And deal with them now, but dont exchange Christianity with doubts for an empty belief system made solely of doubts. Could it be that the cultural influences driving these deconstruction stories needs to be re-examined, rather than Christianity itself? Tokyo is a recurring joke on Good Mythical Morning. But it was Jesuss turn to be under the microscope next. Love these mugs! their home town version of Christianity placed on them. Its the people behind the arguments. Rhett and Link also believed that women were not treated fairly with regard to leadership roles in the church (I mean it is the 21st century - Helloooo? Demas traded eternal hope for earthly treasure. These apostles of unbelief are on a mission to help others deconstruct with the same evangelistic zeal they learned from their previous tribe. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thats a messy situation. After poking holes in Christianity, Rhett offered no plausible alternative to explain reality. I also appreciate him making a point of clarifying that bad experiences didnt push him out of the faith. The reason Rhett and Link's deconstruction is so important is precisely because they are not scholars and neither are most members of their audience - which is no longer limited to Christians looking for wholesome entertainment. Their response has been very interesting; they have lamented this by retorting something like . Back in seminary they warned us that the world out there hates truth, and wants to be free to create their own reality. Rhett and Link already know theyll be accused of being arrogant. We've known. Rhett echoed that hes more interested in what happens during his life on earth: Its not so much what happens after you die, but what happens while youre alive.. But I dont think its the actual arguments themselves people have found so persuasive. Its like trying on a different head just for a little while. The apostle Paul identifies his friend Demas as a fellow worker who was with him while imprisoned in Rome (Philem. Blend that with Rhett and Links magnetic personalities, and its no wonder the faith of many Christians has been unsettled. However, when they got to the point where they turned the corner away from the God of the Bible, our paths split and my heart broke. But as Christians we should be encouraged to remember that for every Rhett and Link, theres a Lee Strobel, a J. Warner Wallace, a Holly Ordway, a C. S. Lewis, and a Rosaria Butterfield who tested their beliefs against the evidence, and found their atheism wanting. The REAL Reason Why Rhett and Link Fell Away from Christianity Ray Comfort Founder & CEO, Living Waters Rhett and Link, extremely well-known YouTubers, recently posted videos talking about how they left the faith. Maybe youre just checking to make sure a bolt of lightning wont immediately strike you the moment you do. For many people deconstructing, so much of their world revolves around their church community. Jen's post about leaving Mythical! Not only was I taught everything I ever needed for my faith in Christ could be found in that aisle but later, sadly, that was what I went on to teach others. Get your FREE eBook about deconstruction: 'Before You Lose Your Faith'. .Both said they are no longer evangelical Christians with Rhett saying he would call himself "a hopeful agnostic" and Link saying he would call himself "an agnostic who wants to be hopeful". I read books about it by people who didnt believe in it. Their shift away from Christianity, though, raises quite a few red flags, especially given so much of it seems to hinge on their own experiences and desire to embrace the LGBTQ community. After all, when someone is conversant in apologetics and theology, knows his Bible, and can anticipate my suspicions and objections, its difficult to simply pass him off as someone who never really understood Christianity. The REAL Reason Why Rhett and Link Fell Away from Christianity 268,033 views Premiered Mar 4, 2020 11K Dislike Share Save Living Waters 1.12M subscribers Rhett and Link, extremely. ), but he cant escape the fact that he is an image-bearer of God, living in Gods world. No, these lads loved Jesus. Rhett was careful to say he doesnt think these apologists are intentionally deceiving anyone. You need a context in which to deal with the doubts. 24:12). Good Mythical Morning Net worth- $30 Million. Lauren Boebert And Marjorie Greene's Adult Christianity Was Never About Democracy, Anyway. Before February 2020 I had never heard of Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. This is the effect the gospel has, and we should expect these types of reactions. What about the beginning? It isnt the skeptics who crave constant assurances were on the right track. their abandoning their faith. What am I gonna teach my kids? He is still living as if he has value, that there is a purpose to his life and the lives of his family, that there is a standard of morality that people should follow, and that it matters how someone chooses to live their lives. That was one of the hardest pills for me to swallow, too. (And they do have an audience - their personal channel alone has nearly 5 million followers. Why? you? God draws people to Jesus, He saves them, and He doesnt lose any of them. They launched the 'Mythical Morning' studio in 2012 in North . Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. Rhett even invokes the Apostle Peters response to Jesus when Jesus asks if he will leave him to which Peter responds, Where would I go?. For exmaple, you decide you're hooked on a song. If youre younger than 30, you likely have a list of favorite YouTube channels that you follow. And soon discovered some of these other traditions had different perspectives on some of the issues that often trigger Evangelical spiritual deconstruction: I came to realise the Evangelical aisle of the supermarket is a wonderful aisle in the supermarket but it aint the only aisleas much as they often like to claim it is. Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. Please help us to continue to make our videos and movies available on YouTube free of charge. The stir online is probably exhausting. At this point in his story, Rhett uses some of the exact same language I use when trying to explain what its like trying to look at the world through a completely different lensjust to see if things look any clearer. Our cultural moment is a cauldron of information and celebrity worship in which the cult of personality can ferment and grow. By saying that he does not believe in the God of the Bible he is making a statement of certainty, even if he is trying to soften the blow by using non-threatening language. Rhett & Link, best friends since 2 nd grade, currently host one of the most popular YouTube channels on the Internet, Good Mythical Morning. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. First, I am right in the middle of teaching an Apologetics course for the Snowbird Institute, so my mind is already focused on reasons to believe in God. Co-founder of @mythical. Rhett says hes lost his appetite for certainty, and I know what he means. I kind of saw Christianity as this boat in a very stormy sea. Both guys were raised in an environment that assumed Christianity as a part of the culture, and ultimately that did them a grave disservice. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. Christians today must be ready to provide a compelling defense for Christand even play some offenseas we demonstrate an alternative story to deconversion. Could it be that the cultural influences driving these, Rhett was careful to say he doesnt think these apologists are intentionally deceiving anyone. To lose that community is a pretty scary thought. What does this obtain for you? I told him honestly that it could only lead to loss and pain, but that I didnt really have a choice. For Rhett, it started with questions relating to science, the age of the earth, and evolution. Thats humanism in a nutshell, and I feel the same way. Mythical, founded by Rhett & Link, creates entertainment, products, and experiences that inspire human connection through curiosity and comedy. The youth-group kids left flustered and agitated by doubt mightve been entirely unperturbed had they heard those arguments from another source. Should we avoid it? Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. As an evangelical Christian, you learn to tackle controversial subjects by reading only books by other evangelicals as they talk through their own rationalizations for their beliefs. He feared that truth would be lost in a sea of irrelevance.. I guess my biggest frustration with what he is saying is that he is painting the picture that if you are a Christian you are not allowed to have any doubts, but if you arent a Christian then you dont have to believe in anything. 1:24; Col. 4:14). In fact, at the conclusion of Links talk, they both indicated theyll be setting this whole topic aside for a while in order to get their bearings. Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. Therefore they had to halt all the crew stuff. She articulates her argument well as she did in a recent debate with Lisa Gungor, (and Im more in the Gungor camp) so Childers article became my on ramp into the deconstruction stories of these YouTube celebrities who seemingly had gone astray. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity. That, though, didnt ease their concerns over how much emphasis Rhett and Link seem to be putting on their feelings. I found myself identifying with them a lot through experiences from our very similar pasts. This is what Ive been teaching them. That the simple childlike answers of your youth which at one time gave such clarity and certainty no longer sufficed. Thats worse than a house of cards. Later in Pauls ministry, however, he writes that Demas ended up loving the present world more than the things of God and walked away (2 Tim. Christy Neal: Link's wife. 1:24; Col. 4:14). 4:10). Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. Exvangelicals remember this compulsion well. Of course not. Questioning those beliefs meant friendships, family bonds, and the very fabric of their community were all threatened. As far as Im concerned, Jesus was as real to me as he possibly could be without physically manifesting himself in my presence. I hope in the future they will explore that question a bit more, as well as their differing orientations toward hopefulness for the future of our species. Therefore, we also explored this topic f. There will be those among us who claim the name of Christ today, and tomorrow they wont. As a creative team, Rhett and Link have consistently pushed their limits instead of sticking to their comfort zone, a fact that has helped them immensely. Mark Spence, a Christian, discusses some controversial subjects with a couple, and they leave once he brings up one topic in particular. Receive weekly updates about fresh articles, videos, and audios, as well as new resources, special discounts, and upcoming events. Childers has recently become the go to apologist for Evangelicals who go astray having flirted with deconstruction herself but then (whew) successfully managed to pull herself back from the postmodern abyss. It doesnt really matter if it never reaches its destination. Rhett said, , to believe [Christianity], then why would I? Link expressed, Why was I working so hard to make Christianity work for me if it wasnt even true? Aside from encountering intellectual stumbling blocks, it seems that, to YouTubes favorite pair, the gospel had begun to stink. Scarlett had befriended the very people who had destroyed the South. Changed My Whole Entire Being: Ex-Strip Club Owner Born Again, Now Works to Help Victims of Sex Trafficking, UK Lawmakers Demand Stricter Pornography Laws to Combat Epidemic of Violence Against