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    How Christians Made A Religion Report Lose His Faith

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    Take a few minutes to read William’s amazing (and sad) story.

    Unfortunately, this scenario doesn’t happen only to religion reporters.  It also happens to pastors and church workers who see so much injustice and politics in the church that they want out (and by ‘out’, I mean, as far away from the church as they can get.

    Do you know any such former pastors/church leaders?  What is their story?  (Maybe you are one such leader… tell us about your journey).

    Todd

    William Lobdell was a religion reporter for the Los Angeles Times. I say was, because he recently stepped down from this position. In this words of William, "When Times editors assigned me to the religion beat, I believed God had answered my prayers. As a serious Christian, I had cringed at some of the coverage in the mainstream media. Faith frequently was treated like a circus, even a freak show. I wanted to report objectively and respectfully about how belief shapes people's lives. Along the way, I believed, my own faith would grow deeper and sturdier. But during the eight years I covered religion, something very different happened..."

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    1. CK on Sun, July 22, 2007

      Look at the story, I hate that your title says that “Christians Made A Religion Report Lose His Faith.”  I think a better title would have been that the Catholic church caused it, as that seems to be where most of his disdain comes from.

    2. Snoop on Sun, July 22, 2007

      While you are changing the title to blame the catholic church, why not blame TBN too? 


      This is something that the Church universal needs to own up to.  The Catholics, the Mainline denoms, the evangelical crowd, everyone of us, and we need to own it now.  For too long we have allowed crap like this to ruin people, whether it be sexual abuse, abuse of authority, theft, or other abuses that the church has decided it was more politically expedient to remain silent.


      This is too important for us to be pointing fingers at one another, we need to step up, repent, and make sure that we deal with this well in the years to come.

    3. CK on Sun, July 22, 2007

      But this is not a normal problem.  What happened in this guys life (the Catholic sex scandel (and specifying that would probably be better than the Catholic church)) is not common in churches.  I am 29 years old, and I remember from when I was a kid jokes about priest pedophiles.  This was an epidemic. 


      And the TBN is a joke.  I don’t understand at all why the 5 people who watch it… watch it.  The sad truth is due to some contract issues, they don’t need money to stay on TV… Christianity Today (I believe) did a big series on this a while ago.

    4. Snoop on Sun, July 22, 2007

      So, are you saying that this is a Roman Catholic church problem only?

    5. CK on Sun, July 22, 2007

      Predominantly yes.  Really… how many pedophile cases do you hear of outside of the priest hood?  In my life.. 1.  Just once has their been coverage of an adult leader having sex with a minor (male on female) that I’ve heard and remembered.


      I really think that is due to priest not being allowed to have a wife.  Humans are made as sexual people, and not being able to act on that is not normal (though I know it is preferred in the life of a Christian, as a non-married person can commit more time to Christ.


      I think had he been in a church where the disputes are much less serious he would have never written this article.  Sex with children (then the trying to act like it didn’t happen) is going to affect you more than the church dispute over the color of the carpet.  The other two or three things he threw into his article were nothing but mere add-ons to the main them of his article about the Catholic scandal.

    6. Snoop on Sun, July 22, 2007

      I spent eight years as a youth pastor, in that time I personally met three people that have done prison time for inappropriate relationships with students, and have heard stories of countless others.  It has nothing to do with whether you are married or not, it happens, and happens far more often that we would like to admit. 


      As I read the article I got the distinct impression that it was not the fact that priests were abusers, but it was more the shadowy side of church interactions that caused him to lose faith.  Decisions being made based on political expediency and public relations spin, rather than pursuing Christ, and living in a Christ-like manner. 


      I would suggest that you check out http://lettersfromleavers.com, it is a site dedicated to giving people who have left the church, or completely bagged out on faith.  Read the letters, I believe your perspective might be changed, and you may just realize how this is not just a Catholic problem, but a problem that the entire church needs to take notice of, and deal with now…

    7. CK on Sun, July 22, 2007

      I can certainly attest to their being bad churches.  I’ve left two churches myself, at one of them I could have easily written a letter for lettersfromleavers.com (honestly a lot of people from that church have written letters). 


      And I’ll be the first to tell you churches need to change, overall churches are failing people and they need to change. 


      However… I can’t blame the church as a whole for the content of that article.  For every bad church there are many good ones. 


      Then in the end churches are made of people, people suck.  Churches would be great if we could remove the people.


      Your site alone can attest for that fact.

    8. Peter Hamm on Mon, July 23, 2007

      CK writes [I really think that is due to priest not being allowed to have a wife.] A great many people who are sex offenders are married and have families. This statement, which comes up from time to time, doesn’t hold water. It may be true that the priesthood has, for one reason or another, become a place that people who might commit these crimes are attracted to, but I think you will find there is not a direct correlation.


      This is sad what happened to this man, but I wonder about a great many things about him that might have contributed to his losing faith besides his job. It seems a mistake to expect the heart of man to be your strongest evidence for trusting Christ. Scripture certainly would suggest that’s not the plaace to put your faith.


      CK also writes [However… I can’t blame the church as a whole for the content of that article.  For every bad church there are many good ones.] AMEN!

    9. Adam on Mon, July 23, 2007

      The reason the only sex abuse problems you’re hearing about are coming from the Catholic church is because they’re the only ones stepping up right now.  There’s problems EVERYWHERE…and to say that it’s a Catholic church problem is right because Catholic Church means Universal Church…and no, I’m not a Catholic.  I have Catholic family, Baptist family, Presbyterian family and I myself am in an Ind Methodist Church right now.  It’s everywhere.

