So in previous posts, I made it clear I\u2019m unconventional and disagree with some policies. A process I would describe as coming to a testimony of an imperfect church. I\u2019ve expressed a few disagreements, but also wanted to share some of the reasons why I believe very strongly that the church is where I should be, where I should try to help others to stay, and a good place to expend my efforts.<\/p>\n
The biggest reason is simply \u201cbecause God told me so,” or spiritual experiences. As a middle-aged dude, this had been a journey and a process, and \u201cstudy and faith\u201d (my series on the other blog) has been both enlightening and challenging.<\/p>\n
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And this has led me to my current views: I see the church as good, great even, where God wants me to be, but differently than our more standard narrative. I\u2019ve come to view the church more like I said in the comment on my first post (at 2:35)<\/a>: a lot more trial and error involved in decisions and leaders capable of error both in the past and currently.<\/p>\n I do not view the things I consider error as egregious to the point that I consider the leaders malicious charlatans who\u2019s church I need to escape. Instead I view them as understandable mistakes akin to the ones I make that are opportunities to learn and grow.<\/p>\n As a result, I do not feel the need to defend all policy decisions as perfect, but I also don\u2019t feel the need to attack things that I have a problem with as abhorrent.<\/p>\n And I believe the church has a culture and doctrine that are truly wonderful. Thus I would say to anyone who might say that my unorthodox take is problematic (that\u2019s fine for people to think that!) and that I ought to leave (disagree!) what Erasmus said to Luther when Luther tried to get Erasmus to leave Catholicism for Lutheranism. Erasmus didn\u2019t like Luther’s doctrine, so told Luther, \u201cI will therefore stick with this church (Catholicism) until I see a better one.\u201d<\/p>\n That in many ways is how I feel about my options as well. I often have a lot of frustrations in the church, but don\u2019t very much like the other options I see (don\u2019t mean to get into a fight here with those choosing other options, just sharing my opinion).<\/p>\n I\u2019ve come to believe, like a number of other social commentators, that our society is facing a huge problem of \u201catomization,\u201d or individuals and families separating from community and organizations, and sort of being \u201catoms\u201d to themselves. Atomization, such experts say, is leading to increasing isolation, loneliness, frustration, and anger especially in men. So while heading out the door has occasionally been tempting, I don\u2019t believe that it would be better for me, my family, or society.<\/p>\n I do very much believe that the church community and lifestyle is just about the best there is around. Or maybe actually THE best, but I know that\u2019s not really something one can prove. And yet, I love this quote from John Dehlin a couple of summers ago in his interview with Rick Bennett<\/a>. (at around 2 hours 19 minutes).<\/p>\n \u201cIs there healing and growth and happiness? [outside of the church] Yes. Is there a system that\u2019s as packaged to provide people with identity, meaning, purpose, spirituality, community, friendships, resolution about the afterlife? Is there a package that you could just drop into, live it, raise your kids in it and have a community and blossom from it? No.\u201d<\/p>\n I agree, so again, this is where I want to be and plan to stay unless God says otherwise.<\/p>\n