The 4-part docuseries Shiny, Happy People has many in the nation abuzz right now, and for multiple reasons. If you haven't heard or watched this docuseries that claims to expose "…the truth beneath the wholesome Americana surface of reality tv's favorite mega-family, The Duggars, and the radical organization behind them: The Institute in Basic Life Principles…" it's worth a close listen and a careful inspection of your own faith.There is no question that a voice is growing louder about the deconstruction of the church. As Jon Bloom, from desiringgod.org writes, "Deconstruction is a critical dismantling of a person's understanding of what it means to be an evangelical Christian, and in some cases a refusal to recognize as authorities those perceived as occupying privileged evangelical institutional positions who "supposedly speak for God."In this docuseries, we hear from individuals who have undergone the dismantling of their upbringing within evangelical Christianity and are in the process of reconstructing it. We also hear from those who have—to use a more accurate term—"deconverted" from Christianity and blame their deconversion on much of what they were trained as a child and into adulthood as authoritative lifestyles of biblical morality.So what is "IBLP" (Institute of Basic Life Principles), and how does this reflect an increasing redefining of our Christian beliefs and lifestyles? According to their site, IBLP first came into being in 1961, founded by Bill Gothard, who, incidentally, became a central focus in the docuseries Shiny, Happy People. Some of the core beliefs espoused within IBLP include the patriarchal role of the father in the family, the submissive and, more specifically, subservient role of the wife whose primary intent to glorify God is to raise children, and a strict code of morality designed to be "separate from the world."As Christians, questions arise after watching docuseries like these and researching fundamentalist organizations like IBLP.Is deconstruction safe or dangerous?Can a person restructure their Christian belief system without betraying or rejecting the cornerstone truths of Scripture?What is our response in an age where deconstruction begins to peel away layers of beliefs that have become building blocks to many a person's Christian faith?Let's break these three questions down:
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