Women, Professor Reveals Why Asbury Revival Is Now Being Called Outpouring and What That Really Means, Christian Ex-Cop Fights Back After Resigning Over Social Media Post About Gods Design For Marriage, Researcher Warns Biblical Theism Is Much Closer to Extinction in America, Unveils Stunning Stats. YouTube is putting $ behind branding Rhett and Link as talk show hosts. The character is played by Mythical Crew member Jordan Morris, and is often portrayed as a creepy man who is obsessed with Rhett and hates Link. Thats why leaving it is so damned scary. suggestion that their moving to Los Angeles was just the slippery slope to But I dont think its the actual, people have found so persuasive. Rhett and Link aren't going to church either way. And if you like what you read on Godless in Dixie, please consider sponsoring me on Patreon, or else you can give via Paypal to help me keep doing what Im doing. He further likens the endogenous retroviruses shared between humans and other ape descendants to a coffee stain that shows up in later versions of a manual, demonstrating an earlier common ancestor who must have experienced the original mutation/stain. One article about Rhett and Link said, "they both felt a deep discomfort with biblical sexual ethics, which they perceived to oppress women and their LGBTQ+ friends.". Are you sure about that? 4K Followers. Much of their appeal comes from their history together. more Christ-like now that they no longer see themselves as Christians. 1) Deconstructing Statements of Faith is not the same as Deconstructing Faith itself When Jesus called his disciples he simply said, "Follow Me". How could so much of the history of Israel be made up? Responding to a fan question in 2010, Rhett said that, while they were both Christian, their content is not religious. Rhett and Link met each other way back in Elementary school in North Carolina and they've stuck together into adulthood, at one time passing through a ministry phase as full-time staffers with Campus Crusade (now called Cru ). Rhett mentions to Scarlett that he goes to New Orleans to visit a young boy who goes to school there, because Rhett is his guardian. If it can make something, can it make everything? My heart is breaking and my head is spinning in light of the so-called deconstruction of Rhett and Links faith. Its not like God was all of the sudden blindsided by the fact that people are struggling with their sexual orientation or that some people have gender dysphoria. How Is God Loving if He Allows Suffering. They understand if you cease to believe in core tenets of the faithlike sin, the atonement, the resurrection of Jesus, and the reality of heaven and hellthen you shouldnt still identify as a Christian. Deconstructing from certain Statements of Faith doesnt mean you have to jettison the Christian faith altogetherin fact for many of us, its put the focus back on Jesus and the fire back in our faith! I was recently at a conference where a prominent Christian leader was asked to give his opinion on what good could come from a Biden America and Continue reading, How are Christians supposed to think about Game of Thrones? (Except for a short hiatus after The Karate Kid, when Ralph Macchio was my all in all for a few months.) But as both Rhett and Link recounted, there was something brewing underneath the intellectual questions. Living Waters exists to inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day. personally know that jettison God altogether during their deconstruction often become We have to understand were not the first people to grapple with these sorts of questions, said Andros, noting Ecclesiastes 1:9, which says, There is nothing new under the sun., In one interview, Rhett argued that, if Christianity is true, it should be able to withstand investigation and inquiry.. Link Neal. The lesson we can learn from the Rhett and Link story is to observe the power of the media platform, recognize the roadblocks of the new apostles of unbelief, and keep a humble eye to history, remembering that our Savior told us some would fall away. When youve mixed with European Christians, Im reasonably certain that you dont burn in hell because you were intellectual curious and honest. And it gives you community. I cant help but notice the similarities. It was time to stop just reading Christian answers to everything and go a level deeper, looking next at the answers to the Christian answers. Which means the history matters. In fact, he said that he jumped out of the Christian ship, but not into another ship, per se, but into an ocean of uncertainty more on that later. I mean we have little finite minds and we are trying to understand an infinite God. Who will separate us from the Love of Christ? But that is no way to live. How would it affect their revenue streams and net worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate? Only the dates and names were changed. And, like he says toward the end of yesterdays talk by Link, the boat is real. 2 2.The REAL Reason Why Rhett and Link Fell Away from Christianity; 3 3.Rhett Bought a Bible - Rhett's Deconstruction 2 Years Later - YouTube; 4 4.Let's Deconstruct a Deconversion Story: The Case of Rhett and Link; 5 5.Why Rhett and Link Broke Up with Jesus | Neil Carter - Patheos; 6 6.Why Rhett & Link's Deconversion Feels So Right . The answer many of us who deconstructed Lover of beans. We were in conversation. Later in Pauls ministry, however, he writes that Demas ended up loving the present world more than the things of God and walked away (2 Tim. The joke first appeared in the episode called Odd . Were So Spoiled. But it wouldnt have shaken. Rhett and Link, extremely well-known YouTubers, recently posted videos talking about how they left the faith. Rhett echoed that hes more interested in what happens during his life on earth. Melanie then asks for coffee and sandwiches. 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