i am intrigued this evening reading these letters from people that have left church (www.lettersfromleavers.com). andrew brought light to this website over the weekend (i'm just now catching up). it is a sight devoted to helping people tell their story of why they left the Christian church.
it is not big news to know people are not flocking to the church. it is not big news to acknowledge that many folks are hurt from the church. i know we can't fathom why people get bent out of shape from doctrine issues, but they do. those are some of the many, common/usual, reasons people claim for needing out of the church. me, i find it sad reading some of the stories.
i find myself saying things like, "oh, poor you." "i wish someone to show you grace." "ew, that's bad." "i'd leave too."
After a couple of month of studying I went to my preacher and asked him to explain a few things. He said the same thing my parents told me when I was twelve. “You need to have faith.” This time I was not convinced.
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I had the usual hurts perpetuated by church members, the “good” Christians..I was never good enough. I had three “illegitimate” children, afterall. No “good” man would ever want me.
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As a christian I was frustrated with those other christians around me. They didn’t really understand what christianity was really about. It’s more than going to church on sunday, bowing your head with the pastor prays, and clapping your hands when everyone else does. It’s supposed to be a personal relationship with jesus christ. So I left the church behind and went to discover this relationship on my own.
i don't know what to "do" with this. i know many of the folks, that i have read, claim logical processes for their decisions, so who am i to demean by saying their logic is ill or flawed. plus, i don't feel this is how one brings people to a relationship with Christ. i offer that we should read these stories, find a place of relationship with these people as there is someone amongst you that is that/this person. pray for that person that the Holy Spirit will move in them. pray that the Holy Spirit will move in you when a time comes to encounter this/that person and story.
