People
coming to faith in Christ, people walking away from their faith, people out-growing
the version of church or Christianity they grew up with, people exploring, people
opting out; none of these things are new or novel. What perhaps is, in our
contemporary Christian context, is the publicized advent of these events. Especially
when one considers the obsession (at least in some quarters) for a glamorous
and alluring type of Christianity modeled cat-walk style in mega-churches. One
that celebritizes singers, songwriters, and preachers, who themselves then curate
social-media profiles followed by thousands (and hundreds of thousands). When
folk such as this step away from their faith it becomes a press-release
statement, as much a stage-based moment as their Christian ministry has been.
In
recent weeks we’ve had a couple of these publicized announcements followed by
the inevitable reactions one would expect in the world of social-media and in the
world of consumer-Christianity publishing. I know none of these folks
personally and have no desire to judge them or pass comment on their particular
journeys. With all sincerity I wish them Godspeed as well as God’s grace and
peace. I have my own beliefs that it is in God that we (them included) live and
move and have our being, and that the declaration of the Hebrew psalmist in Psalm
139:7-12 (see below) is as true for them as for anyone else; where can I flee from
Your presence?
I
do, however, want to highlight a couple of reasons one of these folks offered
for calling time on the Christian faith and make some brief comments. Part of
their Instagram post read…
“How many
preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it. How many miracles happen? Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the
Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet
send four billion people to a place [hell], all ‘coz they don’t believe? No one
talks about it. I am not
in anymore. I want genuine truth. Not the ‘I just believe it’ kind of truth.”
No one talks
about it. Really? He’s mis-read the situation, surely? What bubble of the
Christian world does he live in? Everyone is talking about these things! Aren’t
they? Actually, not everyone is talking about these things. In certain contemporary
church contexts ‘deeper’ issues of theology are rarely talked about. A clear statement
of faith is produced that defines the boarders and discussion is dismissed.
I can
well imagine this Christian minster feeling the need for robust conversations (very
robust conversations) to be had in relation to each of these topics – over coffee,
in church staff meetings, and in Sunday morning sermons – but finding that they
are never addressed. They’re not glamorous topics that build organisation
momentum or inspire people to greatness, so they are put to the side. As well, they
are complicated topics and for many Senior Pastors (especially CEO types) fall
in the ‘too hard’ basket. But for many people these are big issues that pastors
in every context must address. Calling people to ‘just believe it’ isn’t enough.
In his
book ‘A Churchless Faith,’ pastor and writer Alan Jamieson, points out that
people who leave the Church have, on average, been congregants for sixteen
years with 94 percent having been leaders. These people are not slackers who
leave because they have been offended; rather they leave because of meta grumbles
– deep rooted questions about the foundations of faith itself which are not being
addressed.
Obviously,
this is problematic. Left unaddressed, or worse when they are suppressed (which
happens all too often), these issues become destabilizing. At best folk perceive
the Church to have taken them as far in their faith journey as she can and opt
out of a localized Christian community. Alternatively, they opt out of faith altogether.
Pastors
(and everyone else), questions,
doubts, suspicions and uncertainty are part-and-parcel of authentic
Christianity. In fact, it is almost inevitable that there will come a season
where these things serve as the primary catalyst for spiritual growth in one’s
journey of following Jesus. What’s unfortunate is that the modern church
doesn’t always make space for people to doubt or to question or to be
suspicious. Organisational church growth tends to require unwavering commitment
to the vision, the values, the mission and the culture of ‘the house.’ This
tends to mean cultivating an environment of momentum, alignment, excitement and
anticipation; an ‘atmosphere of faith.’ The demand therefore tends to be for
uniformity and conformity. This becomes a pretty challenging context in which
to ask big questions about faith, the nature of the church, Christian
spirituality and what it means to follow Jesus. Questions and doubts can be
wrongly interpreted as a “lack of faith,” “a bad attitude,” “divisive,” or even
a clear indicator that someone is “backsliding.” This is problematic on so many
levels. No topic should be off-limits, and space needs to be made to address
the theological issues that are being wrestled with in our contemporary context. (You can read more on this here).
Pastors (and everyone
else), if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to thinking through some
of these topics – have a look at these links. On miracles, this or this. On hell, this, or this, or this. On suffering this. On the Bible this, or this, or this.
Finally, I think it is
worth pointing out that what inevitably becomes a kind of minor Christian celebrity
status for gifted singers, songwriters and preachers who are privileged (or
perhaps inappropriately burdened) by the bright lights and big crowds of the
main stage needs to be carefully managed. And by carefully managed I don’t mean
stage managed by an artist development liaison officer; I’m talking about
robust pastoral care. Most young singers, songwriters, and preachers promoted
to the main stage are aware that they are their based on their gifts, talents
and abilities rather than character, ministry experience and faithfulness to a
long obedience in the same direction. Pastoral care is required in order to
ensure their holistic development. But more is required than the character
development championed by the adage ‘gifting will get you there, but character
will keep you there.’
Character development is
good, but more is required than gifts and character. Vocational Christian
ministry needs to be appreciated as a professional vocation as it historically was
(along with medicine and law). Too often though, professional contemporary church
ministry parallels professional sport, a paid profession where skill and
natural attributes bring you into the role. Instead (without discounting skill
and natural attributes) it should be appreciated as a profession where
professional training brings you into the role – theological training, professional
ethics, a body or required knowledge etc. This won’t fix everything, but it should
give rise to vocational Christian ministers more than capable of navigating issues
such as those highlighted by this recent Christian minister opting out. Instead
he’d be able to help others navigate these topics.
*Psalm
139:7-12. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from
your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if
I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the
wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me
fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the
light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to
you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as
light to you.
