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Can We Still Be Friends?
As one new person joins the church (John) it seems another is leaving (Luke). This is the unspoken way of church service life. To Pastor Moses, it isn’t so important who is in his church services, it’s more about making sure the number of people is either staying the same of growing. So Luke, after seven years of attending Pastor Moses’ church is faced with the shocking reality that his pastor never even knew his name!
Introducing Luke, The Church Leaver
Luke has come to the conclusion that ‘church life’ was never meant to be the way Pastor Moses is trying to program it to be. He wrestled for a long time about this, but finally his couldn’t keep on attending the church in a programmed, institutional way. He was hoping he could stop attending the programs, but still remained connected in relationship with the people. But, unfortunately, he discovered that most of the church members have the mindset of ‘it’s the programmed way or the highway!’ Luke is now on a journey to understand his faith outside of the institutional church.
had the same conversation with somebody earlier today, when Jesus left and gave us the Holy spirit {teacher} , He said “go out and make dissiples” , thats it.. He didnt say “Stay indoors and start a church” or gou out and find the first church you can create a holy ‘click’ inside and shut the doors on anyone outside of your click. nope. plain and simple, “go out and do what i did” . “go out and make dissiples”. end of story. {great commission} not [great congregation].
What I find amusing is this that my fellow leaders/christian friends say “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” when you leave the traditional church. Where were the words of “wisdom” when I was over committed to doing church stuff instead of ministering to my kids/husband? (which was my choice) They weren’t very concerned then!
That’s a very interesting point Diane. It seems that it is often the case that most find it perfectly acceptable for their fellow christian to burn themself into the ground serving the church, but ‘concerning’ when they get out to actually have time to outwork the love and grace of God in their actual, not just church ministry, life.
My good friend joined church staff just as I was considering leaving. The church leadership undermined my family and concealed from me very serious problems my child was going through do to “confidentiality” for several months. My friend went and tried to fix it by getting us all together to make up (he doesn’t understand how authoritarian organizations handle their mistakes)…I warned him that I would be considered an unforgiving bad guy who God wouldn’t bless unless I accepted the situation and stayed. Well after several “surprise” meetings I am now judged as unforgiving. The church leaders declared themselves wrong but apologetic (can’t even speak the word “sorry”) and now righteous. They made a policy change. Now,they want me “healed” and will consider that accomplished only when we return to regular attendance as a family. My good friend now is a Pastorman and he can’t believe I don’t go along with it all anymore. I was once a Pastorman and did this to people. That’s what God has forgiven me of and is showing me a very different way to care for my fellow man. I tried to talk my friend out of being a pastor before he took the job. He just can’t see the evil in the system.
It’s hard when you can see it so plainly and they can’t (yet!)
David, thanks for sharing. It’s a tough situation for sure, but I somehow couldn’t help but laugh at how you kept using the term ‘Pastorman’ in your comment. Are you refering to Pastor Moses’ alter-ego there? You know he has a facebook page too: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pastorman/167556323278878
this is both funny and sad! LOL
It’s so close to the truth – when many have left the institutional church they’ve gone to as far as the church can be concerned it’s like this person doesn’t exist anymore and has fallen off the face of the earth. Of course the church would say “we’ll you stopped attending”, or would consider the ‘luke’ character as ‘backslidden’ – a classic pente term!! I used to hear it all the time at my old megachurch yet i can only find the word used ONCE in the whole bible as far as i know – in Isaiah if i remember – and it was referring to Israel….never in the New Testament!! Cos it’s not possible – God is in US and We in HIm – so ‘backsliding’ isn’t possible!
yeah, I have the feeling Luke will be experiencing ‘becoming non-existent’ to Pastor Moses and the others sometime soon. But your right, not matter what Pastor Moses thinks in all his crazy religious notions, the truth is that God is with us always, even to the end of the age. I think Luke is going to enjoy his journey of faith outside the institution.
Awesome, you’re right. It is impossible to be backslidden. Wow, never put it together. (spell check doesn’t even recognize it as a word.)
Christ is in us! He doesn’t “leave the building.”
So, will we be seeing any more of Luke? I’ve connected with some of my former church folks via FB. That’s where I see everyone. Not close as we once were, but it’s nice.
Yes, you’ll definitely be seeing more of Luke. He is a permanent character in the comic strip, but he won’t be going back to Pastor Moses’ church, rather he will be trying to understand his faith outside of the institution.
My sister left her church recently and was UN friended by many of her church FB friends. I’ve been “backslidden” for a long time now! lol
But of course!
Can we still be friends?
I think Luke can still be friendly towards Pastor Moses – in fact he should, there should be no animosity towards his ex-pastor. But to remain as a friend would imply an acceptance of his methods.
Better for Luke to cut all ties so he can develop the faith that is within him as God leads him in new ways.
I think at the moment Luke is still hoping to keep some connections, but whether that is possible for him is yet to be seen. Luke is a little confused at the moment, but now that he is out of Pastor Moses’ reach perhaps he’ll start seeing things a little clearer.