Wondering where the doubters, the hurt, and the disillusioned with Christianity and religion are. Let’s talk.
By Rev. Brian R. Louis
I was talking with a pastor in another Christian denomination this week after a monthly meeting at the local hospital for chaplains and spiritual caregivers. She was talking about how she was brainstorming with someone in her congregation about ways to reach folks in their 30s and 40s who have been disaffected by Christianity. How do we reach them and tell them there are places they can go with their questions, their objections, and their hurt? I want to know where these folks are because they are my people.
Christianity these days gets lumped into one bucket that appears on the news, primarily. It’s been that way for a long time, and I think it has left the impression that all Christianity is the same. That perhaps every Christian church has an attitude of “our way or the highway.” Or if you dare ask questions, you’re part of the problem! You aren’t a believer then! You don’t have faith! You do it our way, or you’re going to hell! If you don’t do it our way, you’re not a real Christian. That if you come to us with your questions or objections, you’ll get attacked or judged eventually.
I’m happy to report that’s not the case everywhere. That’s not the case at the church where I am the pastor, and other churches I know. I wouldn’t have joined the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) back in 2018 if that first minister I met with judged me, or told me I was wrong, or didn’t welcome my questions. The guy was a lot younger than me. He was kind, and we just talked. We met for lunch in a place in downtown Chicago and had barbeque. I raised my objections and questions to him. He was encouraging. He was understanding. I wanted to know that I could come there to church with my doubts, suspicions, and questions, and that it was OK for me to talk about them. He didn’t say no. He didn’t say you have to believe in the Virgin Birth to come here to church. He didn’t say you had to believe that the Bible was without error. He didn’t say you have to believe in the resurrection. It was OK to attend services with my questions. There was a place for me there. And I felt there was always going to be a place for me there, even if I never resolved any of my questions. That young minister gave me a warm welcome, hope, and encouragement, and those were exactly what I needed.
I still have questions. I’ve got a lot of them. I’ve discovered it’s all part of the journey. I ended up in a place I never thought I’d end up. I am a minister. These ideas and this part of ministry has been brewing in my mind a long time, ministering to the doubter, the formerly churched person who left in a state of disbelief. Or the people who never went and don’t understand any of it and think it’s hogwash. I understand them. They’re my crew. If you’re out there, let me know. Let’s talk.
A Reformed Pastor 