Church Confrontationalism: An Open Letter

Church Orphans Speak

Orphans of the Church are sometimes contacted by outreach campaigns from their former churches. (That this seldom happens is another issue.) Our response follows.

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Luke 10:21

Thank you for the card! We are blessed that you’d remember us in this way. And thanks for asking after our wellbeing. We send these thoughts in Godly fellowship with you.

The volunteer things we served all remain on-hold. So we’re at home staying away from gatherings, including Church. Surprisingly, these months of separation have been rich and full of refreshing devotion.

We often hear from the pulpit that Christians living an ungodly lifestyle defame the Church. Conversely, we have come to know that by joining in Church, we appear to approve the doctrine. Unfortunately, the tolerable differences of the past have intensified beyond complacent attendance.

Churchy, politically correct cliques are just wrong. Yet leaders and elders make their preferences known, don’t they? The ‘Moral Majority’ ethos has had 30 years to spoil. Evangelical addiction to wealth and power, even naked affiliation with lawlessness has been normalized.

Confrontational activism is simply not consistent with the message and ministry of Jesus, especially where cultural darwinism exists. Pseudo-scientific dogma is out of order: Nature is God’s favorite witness and cannot lie. And anti-intellectualism was the error underpinning the Inquisition. So we govern our attendance accordingly, because division is a foothold for sin.

So we govern our attendance accordingly, because division is a foothold for sin.

Unflinching trust in God is the remedy for melancholy and disillusionment. The hand of God is moving. We are privileged to be alive, to witness history unfold.

We enjoy intermittent fellowship with a few other Church ‘orphans’ of similar conviction. Those moments are precious to us. We have a message of peace for outsiders enduring a chronic state of anxiety, welcoming them with love, reasoning and true testimony.

Still, we very much ‘miss’ worshiping together as it was. Such difficult choices! All the particulars pushed aside, it’s the Love of God we share that is sufficient for every purpose and fills us with joy. (Psalms 16:11)