Deconstruction isn’t new — but it’s a term that has become much more popular in recent years and can have varied meanings in different contexts.

Today, deconstruction often refers to people doubting religious beliefs they once thought to be true. It can lead some to question religious institutions, church leadership, and even the Bible itself. In an age of constant communication, many of these doubts often end up online or on social media, causing many young people to question their own beliefs.

The late teen years into early adulthood is a crucial, formative time in life. As a college president, I’ve seen how impactful faith can be during this season. I believe it’s important for us to help young adults work through their doubts and questions in a healthy, honest, and Christ-centered way. But how?

Below are three ways to support Generation Z members as they work out their faith.

Don’t Fear the Process

The idea of deconstruction often makes people nervous, especially when it comes to the Bible and the Christian faith. Many people feel that questioning the Bible and core Christian traditions leads to doubt and ultimately leaving the faith. However, deconstruction is not always a negative thing.

Taking personal ownership of our faith is a natural part of our relationship with Christ. Doing so involves evaluating what we believe and why we believe it, which does not always lead to deconversion, but rather, reconstructing a deeper faith in Christ and His Word.

Make yourself available to young adults when they have questions and ask them questions of your own. Invite them to share their doubts and concerns with you. What are they struggling with? What personal experiences have led them to feel this way? Share some of your own struggles, and how working through them drew you closer to Christ.

Encourage young people to talk with mentors and family members who can answer tough questions and point them to the truth. By encouraging conversation, you’ll help open the doors for future discussion and allow them to continue growing in their faith.

Encourage Bible Research

It’s essential we don’t discourage young adults from questioning the Bible or wanting to dig deeper into its meaning. Rather, we need to encourage them to discover the depth of God’s Word for themselves, just as the Berean Jews of Acts 17:11 “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

I believe it’s important for us to help young adults work through their doubts and questions in a healthy, honest, and Christ-centered way.

Encourage Gen Zers to research the Bible, both from a historical and a theological perspective. Invite them to explore the original language lexicons, how the different translations were written over the centuries, and how the Bible aligns with historical record. Not all sources are equal, so it’s important for us to mentor our young adults and guide them to credible and theologically sound resources.

Above all, we must allow the Bible to stand for itself. We need to keep our confidence in God’s Word and believe it is what it claims, living and active, and able to stand on its own as the absolute truth — and encourage our young adults to do the same.

Have the Hard Conversations

Are your Gen Zers having doubts about their personal faith, the Bible, Christianity, other Christians, religion, or church culture? It’s important to create a safe, non-judgmental space where students feel comfortable expressing their doubts by being empathetic and understanding.

Whatever they’re struggling with, it’s crucial to be open and honest, especially when addressing their concerns about the Church. It may be our first instinct to try to deny, justify, or cover up the failings of the Church, church leadership, and even Christian celebrities. However, it’s important that we acknowledge these shortcomings and discuss them with our young adults.

It’s OK (and even healthy) to make the distinction between what Christ calls the Church and church leadership to be, and how we fall short of that calling because of sin. Explain to your young adults that it’s the same when we fail — we all sin and need to seek forgiveness from God and each other. Remind them that we all fall short of the glory of God; but that doesn’t change who Christ or God is, or what He calls the church to be.

It’s crucial we stay rooted in the Word when helping our Gen Zers work out their faith and continue to invite Christ into our conversations. Be a listening ear to young adults who may be struggling, and don’t immediately try to counter their arguments or answer their questions.