Unbeliever 4

http://developingoutreach.blogspot.com/

Addison Roberts
CRL 233 Developing Otureach and Discipleship
Gerry Stoltzfoos

Alex feels that the greatest need in his area is a general reality check. People need to realize whats important. They need to stop focusing on materialistic fulfillment, just live and be grateful for whatever comes their way. Instead, the pursuit of possessions has become a competition for attention that spawns ridiculous trends that have a strict “subscribe or be ridiculed” policy. Alex does not actively attend any church and does not feel that he has any interests that would make a good sermon topic. I am pretty sure he is, among other things, interested in music and video games. Side note: I think a sermon utilizing video games would reach a mind blowing level of coolness.

Alex thinks people don't attend church because most people think that just saying their a Christian is okay. As for him personally, there is a multitude of reasons why he does not attend. For one, He does not believe in God or that Jesus was his so so he sees no reason for him to attend. Also, after spending a decade of his life growing up in church, he is very disillusioned with the church world. He has seen a world where there is a lot of drama and abundant amounts of blatant hypocrisy. He feels like the church is always asking for money. He also feels like that the church is narrow minded and unwilling to debate and discuss. Basically, he feels that the church has a lot of issues that can be easily avoided by just not going.

Alex would look for a church that was open to challenges and skepticism and could at least attempt to prove its belief system. He doesn't want to go to a place where questioning religion is taboo. He would advise a pastor to be down to earth, approachable and personal. Get to know people. Answer their questions. Debate with them. Listen to them. Encourage people to think for themselves and be open to challenges of Christianity. He feels that encouraging people to think for themselves is one of the most helpful things anyone can do.

I'm sorry this is over the limit but I really enjoyed this interview and wish I could have included more
For anyone interested I can send you the email with his original answers...really good , honest stuff from a person who is burned by church .