Producer: Good Mythical Morning. They were getting tired of doing GMM. I was angry at the people who wrote the books. With the precision of a gifted lawyer, he laid out roadblocks to the objections he knew would follow his statements. This channel has made Rhett and Link the fourth highest-earning YouTube stars 3 while reaching audiences around the world. 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. Man, does that feel familiar! When I listened to their journeys from belief to hopeful agnosticism I was shocked at how much this looked like a one-two punch attack against Christianity. For exmaple, you decide you're hooked on a song. These apostles of unbelief are on a mission to help others deconstruct with the same evangelistic zeal they learned from their previous tribe. After poking holes in Christianity, Rhett offered no plausible alternative to explain reality. As an actor playing a character on a TV show, my access was limited. How would it affect their revenue streams and net worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate? I cant help but notice the similarities. Mark Spence, a Christian, discusses some controversial subjects with a couple, and they leave once he brings up one topic in particular. So you "offline mode" it. It would appear that despite how destabilizing and difficult their deconstruction processes were, they no longer, The sad reality is that, for the deconverted, disbelief isnt sufficient. their home town version of Christianity placed on them. Travis Tritt asked the question, but it seems Thomas Rhett knows the answer. But it wouldnt have shaken. And thats no laughing 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. Our media fueled siloed communities dividing us in politics, religion, race, culture, and various interests meant I was totally oblivious to Rhett & Link despite their being YouTube comedy sensations with nearly 17 million subscribers. How Is God Loving if He Allows Suffering. As they mixed with Christians that perhaps Really good analogy. Second, he was troubled by the fact that he needed certainty and couldnt get it. I have read and listened to many atheists over the years who have explained why they didnt believe, but what made Rhett and Links (anti) testimonies so disheartening is the fact that they use much of the same vocabulary to describe their faith as I do. I hope theres something. I love it. 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. Cotton Candy Randy is known to whisper "sweet nothings" in people's ears, but in Rhett's house, where he had a fan going in his room as . 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). I laughed out loud when Rhett talked about engaging people on airplanes by spouting talking points from books byJosh MacDowell and Lee Strobel. We homeschool because the public education system is a liberal conspiracy to brainwash children into believing things like global warning is real. Therefore they had to halt all the crew stuff. On the other hand, we need to be confident in our faith, so we need to listen to what non-Christians say about Christianity. Scarlett had befriended the very people who had destroyed the South. One main issue discussed by them is the problem with LGBTQ and church. That, though, didnt ease their concerns over how much emphasis Rhett and Link seem to be putting on their feelings. 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. They were also Christians, former missionaries, and Campus Crusade (now, When they each recorded videos walking fans through their spiritual-deconstruction stories in February, it shot through the internet like a bolt of lightning. 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. 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. Lori calls it guerrilla evangelism, and its a burden shouldered by everyone who knows Jesus. Its not like hes throwing out the baby with the bathwater, its like hes throwing out the tub and trying to keep the baby and the bathwater intact. your local one size fits all faith is THE faithwell, youre going to be in As it is also, evidently, for the more than 16 million subscribers these guys have accumulated since their show started back in 2012. If I wouldve found out he was a former Christian now identifying as agnostic, it would have broken my heart. I was crushed. Today, Rhett and Link have a net worth of $25 million as of 2021. We've known. In later episodes, Rhett and Link each go into depth describing what led them, ultimately, to deny their earlier faith. How would it affect their revenue streams and net worth to remain faithful Christians in todays cultural climate? Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The answer many of us who deconstructed Demas traded eternal hope for earthly treasure. That said, I sympathize even more with the ones who follow their own consciences out of the fold, in time being accused of every impure motive imaginable. Listening to their podcast you hear the And then my heart broke hearing not only where they are in their faith, but how they have made it easier for others to abandon their belief in God too. 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. To put it bluntly. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. It morphed into doubts surrounding biblical reliability, the historicity of the resurrection, and the general idea of hell and judgment. It morphed into doubts surrounding biblical reliability, the historicity of the resurrection, and the general idea of hell and judgment. Heres the deal, we (at SWO) have gone back and forth on whether or not to address this. Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. The YouTube comedy duo Rhett and Link are well-known for eating bizarre foods, making wacky music videos, and more recently, walking away from the Christian faith. Church is much more varied and diverse than you can imagine yet can all still With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. Its no wonder, then, that every time we turn around there is yet another deconversion story being proffered as the newest ex-evangelical smoking gun. Since the release of their stories, several apologists and scholars have offered sound rebuttals to some of the claims made by Rhett in particular. Alisa Childers is an American singer and songwriter who writes at alisachilders.com, an apologetics blog for doubting Christians and honest skeptics. 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. 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., Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:1416 that through his missionary work, Christ spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of himself. Thats humanism in a nutshell, and I feel the same way. Most recently, of course, is the story of well-known pastor and author Joshua Harris, as well as the Youtube comedians Rhett and Link.. I've written on this phenomenon myself in a number of places, including my recent book, The 10 Commandments of Progressive Christianity, as well as my my article, "The . If you believe in him and love him, he is supposed to be the most important thing you can speak about with anyone you meet. Now, the debate stops at Rhetts conclusions. My advice to Rhett and Link (and borrowing from the Immortal words of Douglas Adams) is Dont Panic; across the Jordan River of spiritual deconstruction exists a promised Land of a deeper, richer, and more beautiful faith in Christ and his Way. I was crushed. What am I gonna teach them now? He says that he wants to raise his kids to believe in right and wrong, but he doesnt have a standard for it. Maybe youre just checking to make sure a bolt of lightning wont immediately strike you the moment you do. I would also love to hear somethinganythingfrom their wives about how they experienced the transition out of the faith while still remaining intact as a family. He was the only one for me. 