Overview
This episode of the Candace Cameron Bure podcast features Candace, her son Lev, and guest co-host Jonathan Pokluda discussing faith deconstruction, reconstruction, personal testimonies, and practical Christian living, along with addressing listener questions on prayer and doubt.
Sponsor Highlights
- Adele Natural Cosmetics offers clean, chemical-free beauty products with luxurious packaging and high quality.
- Mr. Pen provides Bible-friendly pens and highlighters designed not to bleed through thin pages.
- Grand Canyon University promotes Christian education and personal transformation.
Family and Career Balance
- Candace took a 10-year break from acting to stay home with her children, while her husband traveled for hockey.
- They tried to ensure one parent was mostly present, but found balancing work and family challenging.
- Different children have different needs for parental presence at events.
- Shared personal stories about meeting and marrying their spouses, including faith journeys.
Faith Deconstruction and Reconstruction
- Deconstruction is often rooted in doubt, influenced by upbringing, legalism, and personal hurt.
- Reconstruction requires identifying a source of truth, ideally the Bible, and building faith from foundational beliefs.
- Versions of the Bible differ mostly in sentence structure, not in core messages.
- Emphasized the need to rebuild after questioning, rather than staying in skepticism.
Doubt and Intellectual Struggles
- Doubt can be triggered by philosophical and intellectual arguments or biblical contradictions.
- Encourage identifying specific doubts or questions and using available resources to seek answers.
- Shared that smart, credible people disagree on theological points, requiring individual study and decision-making.
Community and Relationships
- Surrounding oneself with people of similar beliefs is crucial for faith development.
- Parents are encouraged to guide their children's friendships for positive influence.
- Joining a Bible-teaching church and engaging in community helps support faith.
Addressing Legalism and Church Hurt
- Legalism is adding rules to scripture and making them universal, often leading to disillusionment.
- Hurt is caused by individuals within the church, not the institution as a whole.
Practical Advice for Reconstructing Faith
- Establish the Bible as a trustworthy source and foundation.
- Expect to encounter teachings that may challenge personal habits but remain focused on gospel essentials.
- Engage with believers, join a church, and use one's gifts in service.
Listener Q&A: Prayer After Loss
- Prayer is about relational connection with God, not only requests.
- It’s possible that prayers for a loved one’s salvation were answered in unknown ways.
- We cannot know another's final moments, but remain hopeful and faithful in sharing the gospel.
Action Items
- TBD – Listeners: Consider sources of truth and identify foundational beliefs for faith reconstruction.
- TBD – Parents: Be intentional in guiding children’s friendships and saying “no” when necessary.
- TBD – Listeners: Use resources like gotquestions.org, karmm.org, and probe.org to address faith-related doubts.
- TBD – Church Seekers: Find and join a church that teaches the Bible and encourages active participation.
- June 24 (pre-order available now) – Interested readers: Order Candace’s devotionals “100 Days of Joy and Strength” and “Rise and Renew”.
Recommendations / Advice
- Identify and address specific doubts rather than remaining in general confusion.
- Don’t isolate after deconstruction—seek community, mentorship, and reliable resources.
- Build relationships with believers to support reconstruction and spiritual growth.