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. We still believe the truth and the opinion of two YouTube comedians cannot change that. They offer videos that present everything from video-game hacks to make-up tutorials to opinions about political and religious issues. But heres the thing; spiritual deconstruction is in many ways just spiritual puberty. And then I was like [**fwip**] Im gonna take the bikini off. .What do you think happens after you die? Right and wrong? That tow-headed heartthrob took my breath away with every episode of the 1980s sitcom Silver Spoons. Rhett says hes lost his appetite for certainty, and I know what he means. 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? the way they had been taught was not the one size fits all that they thought. 4:10). Thats what pushed us out, in the end. I imagine those types of responses will continue to roll in. The same goes for apologetics in general, doesnt it? 4:10). 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. 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? This is what Ive been teaching them. Rhett and Link's collective spiritual deconstruction isn't ultimately a deconstruction of the Christian faith but of Christian subculture. Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity.Visit https://www.LivingWaters.com to view more free Christian videos, articles, and to get tracts and other resources by Ray Comfort and the Living Waters team.FACEBOOKLiving Waters: https://www.facebook.com/lwwotmRay Comfort: https://www.facebook.com/official.Ray.ComfortINSTAGRAMLiving Waters: https://www.instagram.com/livingwatersofficialTWITTERLiving Waters: https://twitter.com/LivingWatersPubRay Comfort: https://twitter.com/RayComfort This led to him jumping ship. 1:24; Col. 4:14). A former church elder with a seminary education, Neil now writes mostly about the struggles of former evangelicals living in the midst of a highly religious subculture. With the YouTube-ification of our culture, though, consumers are connecting not with actors playing characters, but real people who allow them to peek behind the curtain of their lives. I imagine those types of responses will continue to roll in. Every bit helps, and is greatly appreciated. Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. 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. Exvangelicals remember this compulsion well. But as Reformed Evangelicals these werent simply add on beliefs. Im not gonna be scared of the truth. What am I gonna teach my kids? And, think of what the Apostle Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15) where he said that if it isnt true that Jesus rose from the dead, then we need to be pitied more than anyone else. Get resources, podcast episodes, and SWO updates sent directly to your inbox. And, in reality, hes not living that way either. I didnt have the opportunity to open my laptop (they didnt yet exist) or turn on our home computer (we didnt own one), hop on YouTube, and watch my future husband walk me through his breakfast choices, morning drive, and whimsical musings. Rhett and Link met each other way back in Elementary school in North Carolina and theyve stuck together into adulthood, at one time passing through a ministry phase as full-time staffers with Campus Crusade (now called Cru). It was a relationship. What am I gonna teach them now? And when I jumped ship, I didnt jump to another boat. 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. He suggested that if all these apologists and theologians were to recant their stories and change their opinions, their livelihoods would be at stake. Then the format changed. 2. Rhett and Link already know theyll be accused of being arrogant. They acknowledge that Christianity, The apostle Paul identifies his friend Demas as a fellow worker who was with him while imprisoned in Rome (Philem. After having spent years in young adult ministry, Rhett and Link now call themselves "hopeful agnostics." 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. Because of that many former Christians suddenly and unceremoniously find themselves kicked outside the church wondering what just happened (with various levels of resentment and cynicism thrown in). With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. (Except for a short hiatus after The Karate Kid, when Ralph Macchio was my all in all for a few months.) Lover of beans. 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? 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. Its okay to have doubts. Here are nine things you should know about revival and the history of revivals in America. Our cultural moment is a cauldron of information and celebrity worship in which the cult of personality can ferment and grow. It may not be them but the have to obey the labels they are partnered with. Should Christians Embrace Evolution? Its stable. Which means the history matters. 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.. Should we watch it? Theres a good chance the Christian kid who looks up to Rhett (and probably doesnt ever crack open his Bible) will never read those authors now. Celebrity YouTubers Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal have caused a few waves following their collective decision to abandon the Christian faith. Rhett was careful to say he doesnt think these apologists are intentionally deceiving anyone. We have taught breakouts on evolution at camp and there are many good books you can read on the subject that Ill put at the end. 