.. perhaps part of the problem is the inability to differentiate between being the Church and doing church. Since the most common experience with the Church is within the institutionalised structure of the Church; which some would call the institutional church. And since a lot of the hurts are experienced there, the tendency to equate the institutional church with what the Church actually is would be pretty strong.

Personally, I see that by remaining attached and committed to the institutional church as being still the most effective means of learning to be the Church. Being the Church as in manifesting the fruit of Spirit, in modelling Christ, in discerning God’s will et al. It is in dealing with the redeemed fallen that I learn that I too am fallen and yet graciously redeemed. It also means I have to deal with my own log even as I see the speck in another. Perhaps this is where iron sharpens iron.

Sure we have to deal with folks outside as well .. and arguably, we should be able to develop such Christlikeness as well. But I believe that ultimately the matrix between me, my fellow creation and my Creator is relational. And this relationship is best nurtured in the community that Christ calls us to; ie. His body.

Anyway .. the written word fails me. Let’s have a chat about this some day.

Exactly.

Or should I say, “tragic.”

This is a huge part of why we continue to form communities of Christ followers- not only for the benefit of others, but ourselves. So that we realize and have a chance to live out day in and day out the very idea that we are NOT the highest authority on our own lives- that other people have perspectives we need, and if the only perspective we ever seek or get is from the handful of people that we hang out with regularly… we are in trouble.
Participation in a larger community serves a lot of purposes, but one of the chief ones is that it provides a check and balance in our lives that might otherwise be missing…

anyway, i’m in some sort of a ‘time away from church’ phase myself but there are definitely thoughts here that i could resonate with, especially those below:

- how he refers to the church as a community (however you would like to define it!) rather than the more traditional institutionalised church
- the church is god’s plan A for the world and there’s no plan B!
- the phase of disillusionment, burnout, etc, etc is something to be experienced and eventually moved on from, and not a permanent state!
- time away is not a long term sustaining diet

anyway… thanks for putting this up

may we be one as They are one!

I can’t speak for everyone who left the church, but those of us who left the building will certainly tell you that we have not written off the church. Its one of the most common misconception about us. And many of us are not bitter as the writer alleged, nor are we angry at church. We just decided that to be the church, we shall step out of the IC. It doesn’t work for everyone definitely, and I don’t encourage those who are not ready and who do not support the idea to even take it.

God, I really hate the fact that there’s an “us and them” divide just because we have decided to “do church” in another way.

Some people in the IC just never LISTEN to us. They just have this fixed idea about why we leave and don’t listen to what we have to say. They just assume we just don’t get it, and are bitter yaddayaddayadda.

Perhaps you guys should read this http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/22/40 in which she says:
“The point that I am making is that you will look right past what I myself am telling you, about my own life - my own experiences, thoughts, feelings, and so on - and ignore it, in favor of your own judgments. You will simply dismiss what I have to say, because it will not align with what your church, your Bible, your pastor, and your ego tells you. I am the highest authority on my own life: and you will not realize or believe this.”

If you truly care for the people outside the IC, why not seek out to understand them and get to know them? Instead of having an agenda when talking to us (must convince her to return to church!), just hang out with us and talk.

Until then, I will write a response to the article. That will be fun.