This is an amazing reflection of my own heart of grief but from a volunteer in a church and among people that I trusted and believed were Christ- Like. I grieved my husband the year before but in many ways this was a grief like no other- to make a decision that would tear apart my life and community . The dishonor and disrespect of not only women but people who were were exemplifying what Jesus taught was at the center and in the heart of my decision to leave this church of almost 20 years .
I am continuing to hold space for you, Roshni. I wish there was more that I could have done. That place is the epitome of toxic and the way they didn't chose to care for you is unforgivable.
Thank you for writing this piece. I still feel different when Saturday and Sunday comes around. My family haven’t been to church since April because of the controversy that surrounds my termination. So we decided as a family to step away for now. It is weird to be in this phase. I know this is the right thing to do, I feel it in my body, but it does not mean I don’t feel the pain. My wife and I took time to pray earlier, because I said I was just frustrated being in this phase. And then I saw this post. I’m learning that trust in God is not always being still, I’ve learned how to let Him know where I’m at, just like Job.
Thank you for sharing with vulnerability. It can be disorienting to be on the receiving end of being sold a culture of "we are a family here!" to then receiving the cold, almost corporate termination notice. It happened to us as well.
On of my favorite books on Job is by my first dissertation advisor J. Richard Middleton. His book "Abraham's Silence" views Job as an honest conversation partner with the divine. It was helpful for me as I began my research on human dignity and agency.
Wow J. Richard Middleton was your dissertation advisor?! I love his book and some of the podcasts where they interviewed him. He was one of those that inspired me to read more Old Testament.
Yessir! I consider studying from him one of the great honors of my academic journey. While he eventually passed me off so he could retire, I owe a lot to the way I process to him.
Absolutely. Last week I wrote about how I literally walked out of a church service that was openly degrading women from the platform. I learned that conviction from Middleton. He told me that when he was a young man, he made a commitment to never step foot into a church that dehumanized women. Because of him, I took on the same vow.
He and I also worked on a short project aimed at figuring out where idea that people are “broken” - we couldn’t find any evidence in the Christian scriptures and so we deemed it unbiblical.
Rare qualities and the boldness to act them out. On “people are broken,” yes I agree with this too. There are a lot of stuff I learned that I had to unlearn as I read and be open to other perspectives. But at the same time, that’s when label like “heretic” comes.
This is an amazing reflection of my own heart of grief but from a volunteer in a church and among people that I trusted and believed were Christ- Like. I grieved my husband the year before but in many ways this was a grief like no other- to make a decision that would tear apart my life and community . The dishonor and disrespect of not only women but people who were were exemplifying what Jesus taught was at the center and in the heart of my decision to leave this church of almost 20 years .
I am continuing to hold space for you, Roshni. I wish there was more that I could have done. That place is the epitome of toxic and the way they didn't chose to care for you is unforgivable.
All the love to you, Rosh!
I feel you🙏
Thank you for writing this piece. I still feel different when Saturday and Sunday comes around. My family haven’t been to church since April because of the controversy that surrounds my termination. So we decided as a family to step away for now. It is weird to be in this phase. I know this is the right thing to do, I feel it in my body, but it does not mean I don’t feel the pain. My wife and I took time to pray earlier, because I said I was just frustrated being in this phase. And then I saw this post. I’m learning that trust in God is not always being still, I’ve learned how to let Him know where I’m at, just like Job.
Thank you for sharing with vulnerability. It can be disorienting to be on the receiving end of being sold a culture of "we are a family here!" to then receiving the cold, almost corporate termination notice. It happened to us as well.
On of my favorite books on Job is by my first dissertation advisor J. Richard Middleton. His book "Abraham's Silence" views Job as an honest conversation partner with the divine. It was helpful for me as I began my research on human dignity and agency.
Wow J. Richard Middleton was your dissertation advisor?! I love his book and some of the podcasts where they interviewed him. He was one of those that inspired me to read more Old Testament.
It sure does. But hey, you are in good company :)
Yessir! I consider studying from him one of the great honors of my academic journey. While he eventually passed me off so he could retire, I owe a lot to the way I process to him.
It rubs off I guess in how you reflect transition like what you’re writing about. Helps restore human dignity over general church “encouragement.”
Absolutely. Last week I wrote about how I literally walked out of a church service that was openly degrading women from the platform. I learned that conviction from Middleton. He told me that when he was a young man, he made a commitment to never step foot into a church that dehumanized women. Because of him, I took on the same vow.
He and I also worked on a short project aimed at figuring out where idea that people are “broken” - we couldn’t find any evidence in the Christian scriptures and so we deemed it unbiblical.
Rare qualities and the boldness to act them out. On “people are broken,” yes I agree with this too. There are a lot of stuff I learned that I had to unlearn as I read and be open to other perspectives. But at the same time, that’s when label like “heretic” comes.