The Nothing

When you leave the church system, there is a period of nothingness. Dont be scared by it, dont try to run from it. But rather embrace it. This nothingness is something that every believer who has left must face. No great "callings" no "spiritual ambitions" no activity, just you, God, your family, and the day before you. The menial things in which often get overlooked in the believers life because of ministry or various church activity. And yet... While there is nothing, something is actually taking place. Huge chunks of Religion, misconceptions about God, Bad Theology are being purged from deep within. You find that you begin to see who God really is, you see Jesus more clearly. The scales have fallen off the eyes. Many people are reluctant to go into that place of nothingness because you face what you really believe, you face things that are deep down inside of you. By embracing the nothing you actually get closer to God or should I say you realize how close He is to you. I'm not sure I can ramble on too much about all of this because I dont have many words to describe it. Remember the Movie the Never Ending Story how the nothing was destroying the world in the book. It's very similar how the Lord sends the nothing to destroy the world in which you used to walk in, all the while recreating a whole knew whole reality rooted in His very being and in His love.

Interesting comment on nothing ...

As I've written in the past, I have found it best to keep from attending churches after years of leading worship in several gatherings, then sitting on metal fold-out chairs for hours on end to listen to someone ramble on and on. If totaled, those hours, after only a decade, add up to countless thousands of hours, with much of the teaching being nothing more than repetitive sermons we used to call "bull messages." That meant that there was a point here, and a point there, with a lot of bull in the middle.

I can relate to the nothingness, and yet I still have in my possession hundreds of cassette recordings of messages given decades ago by others. They rest in boxes for someone else to borrow.

Dave

I would be interested to know what such people have done since they left. When and how did the 'nothingness' go? Or are you still at that point?

John
NZ

There's still more than just a hint of Christian jargon and phrases within one's speech, but it's predominance isn't a representation or proof of one's spirituality or righteousness. Also, in my case, I want to grow in knowledge other than what is the latest movement to come down the pike, in a more balanced way, as I view much of today's churchianity to be frighteningly anti-intellectual. Like Ravi Zacharias likes to declare, it is time to "let my people think."

For instance, I have a degree in literature and have written articles for both Christian and industrial magazines, having moved from newspaper work to fed. govt. job and sidelining as a freelance writer. I enjoy learning about classic writers, their lives, their leanings, and find the influences behind which motivate their writings to be valuable in my assessment of culture in general.

And so, I want to think and talk in terms apart from that which establishes me in the church. I want to speak from an understanding of the world that is not so boxed or cornered, to explore with openness writers of all centuries both secular and Christian.

There is a Thomas Hardy fascination going on right now within Japan....oops, gotta go. May write more later.
Dave

That's great. Christianity becomes exciting when we can relate our daily life and work with Christian insights. One can greatly stimulate the other.

John
NZ

'nothing' is what we are born with,
then man fills us up with 'something',
then Yhvh tells us to turn to Him and to learn from Him His Way,
and we have a choice then

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Originally Posted by EyezOFire

When you leave the church system, there is a period of nothingness. Dont be scared by it, dont try to run from it. But rather embrace it. This nothingness is something that every believer who has left must face. No great "callings" no "spiritual ambitions" no activity, just you, God, your family, and the day before you. The menial things in which often get overlooked in the believers life because of ministry or various church activity. And yet... While there is nothing, something is actually taking place. Huge chunks of Religion, misconceptions about God, Bad Theology are being purged from deep within. You find that you begin to see who God really is, you see Jesus more clearly. The scales have fallen off the eyes. Many people are reluctant to go into that place of nothingness because you face what you really believe, you face things that are deep down inside of you. By embracing the nothing you actually get closer to God or should I say you realize how close He is to you. I'm not sure I can ramble on too much about all of this because I dont have many words to describe it. Remember the Movie the Never Ending Story how the nothing was destroying the world in the book. It's very similar how the Lord sends the nothing to destroy the world in which you used to walk in, all the while recreating a whole knew whole reality rooted in His very being and in His love.

Really wonderful post, this has been my journey, and I resisted so long because I'd been indoctrinated that it was vital to be in my pew every Sunday.

But you're right, when we just let that "nothing" be there, God is doing amazing things.

Originally Posted by Johnnz

I would be interested to know what such people have done since they left. When and how did the 'nothingness' go? Or are you still at that point?

John
NZ

It goes, and it's going to be different for every person going through it, and frustratingly hard to define or explain, and hence hard to encourage others.
All I can say is, I am so glad to have stuck it out. Or rather, One who sticks closer than a brother kept strengthening and coaxing and drawing me. I was held, carried, airlifted, floated, translated, yet often felt dropped, pushed, pulled, abandoned or shunned...I don't have words. It was a long, painful, difficult, yet glorious journey.

The journey continues, but the "nothing" has just about gone.
I felt it was the right time to join a small group a few weeks ago, and being with them is showing me so much - both the good things they have to share and the not so good things I now identify as stuff I've been rescued from! But I'm strong enough to discern the difference now, and learning to live in grace with people who see things a little differently sometimes.

Take a look at, http://thegodjourney.com/ for more discussions on this topic. I stumbled across their site a while back and it's very encouraging.

__________________
I lay myself in God's hands.
I'm His problem, not the other way around.
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Asaph

My childhood was saturated in dysfunction, or what John Bradshaw labels "shame-based dysfunction." That means that my feelings were of no concern for my parents who too were raised in dysfunctional settings. They were without life-givng tools.

It was impossible for my father's father to show affection, and until his death, my father followed his father's example by refusing to accept me as an adult.

His response caused me deep hurts which I found could be covered over by religious activities that presumed to be beneficial. Like John Bradshaw often says, I had altered my personality from being a "human being" to being a "human doing."

Religious preoccupation and the accompanying activities helped me to cover the hurts of my past. Although speaking promise, countless attempts to rid myself of hurt feelings by forgiving and being prayed for by well-meaning friends did next to nothing to bring healing to me.

Why? Probably, because while I was being prayed for, I was also being told that I was unworthy, that all my righteousness was as filthy rags. Although true, this information intensified the lack of self-confidence that already existed.

I have learned that hurts from one's bad upbringing can be blanketed by more than just religious activities. Many people choose to hide themselves in addictions and workaholism.

The cure is to get in touch with that little broken person within and to speak to him/her gentle affirmations of love, self-worth, and care.

Whether we like it or not, getting away from the Church, walking away from the Christian fold, is very often a monumental step toward healing.

Dave

Aaaargh!

New keyboard, and I keep hitting the wrong key and losing posts!

OK save every phrase as we go....

Hi Dave! Good to see you again.

I was blessed with caring parents, unlike you and so many, but still there are gaps and wounds that have left me with an ongoing battle against crippling low self esteem.

I am so "over it" with the usual ministerial approach that if we just forgive everyone and ask for healing we'll be instantly healed, noticeably different right now and forever, and all our family will be astonished into getting saved within the week.

You're so right that we have to turn away, (repent!) from all the burdensome religiosity in order to trust that the almost smothered voice of the "little broken person within" is a true voice and deserves to be listened to.

For me, I need people around me to facilitate that - "real" and online.
The presence of Spirit-filled, compassionate others helps me get in touch with the weak, scared, broken me safely - otherwise the strong, controlling, surviving me would bully her, (seriously, that's exactly what I do to myself!)

Some may find being alone with God suits them best, and that has the benefit of preventing them abusing you but might be unsafe if you beat up on yourself.

Both ways are ok, and we probably benefit from both at different times too. God leads us by His peace into the right one.

__________________
I lay myself in God's hands.
I'm His problem, not the other way around.
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Asaph