    10. John Morris on Mon, July 23, 2007

      Okay, I have a completely different slant on this. I don’t care to get into the issues of the Catholic abuse scandals or any of the other stuff.


      </br>


      I only have two questions…First, why did nobody challenge his ecumenical views in light of his personal faith? He didn’t seem to realize that there are massive differences in the belief systems mentioned in the article. Apparently, nobody told him he didn’t need to follow a tradition or need an earthly representative of Christ, but rather that he IS Christ’s earthly representative, and there is no mediator between man and God, save Christ Himself! Had someone properly discipled him and mentored him spiritually in the beginning, this whole thing would have gone a different way. Yes, it would have caused strife in his home, but not the spiritual crisis he went through. Sorry to say, they really missed it with the discipleship, at least in his case.


      </br>


      Second question…does this lack of historical knowledge and biblical literacy speak to a much larger and potentially catastrophic issue in the church? From my experience in ministry, YES! We’re so afraid of losing people we don’t say that Catholics believe something completely different, and the modern definition of “Christianity”, as used by the media, lumps in a lot of sects that hold to doctrines completely foreign to biblical, post-reformation Christianity. Isn’t it about time that we were intellectually honest with the masses that there are differences, and that if they’re not willing to change their belief systems to correspond with the Bible and with faith in Christ alone, they have no part of heaven? Sure, this kind of preaching isn’t going to put a lot of butts in seats, but it will equip the body and avoid situations such as this.


      </br>


      Nobody wants to say this because it is an unpopular position in our ultra-compassionate, ultra-acceptance driven church age, and please understand, you’re hearing the words of someone who really loves people. I’m not an angry person, and I don’t desire to be portrayed that way. When I read this article, I get weepy for the church folks who spend every weekend in the pews, pay their tithes, and mostly have no clue what they really believe aside from “Warm fuzzy Jesus and me:-)”. I think this article should snap us all back to reality in three ways. First, it should make us question what we accept as Christianity(What do Catholics, Mormons, and others really believe and practice?), it should make us question our historical perspective(have we forgotten the reasons for the reformation?), and it should make us question our own Biblical literacy(what do I accept as “good” doctrine that are purely manufactured out of our social church culture?)


      </br>


      Alright, flame on!

    11. Bob Barnes on Mon, July 23, 2007

      I am saddened with the evil done by those in a position of authority.  How regretful it is that “leaders” don’t remember that they are to serve—not rule. 


      My good friend, Gayle Erwin has suggested that all denominations should be required to disband after fifty (I think it was fifty) years and re-organize.   However, many of the same ones “in power” might be among the re-organizers and regain power over the same group of people.   Sad.   Will it not be delightful when King Jesus returns and we will no longer be victimized.  Mr Lobdell, please do not abandon your faith and trust in Jesus.

    12. Carl on Mon, July 23, 2007

      My thoughts are similar to John Morris’.


      There is a WORLD of difference between the beliefs of evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics. That the writer had no problem switching to Catholicism tells me that his understanding of the very heart of the gospel was missing. The real tragedy is not that he was turned off by the behavior of abusers or scam artists, or that his questions about how a loving God can allow pain were unanswered, it is that he confused an emotional experience with a lifetime of getting to know Christ through prayer, fellowship, and perhaps most of all, reading and studying the Bible to understand who God really is. The saddest thing is that he thinks he has “been there, done that” and is likely closed to any further exploration of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

    13. CK on Mon, July 23, 2007

      John,


      I agree fully.  When I talk to my friends about doctrinal issues I try my hardest to make it known that it IS important who is right and who is wrong, and the difference could mean salvation.


      Lets take the baptism issue. The Churches of Christ/Christian Churches teach that it is required for salvation.  Many Baptist churches do not. 


      Being wrong in this issue can lead you to hell.  Its not a friendly thing to say, but it is a real thing to say.  Not everybody can be right.


      Either the Catholics are right to hold the Pope in such great position, or they are wrong. 


      The nice fuzzy church sounds great, but misses the boat in that Jesus came to teach the TRUTH in love.  Not just love.  Love without truth is fraudulent.

    14. DanielR (a different Daniel) on Mon, July 23, 2007

      C K, I think you’re way off base blaming this man’s loss of faith on just the Catholic Church scandal.  He covered a wide variety of issues at various denominations and I think it was a combination of all the corruption, both political corruption and corruption of the soul, that led to his crisis of faith. 


      Also, you say “… how many pedophile cases do you hear of outside of the priest hood?  In my life.. 1. “


      I think you’ve had your head in the sand.  The SBC has been taking flak over this issue lately and there is even an organization and website dedicated to bringing the issue to light.  See: http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_letters/2006_letters/092606_southern_baptist.htm


      Insurance companies for churches report they receive about 260 reports of sexual abuse from protestant churches (this is the most reliable figure I’ve seen since most churches and denominations won’t talk about the issue) and the Catholic Church has reported about 13,00 “credible accusations” since1950 or about 228 per year.


      Todd’s posted an article on the issue:  Protestant Church Staff Sex Abuse:  Over 250 Reported Cases a Year


      Periodically thru out my life I have heard of these scandals; growing up my grandmother was a devotee of Billy James Hargis and his scandal hurt her and tested her faith right at the end of her life.   The names Jack Law, Fonville Gandy, Gerald Patrick Thomas Jr., and Bob Gray, also come to mind to name a few.


      It’s not just a Catholic thing. And in this man’s case I don’t think it was just the child abuse scandals, but the whole picture he saw painted.

    15. Brent on Mon, July 23, 2007

      This article made me cry.


      Cry for a man who lost his faith; for so many sick churches and systems that lead people away from Jesus. Sad, sad stuff.

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