Caroline… seems you made $$$ off christian show “book pushing” but the values of recent shows do NOT align. It appears as monetizing the faith … (Joni Lamb show, TBN, etc).
Philippians 2:15 "so that you may come to be blameless and innocent, children of God without a blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world,"
I'm pretty devout but when I read I Kissed Dating Goodbye, I could tell it was nothing more than man-made cultural pseudotheology. Just like Purity BS overall. I'm sad that Harris left the faith but I have a ton of respect for him admitting what he did wrong. That takes a ton of courage.
So true what you say about keeping people busy in working for their christian communites. I'm a former elder and I deeply regret having allowed being forced to engage in what I now call "christian club work" instead of freeing myself and others from religious expectations! In christian communities there's a lack of volunteers in each team - except of preaching 😉and there's so much pressure, in implementing amazing services and ministries at all costs. This is understandable and obiously not a bad thing. But is that what Christ really is prioritising, too: a huge service and amazing ministries? Or is Christ more concerned with changing the structures of this corrupt world we're living in? I assume, Jesus is in favour of both: expanding his kingdom inside the church and expanding his will outside the church. And I assume, the 20% of ambitious volunteers Joshua Harris mentions is enough to provide solid ministries inside of the church. In my opinion the others are rather called to go out and serve outside of the church buildings, in order to bring down the will of God on earth, as it is in heaven.
My wife and i left the institutional church almost 2 years ago. We’ll never go back. We were both deeply involved in the institution. My wife came out of a church situation that was abusive and legalistic. She would say cultic. We actually deconstructed to Jesus. We are more savvy when it comes to church culture which has become synonymous with what constitutes what the church is, but it’s false. We were worked to the bone in church life. We identify so much with that nagging feeling that something is not right here. We never had time for other pursuits because if it wasn’t church related it was a distraction from Gods will! Church centredness really stole years of our youth. Now we’re making up for it. We love Jesus. He loves us. And we love the ekklesia the church. But not the religious institution calling itself the Church.
I am reflecting on the ‘reconstruction’ after the ‘deconstruction’ of your faith. This is a bit personal but I am wondering if your journeys have led you closer to God or left you questioning his existence? You seemed to be saying that you no longer think that hell is real. Do you believe in any sort of afterlife… or is it just the here and now? Do you think the Bible is God inspired or just a book full of wise sayings and stories?
Oh my goodness, my spiritual life looks so different from the weird religious experience of my childhood. I'm glad Principle lead me to a deeper understanding of Truth that set me free so I could pass on to my son a better way. I loved him through a brief period of drugs and trauma, expressing in him faith that he was capable of self determination and success. He pulled through and is learning through his own life experience how to manage himself AND he maintains faith and trust in God.
So many theology students step away from the faith, so sad. As a reader and follower of the book and previously teaching the biblical side, the truthful side that was represented in the book. People are imperfect. God however is perfect and unchanging. I hope you find true peace and truth in your life Josh.
Caroline… seems you made $$$ off christian show “book pushing” but the values of recent shows do NOT align. It appears as monetizing the faith … (Joni Lamb show, TBN, etc).
Philippians 2:15
"so that you may come to be blameless and innocent, children of God without a blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world,"
Rubbish
Primitive superstition. No excuse for that in 2024.
The "curiosity concept" is very enlightening....for me especially at this stage in my life.
I'm pretty devout but when I read I Kissed Dating Goodbye, I could tell it was nothing more than man-made cultural pseudotheology. Just like Purity BS overall. I'm sad that Harris left the faith but I have a ton of respect for him admitting what he did wrong. That takes a ton of courage.
So true what you say about keeping people busy in working for their christian communites.
I'm a former elder and I deeply regret having allowed being forced to engage in what I now call "christian club work" instead of freeing myself and others from religious expectations!
In christian communities there's a lack of volunteers in each team - except of preaching 😉and there's so much pressure, in implementing amazing services and ministries at all costs. This is understandable and obiously not a bad thing.
But is that what Christ really is prioritising, too: a huge service and amazing ministries? Or is Christ more concerned with changing the structures of this corrupt world we're living in?
I assume, Jesus is in favour of both: expanding his kingdom inside the church and expanding his will outside the church. And I assume, the 20% of ambitious volunteers Joshua Harris mentions is enough to provide solid ministries inside of the church. In my opinion the others are rather called to go out and serve outside of the church buildings, in order to bring down the will of God on earth, as it is in heaven.
Well Said!
Profound!!🙌
❤
Brilliant! Yes Dr Leaf! Brilliant how he left his wife. I'm waiting for his next step... incoming
??
My wife and i left the institutional church almost 2 years ago. We’ll never go back. We were both deeply involved in the institution. My wife came out of a church situation that was abusive and legalistic. She would say cultic.
We actually deconstructed to Jesus. We are more savvy when it comes to church culture which has become synonymous with what constitutes what the church is, but it’s false.
We were worked to the bone in church life. We identify so much with that nagging feeling that something is not right here. We never had time for other pursuits because if it wasn’t church related it was a distraction from Gods will! Church centredness really stole years of our youth. Now we’re making up for it. We love Jesus. He loves us. And we love the ekklesia the church. But not the religious institution calling itself the Church.
I am reflecting on the ‘reconstruction’ after the ‘deconstruction’ of your faith. This is a bit personal but I am wondering if your journeys have led you closer to God or left you questioning his existence? You seemed to be saying that you no longer think that hell is real. Do you believe in any sort of afterlife… or is it just the here and now? Do you think the Bible is God inspired or just a book full of wise sayings and stories?
Oh my goodness, my spiritual life looks so different from the weird religious experience of my childhood. I'm glad Principle lead me to a deeper understanding of Truth that set me free so I could pass on to my son a better way. I loved him through a brief period of drugs and trauma, expressing in him faith that he was capable of self determination and success. He pulled through and is learning through his own life experience how to manage himself AND he maintains faith and trust in God.
That is beautiful! May God Continue to Bless you ♥
Thankfully God is not an unpublished author 😊 "You shall know THE TRUTH and THE TRUTH shall set you free" John 8:31-32
Hey Joshua. In what way have you made amends to your ex wife and now your children for imposing this most egregious form of sexism via religion?
Love you both!
Wow. This dude is me. Literally.
Enjoyed this
So many theology students step away from the faith, so sad. As a reader and follower of the book and previously teaching the biblical side, the truthful side that was represented in the book.
People are imperfect. God however is perfect and unchanging. I hope you find true peace and truth in your life Josh.
Yes! Because they make you love theology, NOT Jesus.
Read the book which led me to surrender my life to Christ. I'll be praying for him.
Finally! Thank you Dr. Leaf. Truth always comes out, and cleaning up of God's house is on. A very confirming episode, for me😊. Thanks!