Mr. Cornelius was my high school biology teacher. He was a great teacher- the kind that let students eat lunch in his class every day. I learned a lot from Mr. Cornelius, but Mr. Cornelis was an atheist. He liked to say, “You are a molecule not a miracle.”
Growing up as an evangelical Christian, I knew I needed to say something. My church had taught me that the Bible was to be trusted over science and that evolution was not biblical. I had been taught about young earth creationism and the work of Ken Ham (who started the creation museum in Kentucky). On one occasion, in the middle of class, I attempted to rebut Mr. Cornelius’ evolution with all I had learned in my church. It didn’t go well!
Oh, has my faith changed! I came to understand that science and faith are not incompatible and that ‘creation science’ is neither good science nor a good reading of Genesis. It took a safe space and a healthy faith community to help me unlearn how my faith had been formed in evangelicalism.
Northside Drive has always been a welcoming place for those who have come out of evangelical churches with wounds in need of healing. I’ve heard so many stories about the freedom and healing that so many have experienced here. NDBC is and will continue to be a place where exvangelicals (and others) can land and find a safe space to unlearn hurtful theology and relearn what it means to follow Jesus.
Sarah McCammon’s book, The Exvangelicals, tells stories of deconstructing faith- her own and many more. Perhaps your journey has been similar. As we prepare to welcome Sarah on Sunday, November 9, I encourage you to think about your own deconstruction journey. Do you have stories of being taught something in church that you’ve had to unlearn? Was there a moment in which you were able to let go of problematic teachings? How has Northside Drive helped you recover faith?
Would you be willing to share a story about the deconstruction/reconstruction of your faith?
Scott Hovey
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