Thread by @theboyonthebike

A short thread on the phenomenon of leaders losing "faith:"
Even for people who feel like they find liberation on the other side, the process of losing faith is profoundly scary & alienating. I can't imagine speaking of anyone going through a faith shift without tenderness.

My take on the "hot takes" after a few high profile examples of said shifts--is that it proves Paul's maxim, "you have not many fathers." Hearing such stories without empathy is beyond me. Like @Franklin_Graham on w/Todd Starnes--man, imagine if he was the father of the prodigal?

@Franklin_Graham The father gave his son room to take the journey he needed to take--he even financed the trip. The @Franklin_Grahams of the world wouldn't give you the inheritance, just a lecture. Of course he's decided to be known among Fox & friends rather than to be among the friends of Jesus

@Franklin_Graham Even ASKING faith leaders like him what to make of these stories, is like asking the father of battered kids why they think their children ran away. Why the hell should anybody care what you think?

@Franklin_Graham That said, I DO find it unfortunate that so many people I meet seem to feel like they have only two alternatives: white evangelicalism or atheism. Friend, I won't judge you if you take either or neither of those roads. But white evangelicalism is not "the faith."

@Franklin_Graham But more on that another time. I find it astonishing that there are people who actually think that the disillusioned, disenchanted children of the Church who walk away, are somehow "the problem," as if it is some great falling away.

@Franklin_Graham I hate to spoil the end of the movie for you, but for much of white evangelicalism, the story is not that any particular people left the house, but that the Holy Ghost did. The falling away already happened. A lot of what is happening now, long term, will prove to be an awakening

@Franklin_Graham I'm just tired of hearing people berate their kids for leaving a faith system that we handed to them that was already rotting and full of maggots. I won't be more poetic about it than that.

@Franklin_Graham I love Jesus. More than ever in my life. I love the Church, serve the Church, am a product of the Church. But I have no judgement for anyone who leaves. The people of God need to discern the purposes of God in this shaking, & stop blaming & scapegoating our daughters & sons.