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. And, in reality, hes not living that way either. She Leaves Once This Christian Brings Up This Topic. Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. 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. When Scarlett was seen in Ashley's arms at the saw mill she knew. They loved not the things of the world, but repented of their sin and put all their hope and trust in him. With guest appearances on The TODAY Show, Live with Kelly, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, their stars have been rising for the past few years, swelling their net worth to an estimated $23 million. 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. No one that I was in personal contact withpastors, Christian friends, elders in the churchnone of them disappointed me or let me down. Meaning I dont know, but I hope. Aside from the fact that most apologists have day jobs, this leads to a fair question: what would, stand to lose if they didnt capitulate to culture on an issue like same-sex marriage? Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. I dont know. Rhett and Link have never punched each other in the face. Lets keep this conversation going, please. Since the release of their stories, several apologists and scholars have offered sound rebuttals to some of the claims made by Rhett in particular. 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. fear that if they stopped believing in this How is my marriage going to stay together? Rhett & Link preempt their critics Its got a destination. I never got a reply. I might get a new episode once a week if I was lucky. Exvangelicals remember this compulsion well. I often joke that most of the people I 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. When I discovered that there were many other aisles in the supermarket that contained delicious spiritual food I was at first nervous and suspicious. Gods in control. And I want to say that because Ive noticed that when I tell my story, often people kind of conclude that I was never a true Christian. It didnt take long before quickly discovering these two were not some boys who got saved at some church youth camp alter call and then used their new found Christianity merely as a buttress against sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll after that. Read what Steve Ham has to say on this subject. 1:24; Col. 4:14). This is how we know what there is to know about Jesus. Maybe YouTube said "we want to get behind you and do such and such but it has to be about Rhett and Link, not random crew members". ). stand to lose if they didnt capitulate to culture on an issue like same-sex marriage? 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. If it can make something, can it make everything? Rhett and Link aren't going to church either way. It was a relationship. If youre younger than 30, you likely have a list of favorite YouTube channels that you follow. Right and wrong? 1) Deconstructing Statements of Faith is not the same as Deconstructing Faith itself When Jesus called his disciples he simply said, "Follow Me". It isnt the skeptics who crave constant assurances were on the right track. My heart is breaking and my head is spinning in light of the so-called deconstruction of Rhett and Links faith. 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. We still believe the truth and the opinion of two YouTube comedians cannot change that. 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. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they became convinced that Christianity is true as they gazed deeply at Christs beauty. 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. 4:10). While their degrees and first jobs were in engineering, funny video production ultimately became their claim to fame. 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. Back in seminary they warned us that the world out there hates truth, and wants to be free to create their own reality. ), but he cant escape the fact that he is an image-bearer of God, living in Gods world. I jumped into a sea of uncertainty. This implies that they are, in fact, deceiving people. had a broader perspective on certain subjects it freed them to consider that often suggest the real reason is so they can succumb to a life of sin, I find That was one of the hardest pills for me to swallow, too. Rhett James McLaughlin) and Link (a.k.a. Try the whole world. Could it be that the cultural influences driving these, Rhett was careful to say he doesnt think these apologists are intentionally deceiving anyone. avenge the attack on Scarlett that day. The LGBTQ agenda is the new master who takes no prisoners. To lose that community is a pretty scary thought. 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. All their YouTube Channels have a good amount of engagement, subscribers, and views as a result of their engaging content. Watch the rest of their discussion in the video above, and read Goins-Phillips story on Rhett and Link here. Im not gonna be scared of the truth. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Did you know that these entertaining goofballs were once evangelical Christians who specialized in student ministry? A Christians Response to the Deconstructed Faith of YouTubers Rhett and Link. Melanie then asks for coffee and sandwiches. I couldnt check his Instagram for updates every hour or tweet at him with the real possibility he might tweet back. I quickly downloaded and submerged myself into Rhett and Links respective stories (which you can also see on YouTube here and here). When I was 11, I only had the opportunity to see Ricky Schroder once a week. (Except for a short hiatus after The Karate Kid, when Ralph Macchio was my all in all for a few months.) One can believe in a literal Adam OR that Adam is a metaphor and still follow Jesus. None of this is brand new; its been around for years and years and years.. or that could they even still call 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? Get your FREE eBook about deconstruction: 'Before You Lose Your Faith'. But as both Rhett and Link recounted, there was something brewing underneath the intellectual questions. What about the beginning? (And Im a regular YouTube watcher)But then Rhett & Link appeared suddenly on my radar when their silo crossed over into mine. Ill leave you with Rhetts self-description, since it seems a good place to stop: I would call myself a hopeful agnostic. Rhett and Links deconstruction journey frequently mentioned the struggle they felt as they began to hold long held beliefs to the fire. Should Christian Parents Send Their Children to Public Schools? But when evangelizing, is apologetics helpful or necessary? Mythical Kitchen Why did Rhett and Link leave Christianity?-----Our mission is to create educational content. As far as Im concerned, Jesus was as real to me as he possibly could be without physically manifesting himself in my presence. 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. Please make sure all fields are filled out. Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. Explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to in. 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