What do you do when a word that’s supposed to help us grow in faith gets turned into a buzzword that feels heavy, confusing, or even dirty?

As we kick off season four of Between the Pages, I couldn’t think of a better place to start than with the word deconstruction. It’s a word that has been showing up everywhere—from faith communities to social media feeds—and yet, depending on who you ask, it can mean very different things.

To help us dig in, I’m joined by Pastor Dave Hugare, who has been in ministry for over 20 years and now serves as lead pastor at Lakeview Covenant Church. Dave is passionate about making disciples who make disciples, and he carries a heart for people who are asking the hard questions about what it means to follow Jesus. Together, we unpack why deconstruction has become such a cultural and spiritual buzzword, what it looks like to rebuild with Christ at the center, and why asking “the dumb questions” might actually be one of the holiest things you can do.

Key Themes + Takeaways

Deconstruction isn’t just about tearing things down—it’s about asking if what we’ve built is strong enough to hold.

Culture and social media can muddy the waters, making discernment even more essential.

Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience (the Wesleyan Quadrilateral) offer a framework for rebuilding with wisdom.

Community matters. You don’t have to wrestle with your faith alone.

At the end of the day, hold on to Jesus as the firm foundation when everything else feels uncertain.

Our Favorite Quotes

“Be careful who’s discipling you—especially on the internet.”

“God can handle your doubt. And He can handle your deconstruction, too.”

“All questions are dumb questions…because you don’t know yet. Ask them anyway.”

“If you’re going to deconstruct, make sure you’re rebuilding on the Rock, not on sand.”

“Don’t take my word for it. Dig deep. God will meet you where you start digging.”

Chapter Markers

00:00 What we mean when we say “deconstruction”

03:09 Meet Pastor Dave—Chicago roots, ministry stories, and empty nesting

05:58 Why deconstruction is everywhere in culture (and the church)

10:25 Seminary, systematic theology, and wrestling with new questions

14:11 Social media, algorithms, and who’s discipling you

21:33 Why young people are turning back to ancient church traditions

26:15 Scripture’s voice on deconstruction: Ecclesiastes, Corinthians, and Matthew

33:06 Doubt, Thomas, and holding on to Jesus

37:29 The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience

41:00 Asking the “dumb” questions in community

44:00 Resources for digging deeper: Pete Enns, Leonard Sweet, Brian Zahnd

48:06 Dave’s encouragement: Keep asking, keep holding on to Jesus

Your Turn

This week, I invite you to sit with this question: What’s one belief, practice, or assumption you’ve been carrying that you want to hold up to the light of Scripture and community?

Don’t be afraid to ask the “dumb” question. It might be the very place God wants to meet you.

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