Skillet leader singer John Cooper is setting his sights on the burgeoning trend of “deconstruction.”
“It is time that we declare war against this deconstruction Christian movement,” the recording artist said in a newly posted TikTok video. “I don’t even like calling deconstruction ‘Christian.’ There is nothing Christian about it. It is a false religion.”
Cooper, speaking during a Winter Jam concert, said there “is nothing Christian” about “deconstruction,” suggesting such a process is “a whole other religion” separate and apart from Christianity.
He went on to call out those who have — in dramatic fashion — walked away from their faith, asking them why living as their most “authentic” selves amid the latest version of the “sexual revolution” has led to deeper sadness, the highest U.S. suicide rates since World War II, and an alarming uptick in anxiety worldwide.
“I want to know why these celebrities’ lives are so absolutely screwed up if they really believe they are so happy,” Cooper said. “And then they brag about their debase lives in front of our young people. And they check into rehab over and over and over again, and they keep leading all of our young people astray. I’m here to tell you — especially you young people who have been ripped off — we’re here to tell you this tonight: The world will tell you that you need to separate yourself from Christianity in order to find happiness.”
“We are here at Winter Jam to tell you tonight there is no such thing as freedom outside of Jesus Christ,” the singer continued. “And for all of these formerly Christian people who have tried to tell all these young folks that they think they found a third way, their third way is this: It’s OK if you’re into Jesus, just don’t be into the Bible. I’m here to tell you, young folks, there is no such thing as loving Jesus but not loving His Word.”
In recent years, there has been a wave of Christians who have defected from their faith.
Among them have been people like “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” author Joshua Harris, ex-Christian singer Jon Steingard, former DesiringGod.org writer Paul Maxwell, and theologian John Piper’s son Abraham, among others.
Last spring, Faithwire spoke with Christian author and apologist Sean McDowell, who offered helpful insight into how believers should discuss “deconstruction” and ways in which we can walk with those in our lives who are doubting their faith.
You can watch that conversation below:
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