A.J. Swoboda on Not Demonizing Doubt, Why Deconstruction Happens, and Who Your Church’s Future Missionaries Will Be
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Have you or someone you know ever started having doubts about the faith you grew up with? Or left a church over changing theological views? Or gone through a season of challenging beliefs held by the faith community you joined? Doubt and Deconstruction seem to be synonymous with most young adult faith journeys in Canada, but we have to ask if this is beneficial or harmful?
This week’s guest, A.J. Swoboda, has tackled those questions for over a decade as he pastored and taught at seminary in Portland Oregon. He has his own story, along with the experience of watching hundreds of twenty-something wrestle with the faith they were handed as kids or chose to join in their later teens. In his new book, “After Doubt”, he looks at how doubt and deconstruction are natural parts of life and belief systems, and how they can actually strengthen and purify our Christian discipleship. He also acknowledges, however, the dark and dangerous sides of the journey that cause many to leave their churches and faith communities.
Jason unpacks with him what this all looks like and what it means for pastoring and leading people in the way of Jesus. They talk about the reasons so many young adults get hit with a wave of questions, concerns and doubts and how their prior church experience and discipleship can perpetuate that problem. They also explore the ways in which, at a practical level, someone can pastor those with doubts or who are deconstructing. It’s not as simple as sending them a youtube link or handing them a book, but often requires more coffees than we want and tougher conversations than we might feel prepared for. If we aren’t willing to walk that journey though, many will turn to google and podcasts to walk the journey alone, a sad alternative to wrestling it out in community with people that love you.
A.J. also talks about building a church culture where questions and critiques are welcomed and how to not villainize those who have them, but to see them as our future missionaries. Those who walk through the mess and hard work of deconstructing can often emerge with a refined, more orthodox, and deeply convicted faith that stirs their heart for God and His Church.
This conversation shares the stark challenge ahead for many of us Canadian pastors but is filled with hope and helpful ideas for how to make resilient disciples for the Church of tomorrow. We hope you enjoy it!
“Do you want to lead people with questions? Initiate the questions. If you don’t lead them with the questions, they’re going to take them to YouTube.”
A.J. Swoboda
Dr. A.J. Swoboda (PhD, Birmingham) is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and World Christianity at Bushnell University. As well, he leads a Doctor of Ministry program around the Holy Spirit and Leadership at Fuller Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, including the award-winning Subversive Sabbath (Brazos) and the forthcoming After Doubt. He is the co-host of the In Faith and Doubt podcast. He is married to Quinn and is the proud father of Elliot. They live and work in Eugene, Oregon.
Coming Up Next
Ben & Emma Narayanan
Ben & Emma Narayanan are the lead pastors at Avant Life Church in North Vancouver, Canada. Originally from Canberra, Australia, Pastors Ben and Emma heard a clear call from God to venture to Canada with their three young children to pioneer Avant Life. They are passionate about developing effective and Holy Spirit-driven leaders, and sharing the transformational message of Jesus Christ in innovative ways that engage people from all walks of life. They looks forward to the launch of Avant Life’s second campus in Squamish, Canada, this coming year.