I’ve been re-thinking my purpose for writing, whether blog posts or the books I’m working on. I’ve been thinking about this in terms of peoples needs I hope to fill. This is what I’ve come up with so far…
- Help people escape the stress in their life. Show them how to replace the stress with the peace they are looking for.
- Help people feel the same freedom and joy we felt as children. Do you remember that, the days of fun and play?
- Help people find a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and find this in their relationship with God.
- Help people feel loved. I hope to help people find and feel the Fatherly love of God.
- Help people find freedom from the influence of false ideas about Christianity. Show them the freedom that comes from the truth.
- Help people know and accept that true Christianity is all about a relationship, not rules.
- Dechurched Christians, like me, may be looking for a sense of belonging, like me. Show them how to find that.
- Help dechurched Christians find freedom from any guilt they may feel because they no longer attend church.
- Show people how to find and have an intimate and personal relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Help them know the Holy Spirit of God as a person, rather than an idea. And help them feel His presence in their lives.
What do you think about this? Please let me know. Does this look like too much to you? Does it leave you with the sense that I have an over-inflated idea of my talent for helping people? After all, this is a lot. But truth is, I’m just a searching human like you, with all the same needs I’ve listed above. I’m no expert in any of this – all I can do is share what I’ve learned, and continue to learn, in my own search.
Another change I’m planning to make is that I will soon start sending out periodic emails with stuff targeted to help fill the needs I’ve listed above. I’ll send these email messages to everyone who would like to subscribe to receive them. I will probably send an email once a week, or maybe every other week. I’m curious, what do you think of this email idea?
By the way, I really appreciate the ideas and comments you might share with me. These changes I’m planning to make are a bit scary, and the support I get from those who visit and follow this blog is like comfort food.
Thank you. From my heart, CJ
CJ Penn's Online Writing Hangout 
April 23, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Sounds good to me. Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your articles. I would be interested in the emails.
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April 23, 2016 at 8:06 pm
Great… thanks
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April 24, 2016 at 6:22 am
I would really like to read what it was about church that made you want to stop, and what a church that would appeal to you might look like.
I think the list you have above looks great – will be fascinating to read!
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April 24, 2016 at 11:15 am
Hi Faith Unlocked.
Well, like some of my friends, I left the church I had been attending for many years because of a controversy within the church that tore us all apart. From there, I visited several other churches in my town, some semi-regularly. But something was missing. I prayed a lot, asking God to guide me to where He wanted me, but I felt no answer. I still don’t feel God calling me to go to a particular church. And I have no desire of my own. And I don’t know why. But instead of trying to analyze my situation, which I’ve tried several times, I’m just going to trust God. I trust that He has me just where he wants me.
One thing for sure, my not attending church hasn’t hurt my relationship with God. If anything, I rely on Him more because I have no one else to rely on.
But thanks for asking about this – it’s still something that bothers me.
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April 26, 2016 at 8:45 am
I like these points. Especially the de-churched ones. I’ve come from an intense religious background of multiple services a week to a season in my life of no church going. I’m pleased in my relationship with God but know I’m not following the norm. It’s encouraging to hear your input!
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April 26, 2016 at 8:49 am
Thank you very much. It’s helpful to hear from other dechurched people.
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May 9, 2016 at 10:04 pm
I love this. I just actually wrote a post on Acts 2 where it talks about what the first churches were like. I like you spent a lot of time looking for church. For the last two years a group of five of us met at home to study, pray and encourage each other. For the time God had told me that my small prayer group was my church. (I hate that word. We called ourselves a remnant because we dislike the label “church” now I finally have found the right fit for me. It took 8 years to find a place that wasn’t ruled by religion and ruled by God. And amazingly it is a church… Anyways. I look forward to reading more of your posts. I just stumbled across your blog today!
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May 10, 2016 at 7:01 am
Thanks so much for sharing. It’s helpful.
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