I had never heard of Rhett and Link—the duo behind Good Mythical Morning (their daily YouTube show with more than 16 million subscribers) and Ear Biscuits (their podcast)—until a few weeks ago when I learned of their public deconversion story, where they shared about how they went from Cru staffers and missionaries to unbelievers—or, as Rhett now describes himself, a “hopeful agnostic.” While deconversion stories are nothing new in our secular age—most recently Jen Hatmaker (who still describes herself as a Christian) and Joshua Harris (who doesn’t)—it seems we’re entering a new normal in which the Christian faith is increasingly implausible. According to Rhett, “If I don’t have to believe [Christianity], then why would I?”

Of course, apostasy is nothing new. Jesus himself warned of it: “Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:12–13). From Demas (2 Tim. 4:10) to Hymenaeus and Philetus (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17), the early church was riddled with those who abandoned the faith they once professed (1 John 2:19). We should be saddened, but we shouldn’t be surprised. Why, then, are so many of us unsettled?

For some believers, watching this phenomenon play out on social media is discouraging. It’s especially dispiriting for young people—and whole families—who follow and enjoy the antics of Rhett and Link. To help process, we asked Alisa Childers to help deconstruct this latest deconversion story.