I found an opportunity to create a web site for the final project in one of my seminary courses (Theology & Culture @ Fuller Theological Seminary). I partnered with one of my classmates (Tim Bower) on this project. He had the idea for the site, and I had the web design knowledge. [This was back in January, so clearly, I have been slow in adding to my own blog.)
The site is called “Letters From Leavers.” The goal was to create a web space where people that have left the Christian church may write a letter telling their story of leaving. The site has been far more successful than we dared hope. It has proved to be a valuable resource for anyone researching the decline of the Western church. Although, we do get some traffic from non-Western nations, particularly Latin America.
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Tired
I have found solace in this site. The immediate response of religous people (or any abuser) is to re-direct the anger, pain, and frustration experienced within the church back at the recipient.
There is rarely an honest objective consideration of the grievances that many people who have left churches have. Although they are often if not usually genuine, still they are usually ignored. Church leaders have become so skilled at talking their way out of responsibility that it seems unthinkable that they should actually cop up to these serious heart wrenching issues.
I’m tired of arguing. Tired of being reprimanded for questioning. Tired of losing the battle for dignity, grace, love and respect in the church walls. I don’t know how anyone can reason with someone who uses the authority of God to excuse all of their mess.
So it is nice to have somewhere I can visit with others who love God yet somehow are on the verge of hating church. Not hating the Body of Christ but the organizations that parade themselves as Holy all the while beating and abusing the very people Christ died for.
Freedom from fear, condemnation, shame, abuse is all I want. Not ease, not candy coated sermons, but LIFE. Can we just have life? I want to live.
Oct 17th, 2007
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