Community Interview

    According to the book The Allure of Gentleness, writer Dallas Willard states,  “Apologetics is a helping ministry” (Willard, 2015). Apologetics is not only meant to teach Bible stories but to create an environment that helps dispel doubts, and also “helps people believe and know the things that are especially related to Jesus Christ: his coming into the world, his life and death, and now his continuing to live in us” (Willard, 2015).

    Unfortunately for many apologetics has caused more hurt and confusion than it has developed knowledge and reason. This week I spoke to a handful of individuals to get their take on apologetics and the church. Everyone that I will refer to is someone that I know personally and have observed in their life. I spoke to a pastor at my local church, a good friend, and his wife, along with a few members of the LGBTQ+ community members who grew up in the church.

    The first question that we discussed was: Do you see the church seeking to dispel doubts about God? First off, I spoke to my good friend, Travis, and his wife Shelbe. Travis does not attend church regularly and his wife was raised in the church. Later in her life, she stopped attending church. When posed this question, Travis stated that when he has attended church he felt that the church’s focus was to dispel the doubts of those who attend and provide them with hope as they face those doubts. It seems he finds hope in that. Shelbe states that while the church should work to dispel doubts of the congregation, the history of the church has shown that the actions of the church have created doubt and disbelief. This sentiment was shared by the LGBTQ+ members that I spoke to. They shared that as they grew up they felt that the church alienated them, causing them to leave the church. The pastor that I spoke to is the same pastor who is mentoring me through ministry. Watching Pastor Brandon preach and discuss the church with him, it is evident that he is working to dispel doubts about God in his personal life and with his church. However, he was also open regarding the fact that many ministers are ineffective in their ministry, which is creating doubt for many.

    I followed this question with the second question: Do you see the church seeking to give answers to the difficult problems of life? When I asked this question to my friends in the LGBTQ+ community, they unanimously answered that the church made aspects of their lives more difficult. They sought answers elsewhere, which is where they found a community that they could actively be a part of and further developed personal relationships. One of the interviewees, Roxy, created an adopted family of love and acceptance. Sammi, who is still involved in the church is creating a Bible study/support group for the LGBTQ+ community to help them strengthen their faith while enhancing their community.

    When asked this question, Pastor Brandon impressed upon me the importance of the church working diligently to help its members navigate the difficulties of life. This support group will help the members navigate these difficult times. Pastor Brandon referred to his wife, another Methodist pastor, sharing her passion for helping those who are struggling to find answers and connect with a church community that will help them find the answers they seek. He implied that this is the job of the church. When I asked this question of Travis and Shelbe, they both had similar answers; they stated that the church is at its best when it seeks to give answers to the difficult problems in life. However, Shelbe added that too often the church focuses its attention on the comfortability of the members and delivers messages that sound a lot like inspirational speeches. Both of them agreed that the politics of the church often get in the way of the church answering difficult questions.

    The third question that I asked was: Do you see the church encouraging trust in a personal relationship with God? In response to this Pastor Brandon shared his intention to guide the congregation to develop a personal relationship with God. I expanded on the question and asked him how this plays out in his personal life as well and shared his family’s tradition of eating dinner at a dinner table, where the adults and children are free to share their concerns and their days. From what he shared, his children can share their thoughts about their faith and Jesus, this allows for open discussion on scripture and spiritual growth. Recently Pastor Brandon has encouraged the church members to create similar traditions that will develop relationships with family members as well as God. In response to this question, Travis and Shelbe stated that they enjoy the community that is found in church, but that does not always equate to a strong relationship with God. Travis added a relationship with God should be personalized to the individual and we concluded that each would express their faith differently.

    For those in the LGBTQ+ community that I spoke to, Sammi shared that in the years past, the church has caused her to question her relationship with God. Since she was treated differently, she felt unworthy of God’s love. Sammi is using her understanding of this alienated feeling to reach out to others in the LGBTQ+ community to create a support group. She is hoping to help provide healing for those that the church has hurt over the years. This sentiment was shared by Roxy as well, which was one of the reasons why she left the church and found hope and purpose in a community of love and acceptance.
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    As I learned from each person whom I spoke to, I began to see how important relationship is; both inside and outside of the church. The truth is; if the church is not careful, it can easily destroy relationships that are vital for spiritual and personal growth. I think that the church needs to place a lot of focus on creating a safe place for those seeking hope and answers to do so without ridicule and shame. I believe that this starts with creating an atmosphere where difficult questions can be asked and answers can be found. When church members have solid relationships with other people, they feel comfortable asking these questions and seeking answers. It is through these answers that church members will develop a deeper understanding of God. It is from there that we can face our doubts as well.