Reason #8

I left the church because it was often assumed that everyone in the congregation voted for Republicans. 


(15 Reason I Left the Church - Rachel Held Evans) 


I have to confess - back in the late 1980's while I was working as a locksmith - I listened to Rush Limbaugh on a regular basis.  I could say that the locksmith van only had a "AM" radio and it was the only station I could pick up, but the reality is I enjoyed it.  I have never really had a great desire to be involved in politics, but I guess I was a Republican for a few years.  I think it all changed for me when a particular president and congress were both in power and from the republican party and I like many other Christians thought - "Okay, now things might really change."  I really had put my hope in the political system of the Republican party, only to hit the wall of reality.  Nothing really changed like I thought I was promised it would.  God really spoke to me about the reality that I must put my hope and trust in Christ alone, not a political party.  


I believe it is a good thing to have Christian politicians in office.  
I believe we are called to pray for every authority! 
I believe many people will always have strong political views and opinions and be a part of the church.  
I believe there is hope for the United States of American, but I no longer believe our hope will be in our political system.  Spiritual renewal and revival starting with the youth of the Body of Christ is our only hope.  
I believe it is in the best interest for the church to keep our political opinions at home!  The Bible reminds us to avoid pointless and divisive arguments.  We surely have better things to talk about as the Body of Christ than to talk about politics. 


Paul reminded Timothy and us that "our hope is in the living God.." (1 Timothy 4:10)   

Reason #7

7. I left the church because I didn’t want to be anyone’s “project.”  (Rachel Held Evans) 

I began to listen to Coldplay when I heard the song - Fix You.  Sure it is a great song for many reasons, but what a great message for life.  How many times has it been my desire to fix what broken in my family, friends and even in my own life.  What a natural desire for us to want to be someone who could fix someone else.  

Followers of Christ have a huge temptation in this area.  Jesus has so helped transform our hearts and lives that it is natural for us to want that for other people.  But the problem comes when we forget that it is God who is the one and only mediator between God and people.  (1 Timothy 2)   God is the healer!  God is the one who can fix the broken heart!  I may at time get to play a small role in God's plan to heal and or fix things, but it is only because the Holy Spirit of God lives in me.  

Followers of Jesus must invest their lives in other people.  It is our calling!  It is our purpose!  But we must realize that people are not our projects, they are God's projects.  We are called to love people and be an example of God's incredible grace and mercy.  I believe this shows up most if we are unwilling to continue down a path of friendship with someone who does not follow Jesus.  If you invest in someone because of the love of God is calling you, then you will continue to love them even if they never come to your church or never get any closer to God.  If they are your project, you will get frustrated with their lack of progress and you will quit investing in them.  If they are your project you will somehow try and take credit if God does transform their hearts and lives.  

We are called to love like Jesus - learning to love others unconditionally.  

Reason #6

I left the church because sometimes I doubt, and church can be the worst place to doubt.
Rachel Held Evans

The church should be the best place to doubt and to bring your doubts to fellow doubters who either do doubt or did process through some doubt at some point in their journey.  But the reality is we have created a climate in the church that says you should never doubt.  Never bring honest and open feelings up even in a small group setting.  If you do, people look at you funny.  They might snicker or laugh.  Somehow we are effective in communicating if you have serious doubts take them somewhere else.

I believe that people in the church have convinced themselves that doubting is evil and wrong.  Don't be like Thomas and doubt.  Thomas doubted that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and he refused to believe until he saw Jesus and felt his scars.  And there is a place where doubt will hinder our faith, but there is also a place where the Spirit of the Lord can help us transform our doubts into faith.  This may never happen if we don't have a place to acknowledge and deal honestly with our doubts. 

Sometimes our spiritual pride has kept us from dealing with our own deep down doubts about God and the meaning of life.  God longs for us to humble ourselves and to get so close to a group of fellow believers that we are willing to deal with these doubts.  But if we would rather keep up our spititual reputation and false image, we will never deal with our own doubt and we can never help others deal with their doubts.

Embrace your questions and doubts!  Take them to God and to a few trusted friends!