How do we respond to a former Protestant pastor leaving his position of leadership to travel the country spreading his new atheistic message of skepticism and disbelief?
Bitterness? It's inclusion as a news story is clearly meant to send the message that people are finding hope and meaning outside of religion, particularly Christianity.
Sorrow? It's hard to imagine the pain and betrayal running through the congregation he abruptly abandoned.
Elation? The church does not want or need a guy like this leading anyways.
Hard truth? While we do not know the true status of this man's heart (or the others like him), the reality is he was never in Christ in the way the Bible depicts.
Anger? It's not enough for the individual to leave, he feels it is necessary to make a cause out of it portraying people like himself as victims of Christianity's abuse.
While all of these are warranted and justifiable to a degree, what if we embrace a level of sympathy for individuals such as these? Sympathy?
By sympathy I am not suggesting we ignore the blatant sin, rebellion, and arrogance on display. This man was a leader of God's people and as such will be judged accordingly for his conduct (James 3:1). Therefore, we should be moved to pray for him and call him to repentance because no one is too far from the grace of God through Christ.
But by sympathy, I look at the areas where this former leader doubted, wrestled, and finally submitted to his doubts. Hell. Unanswered prayer. Suffering. How many of us have never entertained doubts regarding any one of (if not all) of these difficult issues? I will admit that there are times when the reality of hell seems cruel and excessive. Prayers which seem to go unanswered do challenge my trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. The immense suffering running rampant in our broken world, while explainable because of our sin, is not always easy to reconcile with a sovereign, loving, and merciful God.
Unfortunately for these individuals, the church is not a place where they feel welcomed to wrestle with these doubts. That is an indictment on the individual, the church, and/or both parties. In some cases, our own pride prevents us from sharing our doubts with our brothers and sisters. We think we have to understand everything perfectly in order to feel accepted. In other cases, the culture of a church does not allow for such doubts to arise. Immediately, church discipline is called for and the "rebel" is dealt with swiftly and quietly, or they are simply told to work it out on their own through prayer and study (which are good, but void of the involvement of God's people). Or, as is probably most often the case, there is a combination of the two. Pride in the form of the fear of looking weak and a self-righteous church culture create the perfect mix for conceding to doubt.
Doubt is not the fate of God's people. Faith is not a mask hiding our own self-deception and salvation is not found in disbelief (which this man suggests in a quote from the article). Yes, God's thoughts and ways are far above our own, and we will never understand everything we desire. Faith is required. But along with faith, God gives wisdom to those who ask. We find it through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. We have no bearing on the first two.
But as God's people, let us be a place where doubters (including ourselves) can come and share without the fear of ridicule and condemnation. And let us be a place where grace and compassion are poured out, wisdom is found, and victory in Christ is displayed.
Bitterness? It's inclusion as a news story is clearly meant to send the message that people are finding hope and meaning outside of religion, particularly Christianity.
Sorrow? It's hard to imagine the pain and betrayal running through the congregation he abruptly abandoned.
Elation? The church does not want or need a guy like this leading anyways.
Hard truth? While we do not know the true status of this man's heart (or the others like him), the reality is he was never in Christ in the way the Bible depicts.
Anger? It's not enough for the individual to leave, he feels it is necessary to make a cause out of it portraying people like himself as victims of Christianity's abuse.
While all of these are warranted and justifiable to a degree, what if we embrace a level of sympathy for individuals such as these? Sympathy?
By sympathy I am not suggesting we ignore the blatant sin, rebellion, and arrogance on display. This man was a leader of God's people and as such will be judged accordingly for his conduct (James 3:1). Therefore, we should be moved to pray for him and call him to repentance because no one is too far from the grace of God through Christ.
But by sympathy, I look at the areas where this former leader doubted, wrestled, and finally submitted to his doubts. Hell. Unanswered prayer. Suffering. How many of us have never entertained doubts regarding any one of (if not all) of these difficult issues? I will admit that there are times when the reality of hell seems cruel and excessive. Prayers which seem to go unanswered do challenge my trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. The immense suffering running rampant in our broken world, while explainable because of our sin, is not always easy to reconcile with a sovereign, loving, and merciful God.
Unfortunately for these individuals, the church is not a place where they feel welcomed to wrestle with these doubts. That is an indictment on the individual, the church, and/or both parties. In some cases, our own pride prevents us from sharing our doubts with our brothers and sisters. We think we have to understand everything perfectly in order to feel accepted. In other cases, the culture of a church does not allow for such doubts to arise. Immediately, church discipline is called for and the "rebel" is dealt with swiftly and quietly, or they are simply told to work it out on their own through prayer and study (which are good, but void of the involvement of God's people). Or, as is probably most often the case, there is a combination of the two. Pride in the form of the fear of looking weak and a self-righteous church culture create the perfect mix for conceding to doubt.
Doubt is not the fate of God's people. Faith is not a mask hiding our own self-deception and salvation is not found in disbelief (which this man suggests in a quote from the article). Yes, God's thoughts and ways are far above our own, and we will never understand everything we desire. Faith is required. But along with faith, God gives wisdom to those who ask. We find it through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. We have no bearing on the first two.
But as God's people, let us be a place where doubters (including ourselves) can come and share without the fear of ridicule and condemnation. And let us be a place where grace and compassion are poured out, wisdom is found, and victory in Christ is displayed.
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