Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Following Truth to Freedom
This morning I noticed that Darin Hufford had a new post on his blog. It talks of friendship and how it works in the church (small "c"). When our family left organized religion several years ago, I was caught off-guard when people who I thought were friends in that particular church made no effort to contact us except for one or two who then made no follow-up calls. I understand a little better now why and how this happens. Darin's post confirms what I had reconciled in my heart to be true about leaving. There is no condemnation in my heart for the church people we left because it's a boat that I have floated in most of my life. You can read his post here.
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3 comments:
mary -
i love darrin hufford...i get on free believer's site all the time!
i am being led to be 'dis-churched'
if that makes sense - separating myself from an ineffectual FORM that isn't focused on God anymore, but kingdom building - their own!
i'm in a yahoo group called "outside the camp" - have you heard of it?
i don't feel so isolated from you anymore...
Mary, I have read the recommended post and found it very insightful. I believe also that one of the reasons that people after you have left no longer contact you (your church friends or brothers/sisters) is because the Pastor has such a tight control of "loyalty" unspoken that they wouldn't dare. One of our friends was contacted directly by the Pastor and said he was told by someone that our friend was communicating to us on Facebook and that he strongly would discourage any communication with us because we were "trouble". Now I know from that comment, similar to what is stated in this blog I read, that the Pastor had taken our leaving personally as rejection. People cannot face rejection and especially pastors. Then the "flock" gathers around the "wounded" hurt pastor who has been rejected and they become more engrained to him than to the Lord. People's identity is often on the church they attend and not their Lord. It tends to serve as a great distraction to the intimacy the Lord wants to have with us personally. I enjoyed reading and want to thank you for being my friend -- and Abraham too. You never know who is reading your wall on Facebook! Ha - Our friend told the Pastor that he didn't think it was his business to tell him who he could have as a friend and that we were his friends and will remain his friends. (By the way, he's a pastor without a church)
Hi Lorna,
Thanks for your comment. There are so many that are doing what you are doing. We've been on this journey for over 2 years now and we are very pleased with our decision. I'll email you.
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