Excellent thread. I'm seeing this too and expecting more of it. I'm not a prophet or a son of a prophet, but I suspect there is a great refining going on right now -- even a pruning. It feels like a great brokenness. And it is. The angry people are finding their way out
As Dean mentions, there are (generally) two types and they are ending up at two kinds of places. For those not compelled to either side, it is tragic and can be discombobulating to feel "caught" in the middle. But this is preferable to "taking up arms" against the brethren
Make your appeals and entreaties, but you'll have to let indignant people go do their indignant thing with other indignant people. There they go to write that hit song "Alone in Our Principles." It's hard. But your church might actually be getting healthier as it "shrinks"
That's not something you hear a lot in American church circles, but it's true. Your church may be getting healthier, (spiritually) stronger, as it gets leaner. Don't be afraid of the weakness and the harshness in the pruning. Don't begrudge the Lord's sifting.
On the other end of this whole thing - whenever that is - I think the gospel-centered churches may be smaller, but they will be healthier & more suited for the still tumultuous days ahead. That's what I'm thinking. Could be wrong, of course. Anyhoo. Go back & read Dean's thread
Oh, one more thing: You will much prefer the angry people leaving than the angry people banding together to force *you* out. That's happening quite a bit right now too. So if they're dropping out of your churches, mourn that, but also maybe count your blessings. /end
