What Happened?
Excluded by Doctrine
In my
overview, I stated that there
are four general categories that hold the mechanisms for becoming
dechurched - excluded from a church or faith community:
Differences in Doctrine, Church Change Decisions, Power
Plays and Social Popularity.
Let's discuss...
Differences in Doctrine
This is an interesting category, because of the four it is the one that is as capable of cutting an entire denomination in half as it is cutting away one person or family. Differences in doctrine have, over the centuries, created denominations, taken down and exalted both political and religious leaders, advanced evangelism and murdered thousands. That's heavy stuff. Heavy enough that it's too big a pie for me to cut on this blog ... so lets just look at a slice. Let's take a look at how differences in doctrine manifest themselves in a single congregation and how these differences can send a member or few out the door.
First, we need to be reminded what "doctrine" is, exactly. Religious doctrine is an accepted collection of beliefs or teachings. Most major denominations have a "Statement of Faith" or catechism that explains what the group believes and why. Most individual churches within the denomination agree to abide by these beliefs. Most individuals within these congregations believe most of their respective church doctrines.
The operative word here is "most."
I will repeat myself regarding church relationships. People who find a church they like stay there almost invariably because they found people with whom they've built relationships. The denomination and church provide an easy way of saying: "I share a similar faith life as you." The spiritual element of friendships is VERY important to a sincere Christian, so finding a "church home" where they connect with a local "family of God" is a real priority.
Others are born into a denomination or church and raised in it all their lives. This adds even more depth and importance, because now the "family" is not only a "church family" but also the biological family.
As with most things in life, if the boat stays on an even keel, no one gets thrown over the side. If some guy (or gal) on the boat starts rocking back and forth - he is going to get scolded. If he doesn't quit, he will be thrown over the side, regardless of his relationship to the others.
Doctrinal differences rock church boats.
Let's take women in ministry as a well known example. For many millenia, women were chattel, property and generally uneducated helpmates who provided sex, cooking and children for men. This was pretty much the state of affairs throughout the entirety of Biblical history which closed up shop a little before 100 A.D. Then, go figure, a couple thousand years pass ... and those dang gals got themselves educated and employed!!
Many church doctrines center around just how accurate and specific the words in the Bible are. Those who hold it very close to the spoken word of God take a doctrinal stance that women are not to hold some or all leadership roles within the church. Those who hold it more as inspired word that must be taken in context of the time it was written as well as circumstances of today are more likely to take a doctrinal stance that women are as capable and blessed as men in their ability and giftedness in providing spiritual leadership to a congregation. The history of moving from one doctrinal position to another has left behind hundreds of split congregations.
But let's get back to how this works for one person. Let's say that Theresa was raised in a conservative denomination that does not allow women to hold any leadership roles over men. Her family has been in that denomination for as long as any of them can remember, so it's pretty much all Theresa has ever doctrinally known. Like all children, she grows up and moves away from her home in Anytown, Indiana. In her early adult life, she attends college and lives in both Charlotte, N.C and Chicago, IL. During those years, she meets and studies with many well educated women in spiritual leadership roles and even runs into a few who are tremendous Christian influences in her early adult life. But .. when all is said and done, she marries a friend from childhood and returns to Anytown, Indiana. Theresa gravitates back to her home church and begins to realize it feels different than what she fondly recalled. It all looks and sounds the same. Even most of the same people are there, if only with a few more gray hairs and older kids. Then Theresa begins to recognize the difference is not the church, but her.
Theresa realizes that she has a powerful desire to teach and preach in her church, much like the women she met while in college. Instead, she finds herself constantly in the nursery and kitchen and women's groups. In one of the Women's Bible Studies she is allowed to teach, she floats the possibility of teaching a mixed adult class. Most dismiss it quickly .. a few with nervous titters. (The boat shook a little.) Theresa can't understand the reluctance. She goes to the pastor and asks to teach a co-ed adult class. He dutifully shows her the scripture verses that support the position of women submitting to men and not exercising leadership over them and then sends Theresa on her way. Theresa is quiet for a while ...until the next church business meeting.
In this business meeting, everything goes about like you'd expect. Minutes are read, discussion on how income is being spent is dragged on in painful detail, prayers for the sick are offered, and then the ballot for next year's officers are proposed. Sadly, few men in the congregation are willing to take deacon roles, so two of the five positions are left open. Heart in her throat, Theresa' blurts: "Have you considered any of the godly women in our congregation for the deacon positions?"
Stunned silence. Even her husband is aghast and tries to break the stares with a lame joke, "You know Theresa, heart as big as the world and a mouth to match."
Ugh.
Theresa is soundly dismissed, even though a couple of ladies and one guy tell her with whispers in the parking lot that she has a valid point. Before long, Theresa isn't even allowed to teach women or children. It doesn't look intentional ... it's just that she's no longer in the scheduled rotation. Theresa asks about this omission but keeps getting the run around. Her husband and family try to encourage her to "quit making such a big deal" out of this. Eventually, Theresa gets tired of the battle and quits going to church. A few ladies make a phone call or two to invite her on shopping trips and scrapbook gatherings, but she declines. Pretty soon the phone calls cease and Theresa realizes she's no longer a part of the community.
Summary
Doctrinal differences on a personal scale are subtle because they almost always involve a change in the person. In my example, Theresa came to believe women are as capable of spiritual leadership as men, which was contrary to her church doctrine. Other current doctrinal issues that can create this kind exclusion are homosexuals in leadership, creation vs evolution, divorce and remarriage within the church, and the inerrancy of scripture. (There are more.)
It's important for a person who has a changing view on a key doctrinal point within their church or spiritual community to understand this is a foundation stone for the group. The likelihood of swaying even one opinion, much less several is slim. The person must either come to terms of being a minority within the group (including the possibility of certain restrictions) or having to leave the group. If the latter is chosen, this person must also understand that most of the relationships that were centered in that group will also diminish.
The upside is this: one church is not all churches, one denomination is not all denominations, but our Lord is one Lord over all. If you stay faithful to Him, you'll find another others who will share your faith walk, wherever you are on your journey.