Just came across this site today – ExChristian.Net. The site describes itself as “encouraging ex-Christians”, an interesting and I’m sure intention choice of words, using the common Christian term of “encouragement.” I found it looking for a quote from a book I’m finishing right now “The Post-Evangelical” by Dave Tomlinson, a book welcomed by many postmoderns and that has largely put him in the doghouse of American Evangelicalism. Frankly, not a bad place to be since what I am doing here at Wired Jesus has received a similar response from some of my Lutheran colleagues and lay folks.
I’ll probably explore ExChristian.Net at later time – its not exactly the same as where Dave Slusher is coming from – he’s a live and let live guy where ExChristian.Net seems to be more of a support group for ex-Christians to stay that way and a missionary cause for forum crashing evangelicals determined to bring them back to the “true faith” and save them from hell. I may be wrong but that is what I’m seeing at first glance. Could make for an intersting podcast – definitely a place to hear postmodern challenges to the stagnant Christianity that too many congregations are stuck in.
Which brings me to a question that has been asked lately. Now that there are over 1,000 regular listeners and more arriving daily due to Itunes and the new podcast directories (and being the #1 hit on google for “podcast” and “jesus”, some of you are wondering what I’m trying to do here. What Wired Jesus is not an evangelism tool to convert people from being something other than a Christian. Plenty of other sites try and do that, some better than others. What I am trying to do is create an open space for postmodern spiritual conversation, highlight other sites of interesting conversation, and share my own Christian perspective. As Dave would say, I’m not out to convert anyone – anyways, the way I read the Bible, people don’t do that anyway, the Holy Spirit does. I do want to have a no hold barredapproach to questioning – about faith, about Christianity, about Jesus, about God. So I will go to off the wall places (like ExChristian.net), I will start strange conversations that won’t be allowed in many Christian congregations – all so people can explore, join the journey, and perhaps share the road with Jesus in a new way.
Might seem wishy washy to some. Might even be a little heretical to others. Hopefully you’ll find it interesting, challenging, and food for the road.
I’m sure you know this already, but there are some of us ‘other’ Christian folks out here who love and appreciate what people like yourself are doing, even if it does put you out on the proverbial limb, in relation to the Church’s status quo.
Tom,
First, let me say that I agree with the previous comment. Keep on trucking man.
I checked out this website. Wow! Some interesting stuff, and some angry stuff. I will probably go back to it at some point in the future, but my mind was only able to withstand a limited amount on my first trip.
Shalom,
David