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. Did you know that these entertaining goofballs were once evangelical Christians who specialized in student ministry? This is something Jesus himself said would happenand it will continue to happen until he returns (Matt. This week, Faithwire managing editor Dan Andros discussed some of those concerns with editor Tr Goins-Phillips. (And Im a regular YouTube watcher)But then Rhett & Link appeared suddenly on my radar when their silo crossed over into mine. Now, the debate stops at Rhetts conclusions. No, we are the ones who learn to accept that on our best day, were still mostly grasping at straws. Demas traded eternal hope for earthly treasure. Get your FREE eBook about deconstruction: 'Before You Lose Your Faith'. The sweater of faith. When he jumped the Christian ship, he didnt jump into another boat, but into a sea of uncertainty. His Christianity has been replaced with what he calls openness and curiosity. He describes how liberating its been to let go of the appetite for certainty. To the careful observer, its evident that Rhett has traded in one worldview for another: Christianity for postmodernity, with all its skepticism, denial of absolutes, and relativism. But it wouldnt have shaken my own faith. Around the time I was nursing a wounded ego for being stood up by the Ricky Schroder fan club, Neil Postman made a prediction in his 1985 book, Amusing Ourselves to Death. And furthermore, who wants to embrace uncertainty? He feared that truth would be lost in a sea of irrelevance. Fast forward 35 years to a day replete with a global internet and smartphones, and Postmans words ring with the chill of prophetic accuracy. Ill leave you with Rhetts self-description, since it seems a good place to stop: I would call myself a hopeful agnostic. 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. ), and both have made it abundantly clear that they are 100% pro-homosexuality, and take serious issue with Christianity because of it (I mean it is the 21st century - Helloooo? I found myself identifying with them a lot through experiences from our very similar pasts. 1:24; Col. 4:14). Christians today must be ready to provide a compelling defense for Christand even. (Hold up, before anyone gets upset because I called Rhett and Link non-Christians, and am therefore judging them, these are their words. Certain? Rhett and Link have grown their brand performing hilarious satirical songs and engaging in zany stunts such as duct-taping themselves together, playing wedgie-hangman, crushing glow sticks in a meat-grinder, and flinging bags of dog feces at one another's faces. Welcome to Ohio. How would it affect their revenue streams and net worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate? Living Waters exists to inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. I couldnt check his Instagram for updates every hour or tweet at him with the real possibility he might tweet back. 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. Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. They decided to go get vasectomies together and filmed the experience for a video . 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. YouTube is putting $ behind branding Rhett and Link as talk show hosts. As they mixed with Christians that perhaps Their response has been very interesting; they have lamented this by retorting something like . Mythical Kitchen Why did Rhett and Link leave Christianity?-----Our mission is to create educational content. I want to hear MUCH MORE about this from Link and Rhett. Take Rhett, for example. But when evangelizing, is apologetics helpful or necessary? He was the only one for me. Again, the jumping ship lingo isnt mine, thats from him. 4K Followers. 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. The comment sections of their Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube pages reveal that their stories inspired many atheists and touched the hearts of some folks who experienced similar deconversion journeys, describing the videos as beautiful, candid, and vulnerable.. Or what about morality? 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. Nothing? Actor Rupert Everett, who fell hard for her said: 'Her face had the illusion of beauty, but in fact it was wonky all over. 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. Rhett & Link, best friends since 2 nd grade, currently host one of the most popular YouTube channels on the Internet, Good Mythical Morning. their abandoning their faith. That's why the recent Rhett and Link controversy has been so upsetting. Spotify have songs removed so you will buy them. I cant help but notice the similarities. That is why I read and study. But then on top of all this, adding insult to injury, they keep underestimating the sincerity of our search, which may be the thing that stings the most of all. The answer many of us who deconstructed On the show, the two comedians . Its got a destination. And deal with them now, but dont exchange Christianity with doubts for an empty belief system made solely of doubts. Rhett and Link have grown their brand performing hilarious satirical songs and engaging in zany stunts such as duct-taping themselves together, playing wedgie-hangman, crushing glow sticks in a meat-grinder, and flinging bags of dog feces at one anothers faces. My heart is breaking and my head is spinning in light of the so-called deconstruction of Rhett and Links faith. As part of their healing process, they are all told to declare to the world their reasons for why being a Christian is wrong. They were also Christians, former missionaries, and Campus Crusade (now Cru) staff members. 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