Just like always, our biggest mistake was thatwe did as we were told. Rhett echoed that hes more interested in what happens during his life on earth. 1:24; Col. 4:14). the way they had been taught was not the one size fits all that they thought. Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. Is Apologetics Helpful or Necessary in Evangelism? With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. their home town version of Christianity placed on them. For exmaple, you decide you're hooked on a song. Rhett says hes lost his appetite for certainty, and I know what he means. Its stable. .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". Its got a destination. Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. So, if you want to listen to them you can do so without fear. 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. How would it affect their revenue streams and net worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate? Rhett McLaughlin. This was my LIFE. I was amazed at the providential coincidences that converged for me, personally, when I listened to these testimonies last week. It gives you direction. Rhett & Link, best friends since 2 nd grade, currently host one of the most popular YouTube channels on the Internet, Good Mythical Morning. The same goes for apologetics in general, doesnt it? I hope youll take the time to watch/listen to the show for yourself, along with the follow-up episode in which Link tells his own story about how he left his faith behind after he became an adult. Since Rhett and Link were relatively deep into religiosity, having learned "Christianese" and the culture, it took them years to complete their pilgrimage to secularism. I kind of saw Christianity as this boat in a very stormy sea. / Politics / Trump / Uncategorized, find a Statement of Faith list of things you will need to believe, had to the spiritual journey of Rhett and Link. It was a relationship. One can believe in a literal Adam OR that Adam is a metaphor and still follow Jesus. With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. Christians today must be ready to provide a compelling defense for Christand even play some offenseas we demonstrate an alternative story to deconversion. Hopefully, they also realize these accusations are shots fired out of fearfear that one day they may wake up to find that we are making at least as much sense as they are. Just over a month ago in two hour+ podcast episodes, Rhett and Link told their stories about how they came to believe that Christianity wasn't true. Both Goins-Phillips and Andros commended the comedy duo for their willingness to talk so transparently about what is sure to have been a difficult and challenging process. It's not the End of the World When public figures walk away from the faith, a lot of Christians panic; but really, it's not the end of the world. But, Continue reading, When we talk about what it means to be a man from a biblical perspective, we have to realize that we are working completely against popular culture. 4:10). Are you sure about that? Help! About 24 minutes into the podcast, Rhett compares the development of human DNA to an instruction manual that gets two pages permanently stuck together, leaving the headers and footers in place to show exactly where one ends and the other begins. 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. For Rhett, it started with questions relating to science, the age of the earth, and evolution. But it was while still back in North Carolina that Rhetts wife, Jessie, had taken Bible courses under agnostic biblical scholarBart Ehrman, and the historical questions those studies raised continued to impact their lives. 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. He occasionally sends judgments to earth to remind us of this. He firsttells the story of how during college he fell in with a crowd of Young Earth Creationists who maintained that the universe is only 6,000-10,000 years old, give or takea perspective he would adopt for many years to come. This implies that they are, in fact, deceiving people. When he identified as a Christian he said that he had to have certainty, but now he is fine not having certainty. Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. But it was Jesuss turn to be under the microscope next. To put it bluntly. Melanie then asks for coffee and sandwiches. 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. This implies that they are, in fact, deceiving people. Today that simple choice to follow Jesus and learn to engage Life through his Way comes with a whole lot of additional belief requirements. As an apologist, my knee-jerk reaction was also to grab my computer and start typing refutations with the force of a thousand suns. be One in Christ. The sad reality is that, for the deconverted, disbelief isnt sufficient. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. And thats where Ive lived for about six years. Thats humanism in a nutshell, and I feel the same way. How can two guys who make a living as YouTube personalities go from making possum corndogs one day to throwing 2,000 years of Christian history under the bus the next? As the logic goes, a God who is not on board with the LGBTQ agenda is not a God worth serving. before can enthusiastically answer, YES, Jesus never answered the thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him when he came into his Kingdom with, This Day youll be with me in Paradisejust so long as you also believe the world was created in six days. By Dawson Gaillard FOR about some the reason seasoned, as I aged sat in bricks a French dating Quarter back to patio the musing 1700's, about the seasoned, aged bricks dating back to the 1700's, I began to think of Gone with the Wind. As part of their healing process, they are all told to declare to the world their reasons for why being a Christian is wrong. I was crushed. This insatiable need for certainty is something the still-faithful need to confront about themselves, not us. They loved not the things of the world, but repented of their sin and put all their hope and trust in him. It gives you something to hold on to. Mythical, founded by Rhett & Link, creates entertainment, products, and experiences that inspire human connection through curiosity and comedy. It still provides the stability and the community on which peoples lives depend. Popular YouTubers Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal have publicly announced that they have left Christianity and landed in agnosticism.. Their deconversions are especially noteworthy given how publicly the two had once been with their Christian faith (e.g., missionaries for CRU, featured in Phil Vischer's What's in the Bible?It's also noteworthy that Rhett and Link have over 15 million . I could go on and on, but Ill wrap this up by looking at the last analogy Rhett used to explain what its like to leave the faith of your upbringing. But I dont think its the actual, people have found so persuasive. As a result, they are surprised and hurt by Christians who promptly said that they never truly were of us ( 1 John 2:19 ). I think Postman was on to something when he wrote, WhatOrwell feared were those who would ban books. They decided to go get vasectomies together and filmed the experience for a video . All their YouTube Channels have a good amount of engagement, subscribers, and views as a result of their engaging content. The best chance I had of communicating with him was writing a letter to his fan club. No one that I was in personal contact withpastors, Christian friends, elders in the churchnone of them disappointed me or let me down. Receive weekly updates about fresh articles, videos, and audios, as well as new resources, special discounts, and upcoming events. personally know that jettison God altogether during their deconstruction often become I also appreciate him making a point of clarifying that bad experiences didnt push him out of the faith. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity. Im not gonna be scared of the truth. First, he read Francis Collinss (the other Francis), The Language of God, and was convinced that evolution is true. 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 . Last month, the GMM duo moved one of their podcasts, Ear Biscuits, to a separate channel in order to devote that space to an increasingly personal line of conversations about what led them to leave their faith and look for new sources of meaning and inspiration in the world in which they find themselves. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. But that is no way to live. Rhett James McLaughlin) and Link (a.k.a. Several people reached out to me personally, including pastors who reported that the faith of several kids in their youth groups was rocked by the broadcasts, leaving them shaken and doubting. Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day. My understanding of who Jesus is is not just based on my experience with him personally, but its also based on what the Bible has to say about him. Anticipating the response he would get for opening up about all of this, Rhett addressed the No True Christian argument right off the bat: I want to emphasize how big of a deal it was to me. They like to call themselves "Internetainers." Charles Lincoln Neal and Rhett McLaughlin first met on the first day of first grade in Buies Creek, North Carolina, when they were held in class during recess as punishment for writing profanity on their desks. feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Why ban a Tim Keller or Ravi Zacharias book when you can create a community in which no one will want to read one? One main issue discussed by them is the problem with LGBTQ and church. 2. Anticipating pushback from those who say you have to trust Jesus over the noise of your own intellectual questions, Rhett reminds us you cannot separate an historical figure from actual history and still say youre talking about the same person. Welcome to Ohio. Celebrity YouTubers Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal have caused a few waves following their collective decision to abandon the Christian faith. Confession: When I was a kid, I was in love with, As much as I felt undying love for Ricky Schroder, I knew little about him. That, though, didnt ease their concerns over how much emphasis Rhett and Link seem to be putting on their feelings. What am I gonna teach my kids? As an apologist, my knee-jerk reaction was also to grab my computer and start typing refutations with the force of a thousand suns. After poking holes in Christianity, Rhett offered no plausible alternative to explain reality. What he learned in time was that history disconfirms pretty much every major story from the flood of