Whether by personal decision, or being forced out, some (or many?) are exiled from the institution of the church.
I did some quick research to see if there are any statistics on Christians leaving the church.
Wanting to know if it really is just SOME, or if it is MANY. (probably many, but...) ???
The search results seemed to indicate that "leaving the church" is viewed as leaving Christianity.
And I suppose leaving "Christianity" (the church) is viewed as "leaving God". (sigh)
Obviously, there are a full spectrum of reasons and outcomes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And the typical knee-jerk reaction of "the church", or "Christianity" is to quote 1 John 2:19 saying:
"... they left us because they were never of us." (ouch) Thus damning the exiles.
Seems that the church is like a hospital that sends their flesh wound patients directly to the morgue. (ouch)
Mostly, I suppose, due to the "our way, or the highway" stance of most churches, and Christianity in general.
And it has to be that way on some level. Nothing like-minded about a doctrinal free-for-all.
It becomes a matter of identity, that can easily devolve into tribalism, and a self-congratulating echo chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway, back to the statistics. The Washington Post had an article about "dechurching",
based on a book written by Jim Davis and Michael Graham. Here's an article quote.
"The study included a survey of 1,043 Americans to determine the scope of dechurching — which was defined as
having attended service at least once a month in the past and now attending less than once a year.
That initial survey found that about 15% of Americans are dechurched." Source
This survey, at least, seems to indicate that the number is SOME, rather than MANY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statistics aside, What does this mean to both INSIDERS and OUTSIDERS.
For OUTSIDERS
Depends on the reasons for exile and the outcome.
Did they leave, or can't "find" a church that "works" for them?
If they left by their own choice, what was the reason?
Doctrinal issues? Being hurt in personal relationships with members or staff?
What happened? And where did it leave them?
Assuming these exiles still have a relationship with God, how has this affected
their relationship with "church-goers" and the "church"? (the institution) What are
they doing to replace what "church" should have been providing for them?
For INSIDERS
What are your views toward the exiles?
How did you treat them before they left, and after?
Did you cut ties with them? Did you shun them?
Might they have left BECAUSE of how you treated them?
Do you bear some responsibility for that?
Curious to hear some OUTSIDER and INSIDER testimonies on this subject.
I did some quick research to see if there are any statistics on Christians leaving the church.
Wanting to know if it really is just SOME, or if it is MANY. (probably many, but...) ???
The search results seemed to indicate that "leaving the church" is viewed as leaving Christianity.
And I suppose leaving "Christianity" (the church) is viewed as "leaving God". (sigh)
Obviously, there are a full spectrum of reasons and outcomes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And the typical knee-jerk reaction of "the church", or "Christianity" is to quote 1 John 2:19 saying:
"... they left us because they were never of us." (ouch) Thus damning the exiles.
Seems that the church is like a hospital that sends their flesh wound patients directly to the morgue. (ouch)
Mostly, I suppose, due to the "our way, or the highway" stance of most churches, and Christianity in general.
And it has to be that way on some level. Nothing like-minded about a doctrinal free-for-all.
It becomes a matter of identity, that can easily devolve into tribalism, and a self-congratulating echo chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway, back to the statistics. The Washington Post had an article about "dechurching",
based on a book written by Jim Davis and Michael Graham. Here's an article quote.
"The study included a survey of 1,043 Americans to determine the scope of dechurching — which was defined as
having attended service at least once a month in the past and now attending less than once a year.
That initial survey found that about 15% of Americans are dechurched." Source
This survey, at least, seems to indicate that the number is SOME, rather than MANY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statistics aside, What does this mean to both INSIDERS and OUTSIDERS.
For OUTSIDERS
Depends on the reasons for exile and the outcome.
Did they leave, or can't "find" a church that "works" for them?
If they left by their own choice, what was the reason?
Doctrinal issues? Being hurt in personal relationships with members or staff?
What happened? And where did it leave them?
Assuming these exiles still have a relationship with God, how has this affected
their relationship with "church-goers" and the "church"? (the institution) What are
they doing to replace what "church" should have been providing for them?
For INSIDERS
What are your views toward the exiles?
How did you treat them before they left, and after?
Did you cut ties with them? Did you shun them?
Might they have left BECAUSE of how you treated them?
Do you bear some responsibility for that?
Curious to hear some OUTSIDER and INSIDER testimonies on this subject.