This week with Jared Scholz we talk about his newly released book, “From Sandbox to Museum.”
This book challenges us to think about what we believe and why we believe it. Jared doesn’t shy away from tough questions because he wants to help people follow Jesus in real time.
Do we love people enough to listen to them and engage them where they are at? What if their real time situation is they have been hurt by the church? What if their faith tradition told them just to accept everything at face value and that asking questions showed a lack of faith? What if they have been turned off by politics and religion that have gotten together to promote each other’s agendas?
Numerous people are “deconstructing” their faith. And for many of them it hasn’t led them closer to Jesus. And just telling people to stop it tends to prove some of their point. Will we take time to listen?
The first half of Jared’s book looks at why people are deconstructing. Many of us tend to lump all of them in one category. . . and yet there are many diverse reasons. This book gives us a framework to help disciple these people in a way that is relevant to where they are at.
There are those who have left the church because what they have experienced is a church that hasn’t been about Jesus. We have been more concerned about winning arguments than winning souls. Let’s be honest, the Church is far from a pure bride. We have to start with a healthy assessment of where we are at to take steps towards becoming who God created us to be.
In the middle the book switches gears. . .it shows where people have tried to purify their faith and they have done it in a destructive way. Jared says,
If you are on this journey, I hear you. I concede you have some good points. I also want to warn you that there is a whole community of people that love indignation and rage and force and Jesus doesn’t use force. . . Let’s purify your faith and stay away from the pitfalls.
The second half of the book moves towards how people are deconstructing poorly and how not to do that.
Then the last section gives us some things we can do now to turn the tide. How can we better serve those who are in this critical season? How do we disciple people in seasons of doubt?
We need to be people who ask and encourage questions. Ask the Holy Spirit this week, “What are some questions I need to be asking?”
