This cartoon is wrong on so many leves… God, the Trinity, can’t be seen, and if he could be he certainly wouldn’t look like that! God neither slumbers nor sleeps. God doesn’t “go” to church. God knows he wouldn’t necessarily be missed because he understands that an institution may linger without the spirit of its founder for centuries. But this cartoon is right on so many levels… It makes me laugh (yes, I laugh at my own jokes). I hope... Read more
I’m so very proud of people who make this sometimes difficult decision in their favor. For the lucky some, they have been given an environment that supports them. For most, their environment is hostile toward change and independence. Everyone has a role to fill, and if you break that expectation you break relationship. For many that’s the deal. I’m also very sensitive toward those who feel trapped, not only in their hostile environment, but also within their own fears to... Read more
Lisa and I are celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary this weekend. We are very proud of our achievement. It has been years of delight and hard work. One does not exist without the other. I have learned a great lesson, a spiritual one, from our relationship. Each of us has gone through incredible individual journeys. We have taken our turns being believers, agnostics and atheists. Rarely at the same time. Through it all we have loved each other. But it... Read more
Pope Francis welcomes ex-pope Benedict back into the vatican. You can read about it HERE. Some people are predicting conflict and maybe even a division in the Roman Catholic Church because of differing views of the two men. Others are saying that it’s no big deal and Benedict is going to spend all his time in prayer. When I read this news I immediately had an image of Martin Luther snoozing over his beer in his favorite pub having a... Read more
I wrote this a year ago. It still applies. I frequently talk with pastors, and the struggle they are enduring is unbelievable. It’s believable to me though because I’ve experienced it and experience it still. This is what I wrote a year ago and I repost it in total because I would say the exact same thing today. I am a pastor who left the ministry. It was one of the most difficult decisions and transitions I ever made. It’s... Read more
Just yesterday I heard from three different readers of nakedpastor who were told the following in a church setting: “You’re not allowed to ask that question. Please move on.” “Questioning your beliefs is dangerous and God will punish you for it.” “How dare you ask that question!” Some see questions as an illegitimate disease. Others see it as a legitimate dis-ease. Using your mind to investigate something can turn the idea you’re exploring into your own. The more questions the... Read more
Our thoughts about God are just that: thoughts about God. They are not God. They approximate God. This includes the thoughts, now written, of the biblical writers and all theologians since. All their thoughts and all their writings are not God, but approximations of God. This should not depress us. This should give us great joy that, if there is a God, this God should be greater than all we can imagine or articulate. If there is a God, then... Read more
Only people who have worked or volunteered for churches understand this cartoon. Only people who realize they exist to fulfill the fantasies of its leaders get what this cartoon is about. Only pastors who finally face their exhaustion at keeping something inflated with hot air see the point. Read more
I have been in and observed spiritually abusive situations. I think this diagram generally represents most of them. I can identify with all of them. You? I have entrusted myself, willingly, to leaders I admired. Even loved. I wanted to serve them, help them, and further their ministry. I believed in it. I was on board, on the same page, riding the same bus to the same destination. I voluntarily and enthusiastically signed up. I have also entrusted myself to... Read more
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