"Everyone I respect is deconstructing and leaving. Maybe they see something I'm missing."
How it sounds in your head: The worship leader from youth group posted about leaving evangelicalism. The campus pastor he admired announced he's 'post-Christian.' The influencers who led him to Jesus are now leading people away. If they all left, maybe the ship really is sinking.
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
-- Joshua 24:15Enemy: uses the crowd to create doubt, makes apostasy look like enlightenment and faithfulness look like naivety.
He's watching a steady stream of deconstruction announcements on social media, each one making him question if he's the one missing something. If all these smart, kind people left, maybe he's the sucker for staying.
Ten spies said the Promised Land was unconquerable; the whole nation wanted to go back to Egypt. Caleb and Joshua stood alone and said, 'We are well able to overcome it.' They were the ONLY two of their generation who entered the promise. The majority was wrong.
I REFUSE the lie that the crowd determines truth. IT IS WRITTEN: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD'—my faith isn't a popularity contest. Caleb stood with Joshua against ten other spies and an entire nation, and they were the ONLY ones who entered the promise—the majority was wrong. IT IS WRITTEN: 'Do you also want to go away?' Peter answered, 'Where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life.' I am Abraham's seed, the BARAK blessing doesn't depend on who's standing with me. Judas walked with Jesus and left; the thief on the cross met Jesus once and entered paradise. I'm not following the crowd—I'm following the resurrected King. Their deconstruction doesn't determine my destination.
The Father isn't wringing His hands over the crowd leaving—He's looking at YOU, asking if you'll trust Him when it's not trendy. He's not disappointed in your loyalty; He's proud of your courage to stand when standing feels lonely.