Donald Trump has caused many American Christians to re-think whether they want to associate themselves with the church, according to Brian Recker, a North Carolina-based former pastor and proponent of ‘deconstructive’ Christianity.
Speaking on US election night, Recker told Premier Christian Radio that young Christians in particular want to shake the label of ‘evangelical’ to distance themselves from ‘Trumpism’.
“We know that millions - I think about 16 million - millennials have left the church over the last few years, and millions of people are flooding out of the evangelical church. I do think a lot of it has been for political reasons," he said.
“I talk to people who are deconstructing Christians all the time, and this wave of deconstruction is very much fuelled by Donald Trump.”
‘Deconstructing’ is the act of critically thinking about one’s religion and re-thinking beliefs. Whilst some people turn away from faith through deconstructing, others reevaluate their beliefs without abandoning theism altogether.
According to Barna’s Engaging the Spiritually Open report, 42 per cent of adults say they have deconstructed “the faith of their youth”.
Recker himself has deconstructed ‘Christian values’. He was once an evangelical pastor and now embraces more liberal viewpoints, particularly on issues of sexuality and relationships.
He told Premier: “Donald Trump is the direct result for many people - I won't say, losing their faith completely - but certainly for rethinking their faith.
“When the major evangelical leaders began lining up behind Trump, many who disagreed thought: ‘What else have they been lying to us about? If they don't have the moral discernment to see through that - then wait a second. Why have I been listening to you on all of these other issues?’ Trump was a mask-off moment for many of us.”