The Felix Unger Principle Strikes Again!

A few weeks ago, I edited and appeared in this video for the TransFORM, a network to help form new missional faith communities. Apparently, the comment I make, "For many of our people we are their last stop on the way out of Christianity", has created a stir in some circles. So allow me to clarify for those who drew a false conclusion I had not anticipated.  

Many of the people who come to our church are giving Christianity one last shot. If this doesn't work, they tell me, they're giving up on the whole idea of God. Some have had bad experiences in church, some have been hurt by Christians, experienced tragedy in life or have deep theological questions that they do not feel comfortable asking in other faith communities.  For many of them, Vision is the place where they rediscover God and Jesus.

Contrary to the wrong assumptions made by commenters on other blogs, Vision does not happily usher them out of Christianity and celebrate it. Vision's calling is to introduce them to a love of God through Jesus Christ so that they would stay and become fully committed followers of Jesus. Sometimes God works and that happens, sometimes it doesn't, but it's a risk worth taking.

I find it disappointing that in an eagerness to condemn, our critics jumped to a false conclusion. As my wife Pam always advises, perhaps it would be wise to heed the advice of St. Felix of Unger...

Comments

[Rachel]

And good on you for it. THANK YOU, heartily.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15608697]

Oh good grief. Well, good on you to respond, Don. I think it's pretty obvious that this is not what you meant, but I suppose not obvious to all.

[Laura Poelmann]

Wow! Do the folks posting to that blog not see how anti Jesus they are? They are judging in every post, scary. Jesus did not judge, he loved everyone, broke bread with sinners and faithful alike....how very sad that these folks feel so threatened.

And just to be clear to those who felt threatened by your statement: Vision is not the last stop for all. For some of us it's the first church that feels like what Jesus would want a church to be and most of us were raised in churches with lots of judgemental people. I have no tattoos or piercings, a married heterosexual mother of 2 and an executive at a fortune 500 company. And I do not end sentences with an uptick.... Sorry to not fit their sterotype....I love my church and and my pastors and thank God for them every day!

Great Video!

[Christopher]

I go to one of the websites to which you were referring, and, truthfully the comment you made was a bit of kilter(sp?). Thank you for taking time to explain what you meant by it on your own blog.

So far as the rest of video is concerned, somethings do concern me as far as what people have said. If it is alright with you, I would like to carry on a conversation about the video and kind of the beliefs of those in the video. It would have to be via e-mail, but I would appreciate it for my own understanding.

[Don Heatley]

Christopher,
Yes, my soundbite was intended to knock listeners a bit off kilter and realize how many people are a breath away from giving up on Christianity. In many cases, this has been a failure on the part of churches both to recognize and address.

Although I cannot speak for what others believe, feel free to email me.
Peace,
Don