One of the big issues in the evangelical world in recent years has been the phenomenon of “deconstructing the faith” or what we used to call “deconversion.”  It addresses the situation concerning a former believer, a former member of the church, who has announced that he or she has left the faith.  There have been a number of well-known musicians and celebrity pastors who have taken this route.   Not surprisingly, a change in views of the faith often coincides with a change in views on such issues as marriage and sexuality.  It’s happened so much that The Gospel Coalition published a noteworthy book about it last Spring — Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church.

Part of the problem with this whole depressing scenario is that A) It’s personal.  It’s not just artists and celebrities who’ve done this, but close friends and family members.  And that’s really hard.  And 2) It’s not a new thing.  People have been leaving the Christian faith for as long as there has been a Christian faith. 

And that’s what the Apostle Paul is writing about in our text this week, Philippians 3:12-4:1, when he writes to the Philippians about pressing on in the faith.  He’s trying to encourage people to keep going when all they want to do is quit (Have you ever felt that way?  I sure have.).  We have all had “one of those days” … when it’s hard to keep believing, when it’s hard to pray, when it’s hard to pick up your Bible, when it’s hard to hear all the grumbling.

But what do we do when it’s someone from church?  Or one of our friends?  Or a member of our family?  Or that person who was once a spiritual mentor or teacher?  How do you respond then?  What are you going to tell them?  Those are the kinds of questions we’ll be dealing with this Sunday.  We all need some good answers to those questions, so I hope to see you there, Dr. Dave