Where to begin?
So I recently came across the blog of a former Baptist pastor, Dan Silverman, turned atheist (a.k.a. free thinker) and I find it troubling for a number of reasons (take a look for yourself here: http://allforfreedom.blogspot.com/).
- Anytime I hear of someone making a deliberate step away from the faith I am saddened. I can only imagine how God feels (cf. Luke 15:11-32).
- Where are all these churches that are seeking to squash people’s free thinking and rational thought? Perhaps I’m living a sheltered life as a Lutheran, but I’ve never felt that I’ve been coerced into believing anything. If I were to ever question my faith (and I’ve certainly had questions about it), I’ve been able to have open discussions and hypothetically speaking, even if I were to get to the point of doubting completely, I know that even though the truth of God’s Word and His work in Christ would be proclaimed to me, I would be treated with love and respect (assuming I weren’t arrogant and condescending about the whole thing) and should I leave the faith, people wouldn’t treat me with hostility but would reach out to me in love. This was really awkward to write, even if it was all hypothetical so I hope this part makes sense.
- As for the reaction of Dan’s church family, wife and children, I’m not really sure what to think. A large part of me wants to believe that he is really telling the truth: that he simply left the faith and as a result, the church and his family turned their backs on him in vicious ways. Sad to say, but that type of reaction even from Christians isn’t totally surprising. At one point when he was put in jail, he says the other pastor at his
church visited him and said “see what you get for turning your back on
God!” On the one hand, I think that’s a counterproductive thing to say and certainly it lacks tact. On the other hand I wonder, even if he is innocent of all the things he’s being accused of, could this in fact be a wake up call to come back to God? Or am I making a “friend of Job” move by even suggesting that? - If he is telling the truth in all this, I think the reaction of the other Christians in his story are way out of line and they’re in need of some rebuking themselves.
- On the other hand, this is only one side of the story so there certainly could be more going on that we’re not hearing.
- Whatever is going on, I think it’s obvious this man, along with his family, are in need of some serious prayers. And, if he truly is being wrongly accused, I pray that he finds justice and more importantly, his way back to God.
I’m not sure why – perhaps guiding by the Holy Spirit – but I’m finding myself drawn to stories like this like a moth to flame. I have a heart for the lost and a desire to share with them the reason for the hope that I have in Christ, but always with gentleness and respect. I can’t convert anyone – that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. But it’s my duty as a Christian to share the message of Christ.
Please read Dan’s story, pray for him, and let me know if you have any words of wisdom.
hey bro, thanks for posting this…and I don’t blame you for being careful with your approach…i actually accused dan of posting a large elaborate hoax online for attention before i got to know him…it was merely a reaction based on my own life experiences in exit ministry.
I guess things must be different where you are…in the south…if you aren’t a christian you risk your life in some circles…where you are i bet you know a real life (non internet) atheist or two, and even a muslim—we dont around here-i know one maybe two more atheists in my area—and only because i came out of the closet first they said “hey me too”. Diversity is highly frowned upon here. we live around fundamentalist that truly believe unbelievers should be put to death—sometimes they take these matters in to their own hands…something we actually worried about in Dan’s situation!
thanks a million for posting this, really-no matter how you view dan or myself—just getting the story out, is what we want
Matt Oxley said this on November 20, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hey Matt, thanks for the comment. You’re right, things are certainly different around here. I’ve heard of people being shunned by the Christian community, but by in large it’s more like the reaction I described – like mourning the loss of a loved one. They’re still treated with love and respect 1) just because that’s how people should be treated and 2) with the hope of trying to lead them back to Christ (not coercion or an ulterior motive, mind you – just speaking the truth in love).
As for the radical type of rejection you’ve mentioned, I’ve only heard of that in Muslim circles. We have a large Muslim population in the Twin Cities and our church has been involved with some evangelism, but it can be sometimes very dangerous for those who leave Islam for the Christian faith. Not so much here, but people that leave other countries and seek refuge here in the U.S. I hope what you’re speaking of is the exception rather than the norm.
The Rev Russ said this on November 21, 2008 at 9:10 am