Finding Christ in the Shadows: Doubt, Deconstruction, and Faithful Allegiance - w/ Austin Fischer

Nov 19, 2018

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How can we embrace faith when certainty feels impossible? Pastor and author Austin Fisher joins Mike Erre for a vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation about navigating doubt, deconstruction, and rediscovering the beauty of Jesus. Drawing from his book "Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt," Austin shares his personal journey of nearly walking away from faith, how the church often mishandles doubt, and why cultivating allegiance to Jesus matters more than achieving airtight certainty.

This episode challenges intellectualized faith, critiques superficial apologetics, and redefines what it means to doubt faithfully—making space for honest questions, messy wrestling, and recommitment to the transformative way of Jesus.

Key Takeaways: • Doubt as Faithful Engagement – Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith but an inevitable human response to mystery. How we doubt matters more than whether we do. • Reframing Faith as Allegiance – Faith isn't about intellectual certainty; it’s about relational allegiance that leads to love and discipleship, even through struggle. • Scripture Beyond Inerrancy – Why inflexible views on biblical inerrancy often lead to unnecessary faith crises—and how to trust the Bible without treating it like a flawless instruction manual. • Deconstruction Isn’t Destruction – Honest exploration of the Christian subculture's flaws can actually draw us closer to Jesus if we don’t confuse institutional failures with Christ himself. • Desire and Belief – People don't just think their way into or out of faith; they often desire their way there. Beauty and goodness can be more persuasive than arguments.

Guest Highlight: Austin Fisher – Lead pastor and author of "Faith in the Shadows," Austin vulnerably shares how he struggled through near-deconversion while pastoring. He offers a deeply pastoral and theological lens for wrestling with big questions on God, doubt, church hurt, and the role of Scripture in a post-certainty world.

Resources Mentioned: • Faith in the Shadows by Austin Fisher – [Link] • James K.A. Smith – Philosophical insights on desire and decision making • The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt – [Link] • Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates – [Link] • The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge – [Link] • Unbelievable Podcast by Justin Brierley – [Link]

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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