Responding to Criticisms of the Faith

By Michael C.

Back in 2020, two YouTubers I often watched released a video where they talked about their spiritual deconstruction journey. These two men were former missionaries in eastern Europe and had been leaders in their church. I was only twelve years old when they released this video, so I did not want to watch it. Thinking my faith was not strong enough at the time to handle hearing a critique of Christianity, I completely stopped watching their YouTube channel. Then, this past summer I watched their video where one of the guys detailed how he is no longer a passionate follower of Jesus. He brought up a lot of challenges to the Christian faith which I had never heard before which rattled me and made me doubt my faith. A couple weeks later I started the Foundation for the Christian Worldview class.

Foundations for the Christian Worldview is a yearlong elective course here at NorthStar. The first semester is all about what a worldview is, covering topics such as faith, reason, and truth all in light of a Biblical perspective. During the second semester, students learn about the reliability of Scripture, the evidence for the Gospels, and the proof of Jesus’ life and resurrection. Every week, students are answering multiple challenges to the Christian faith. This class gives a great basis for defending the faith against those who would ridicule it. As Mr. Bill Caroll, the teacher of this course, says “if students want a class that will empower them to hold firm to their faith and understand its real-world implications, this course is absolutely essential. It doesn’t just prepare students for the classroom; it prepares them for life.” BIBL300 gives students a great basis of truth to stand on as they confront a society becoming increasingly opposed to the Christian worldview and beliefs.

Many issues today are causing people who grew up in the Christian religion (they were never true followers of Jesus; 1 John 2:19) to leave at alarming rates. Mr. Caroll talks about a few of these issues. “First, the relationship between faith and science has been a challenging topic. Many young people are told they have to choose between believing in God or believing in science, which is a false choice. Unfortunately, if they feel that Christianity doesn’t embrace intellectual exploration, they may think they can’t fully engage in scientific or academic pursuits within a Christian framework.” It is actually possible to be both an evangelical Christian and scientist. For example, Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell are both famous scientists who did not disregard their faith as they pursued science. Next, Mr. Caroll says “Another significant area is the perception of Christianity’s stance on social issues, particularly around topics like gender, identity, sexuality, and justice. In today’s culture, young people are highly attuned to issues of equality and fairness. When the church doesn’t provide nuanced, compassionate, and biblically sound responses, young people may feel Christianity is out of step with these values and even unloving. It’s important that we address these topics carefully, showing that biblical truth and compassion really do coexist.” Issues like these can cause church hurt, which makes people feel unloved by the Church. These same people also see a lack of integrity in the Church. Mr. Caroll says “When young people see Christians not living out the teachings of Christ — whether through judgmental attitudes, lack of love, or even scandals — they can lose trust in the faith altogether. The younger generation is highly sensitive to integrity, and when they see a gap between what is preached and practiced, it raises doubts about the faith’s authenticity.” Lastly, Mr. Carroll reminds students that these challenges to the faith are not overwhelming. The church can respond to challenges and doubts by being understanding and compassionate to people who are struggling. Courses like Foundation for the Christian Worldview answer these questions and doubts by providing students with the tools and knowledge on how to tackle these issues.

When these contentious issues go answered they can lead to someone deconstructing their faith. The deconstruction of faith has become a common topic recently as people grow up and hear opposing worldviews for the first time. Deconstruction without the Bible as a guide is like an explosion; it never leads towards an idea, it just leads away from faith in Jesus. When done right, however, with the Bible as guide, deconstruction can lead back to core ideals of the Christian faith. This process is called reformation, and it is a healthy thing to do.

In short, Foundation for the Christian Worldview shows students the opposing worldview to Christianity and then provides truth from God’s Word in response. This course covers the controversial issues that churches often fail to talk about. Instead of taking a wrecking ball to their faith, a student can systematically review and reform what they believe. So, next time you are watching one of your favorite YouTubers or celebrities make a mockery of the Christian faith, have a set of firm beliefs on which you can stand unwaveringly.

Michael C. lives in South Asia with his parents and three siblings. He is in twelfth grade and has been at NSA for five years. His hobbies include working out, listening to music, and playing basketball. Michael enjoys all things Star Wars, DC, and LOTR.

📓Class Spotlights, ✝️Spiritual LifeEIC NSA2024-2025, January 2025 Publication