"I have renounced my Christianity"

Hi Jim, I think you make an excellent point. While I think that some ebb and flow is natural, I also think that there is an opportunity here. Good call to ask the why? & my response is to ask the what do we do about it? Have the featured bloggers been regular in their blogging?

what unites people in their dis-satisfaction?

Jesus invitation to his disciples was most eloquently stated in the simple invitation "Follow Me" It seems so basic, and when it's just Jesus and the 12 seemed to be pulled off quite well. Some disputes, some grumbling, a few misunderstandings, and one betrayal, but quite effective. Centuries later, many have lost track of Jesus footsteps, and move along rather in a group. Indeed, Christians often find it easier to follow Paul, who gives more clear direction, sets goals, and often seems his journey as a race. Given the technological changes in society, the church is now a mass movement in a hurry, attempting to herd people along the same path. Obviously not room enough for everyone in one group, so we split up, and compete against each other for the best route to the finish line. I used to speak of this as the rancher model of Christianity, rather than the Shepherd model, where a smaller group listens for the shepherds voice, follows him in paths of safety, and often wanders around the area he rest within and are called back together by his voice.

The efficiency of the modern church model tends toward a bland, driven, herded and haggard group. Like cattle driven across miles of desserts, we speak of danger everywhere and enemies. What grass is there is quickly taken and eaten in a run, but most simply trampled underfoot, the landscape behind us scarred and barren. The shepherd with his flock, travel slowly, often returning to favorite spots, resting securely in the protection of the shepherd. They leave behind better pastures, and paths than they found, and feel secure on the path.

The Biblical image is the shepherd. The American model the cattle drive. The cattle drive fits the technological society in which we live. Many have crossed paths with the church, only to be left behind in a scarred barren trail, hungry and injured by the rapidly moving hoard which passed them by. Ironically, although our situation parallels that on Jesus portrayed in the gospels, we are surprised when the respected, the powerful and the secure do well without involvement with Jesus. They neither hear nor heed his invitation to follow me, but race along with the herd to get ahead and finish first. The poor, the sick, the blind, the lame, the oppressed and imprisoned -- these hear the voice of Jesus. Indeed some strange exceptions also come, from rich tax collectors, foreign military officers, a few religious leaders, even mystics from the east came seeking Jesus. He never traveled far, accumulated wealth, nor saved for a rainy day -- still he inspired confidence and trained and equipped a small group to walk his path even when he returned to God the father.

It still works today, if we remember Jesus invitation. It is a path best shared with companions, walked with interest and open eyes, and taken as a journey not a destination. Years ago a family circle cartoon showed the family impatiently waiting for Billy to return from the store, just a block away. How long could it take? the the next frame showed his footsteps, across he street, petting the neighbors dog, back across walking the neighbors stone wall, returning back following a butterfly, and again tossing a stick for the neighbors dog, returning with a friend, and back on the wall, then kicking a stone across the street and putting down the groceries to chase a toad... on and on the footsteps continued... and it reminds me of what's right about following Jesus and what's wrong with modern Christianity.

I'm a pastor the church left, I'm disappointed in my "religion" but confident in my "faith". I looked long, but have found a community still following the shepherd, and listening for his voice. It hasn't removed some of my scars, but the injury has healed, I wish for you also the joy of companions on the journey, and shade trees under which to lie and listen to the saviors voice.

Rev Roger I have a couple of comments. The first is I have thought long and hard about all those people who don’t attend church or any other type of spiritual gathering. There are so many out there. Institutional Christianity has failed them. One problem, as I see it, is that they are not a monolithic group. There is no one change that will get millions of them swarming back into the church. One’s complaint may be the music; it always seems that a hymn has to be at least 100 years old to be sung at so many services. Yet another’s may be sexual preference and gender issues, and yet another’s the rigidity of dogmatic doctrine. Non-church goers are a huge group demographically. So many Americans that identify themselves as Christians only show up at services on Christmas and Easter, or as with your friend never attend. I would like to know how to reach these people.
The other comment I have relates to our site but does have some common discussion grounds with this post. Have others noticed how much the activity on the site has declined? We were really buzzing for a while and now site activity has slowed to a crawl. We were really trying to capture that “authentic spirit of faith” a few months ago but we seem to have backed off. Are we are afraid of being too far outside the parameters of orthodoxy? Are we trying so hard not to offend anyone that we have become lukewarm? Is it just too hard to get outside that box when it comes to faith, and especially an active dynamic faith that takes it to the street? We know what Jesus said about being lukewarm. He told us to be hot or cold, not lukewarm, because he would spit us out of his mouth if we were (I am paraphrasing). In our attempt to appeal to everyone and offend no one, are we becoming too ordinary just like the churches Roger’s associate doesn’t want to go to?