Why I Left, a Year Later

by E.L.

There are many reasons why people leave faith traditions. Some leave faith in God altogether. Some leave because of personal conflicts within the local church. Some leave because they read the Word of God and realize the fallacy of denominational teachings they had previously blindly accepted. Other departures are complex, comprised of many issues.

Such was mine.

A year ago this month I began publishing a series of posts which detailed some of the reasons I left what I had always known.

I had a change of heart related to a fresh examination of John 3 and Romans 3. I could no longer tolerate the proud and angry rhetoric which permeated the denomination to which I was joined. I no longer wanted to be identified by legalism and its fruit. I was no longer willing to reduce salvation to steps, formulas and works. I could no longer preach or even tolerate "The Never-Enough Gospel." I escaped to find grace and assurance which did not, and does not, exist within my cultural hearth.

Looking back I realize that I had always been defined by what I was against rather than what I was for. I had given myself to a system of division and separation instead of striving to be approachable.

There is a danger, post-legalism, of slipping back into that mindset.

A transition should have a start and end point. It's not enough to come out of a thing, we must also arrive at a destination.

I'm for church as sanctuary, Christians doing life together, and giving a hand up to those struggling to survive. I am for peace, love, grace and assurance...for liberty and kindness...and for the constant retelling of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That's where I'm living, today. God is good.

This writing is the copyright of E.L. and is reprinted on this site by permission. View all of his available articles here.

Page added January 11, 2016

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