Noah all the way down through the Conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, with things not much improving for the next several books. If you want Continue reading, Origin of Manhood: Every Man is a Theologian. And we dont have to wait a week for the next episodein many cases theres a new upload every single day. I had been pulling on this thread for a really long timeLets call it the sweater of faithI had been pulling on this thread until it had sort of turned into a vestand then a midriffand then a halter tapand now it was a string bikini. Rhett (a.k.a. This week, Faithwire managing editor Dan Andros discussed some of those concerns with editor Tr Goins-Phillips. (Except for a short hiatus after The Karate Kid, when Ralph Macchio was my all in all for a few months.) I cant help but notice the similarities. SUBSCRIBE to Faithwires (free) YouTube channel. When youve mixed with European Christians, This brings us to the salient question. 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'. Several people reached out to me personally, including pastors who reported that the faith of several kids in their youth groups was rocked by the broadcasts, leaving them shaken and doubting. The answer many of us who deconstructed So you "offline mode" it. Would. Link Neal. The stir online is probably exhausting. If youre younger than 30, you likely have a list of favorite YouTube channels that you follow. Ill confess I havent watched a ton of their stuff, but thats mostly because I dont watch much YouTube at all. Mark Spence, a Christian, discusses some controversial subjects with a couple, and they leave once he brings up one topic in particular. Here are nine things you should know about revival and the history of revivals in America. However, celebrity Christian deconversions, or celebrity conversions, actually do matter. Do you think you know more than all these other brilliant people before you? Of course that knife cuts both ways, although the people who say this never do see how it should undermine their own confidence, as well. 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. Living Waters exists to inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics helps Christians show unbelievers the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings. Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln's hosts are known for their comedic viral videos and have gathered an estimated net worth of 30 million dollars. (Tim Challies reviewed the book once upon a time.) Rhett and Link Controversy and Deconstruction Over the years, we learned that YouTubers Rhett and Link had been on staff with Cru, served as missionaries, led Bible studies, and worked with campus ministries. With the precision of a gifted lawyer, he laid out roadblocks to the objections he knew would follow his statements. And then I was like [**fwip**] Im gonna take the bikini off. Rhett and Link have never punched each other in the face. And furthermore, who wants to embrace uncertainty? They never talk about if it's morally wrong, but rather the person expressing who they think they are and who they think they love. Rhett and Link, extremely well-known YouTubers, recently posted videos talking about how they left the faith. Lori calls it guerrilla evangelism, and its a burden shouldered by everyone who knows Jesus. But the same timeworn skepticism the church has interacted with since its inception is given a fresh dose of potency when delivered to a whole new generation by cool and funny guys whove become a fixture of their childhood. This creates a sense of community, in which we come to experience love and loyalty for our favorite YouTube celebrities. When Rhett says hes read all the Ravi Zacharias books and found them uncompelling, the church kid probably wont even bother with more than 30 books, containing decades worth of complex and carefully thought-out arguments that have been tested by time, debate, and rigorous scholarship. 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. your local one size fits all faith is THE faithwell, youre going to be in 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. When I discovered that there were many other aisles in the supermarket that contained delicious spiritual food I was at first nervous and suspicious. No, we are the ones who learn to accept that on our best day, were still mostly grasping at straws. 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. It gives you purpose. Right and wrong? Norman C. Nevin, Theistic Evolution Edited by J.P. Moreland, Stephen C. Meyer, Ann K. Gauger, Wayne Grudem, & Christopher Shaw. Responding to a fan question in 2010, Rhett said that, while they were both Christian, their content is not religious. Rhett seems really reluctant to talk about it, so Scarlett doesn't ask more questions. I jumped into the water. After abandoning a Young Earth view of the cosmos, Rhett wrestled next with the historicity of the rest of the Old Testament (the stuff about Jesus would have to wait till later). Worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate I know what means... To read one didnt ease their concerns over how much emphasis Rhett Link... Dan Andros discussed some of those concerns with editor Tr Goins-Phillips, when I discovered that were... 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why did rhett and link leave christianity