So my mentor passed this article my way, and it's one that should hit home with every single Christian, church leaders in particular.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/november/27.40.html
You really REALLY need to read that article. One portion I will highlight is this paragraph:
Another unsettling pattern emerged during my interviews. Almost to a person, the leavers with whom I spoke recalled that, before leaving the faith, they were regularly shut down when they expressed doubts. Some were ridiculed in front of peers for asking "insolent questions." Others reported receiving trite answers to vexing questions and being scolded for not accepting them.
This particularly hit home with, and frustrates, me. In fact I remember asking a question when I was in my teens and I had found what seemed to be a contradiction in the Bible. One of the elders in my church basically said "that's why we have to take it on faith". Another church leader gave a reply so hollow I hardly think he believed it himself. If I hadn't persisted in finding a satisfactory answer with my own studies I, but for the grace of God, could have ended up as one of the statistics mentioned in the article.
I hope you take the time to read the article entirely. And if you are a Christian leader, I hope you especially take it to heart. And amongst other things, we need to take peoples' doubts and questions seriously.
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Good work, leaders should do this...
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, it is a strong call for those of un entering parenthood to raise up our children in such a way that they love Jesus, and not necessarily His church.
-Kevin
Sometimes the hardest three words to say are "I don't know". This seems to go especially for church leaders.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you say "I don't know" certain people begin to question your faith, which means you might as well begin to question your paycheque.
So I say "I don't know" as often as I can. Keeps me on my toes - and them on theirs.
Mike, I agree that we need to be honest and answer with 'i don't know' when applicable, but that doesn't mean we can stop there. As church leaders it's our responsibility to go the extra mile to search for the answer that person needs. In my experience, there's often answers out there that most people just don't put the effort into finding. We can't let ourselves be one of those most people.
ReplyDelete