke of a future hope. Jeremiah 29:11 reminded the exiles that God had plans for their welfare and a future hope. God promised to give them a “new heart and new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26) to establish a deeper relationship with Him and each other. God began to awaken people to return and rebuild His dwelling place (the temple and city) according to His design.
Deconstruction is Inevitable when false assumptions or idols come among God’s house and must be torn down. Yet, deconstruction and devastation aren’t the end. God meets His people in their brokenness, not to leave them there, but to “restore, raise up, and repair” His design and purpose.
- Isaiah 61:4-6 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations…(6) But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
In every season of deconstruction, God is calling His people not just to tear down what is false but to rebuild what is precious/eternal. The destruction of Jerusalem wasn’t the end of the story; it was the beginning of a deeper, purer faith. The same is true for God’s people today.
Essential Steps for Faithful Reconstruction
- Honest Lament and Repentance: It’s biblical to grieve injustice and sin. The Psalms are filled with honest cries to God that model this.
- Seek God afresh with prayer: “For Zion’s sake, I will not be silent/quite…until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning” (Isaiah 62:1-7).
- Awaken to God and turn away from idols: Recognizing that God is life, holy, just, and unchanging can help believers distinguish between God’s nature and human sin.
- Return to His Word: It’s essential to rebuild on the unchanging truth of God’s Word rather than wallowing in deconstruction and trying to feel better by not doing anything due to the flawed actions of people.
- Walk in an Authentic Community with God’s family: Walking with others who have faced challenges and disillusionment yet continue to pursue Him is crucial for healthy reconstruction.
Deconstruction without reconstruction leads to devastation, but when God’s people begin to seek Him and rebuild on the solid rock of Christ, it can lead to deeper, more resilient faith and His greater testimony to a hopeless world.