I grew up Christian and deconstructed completely at 22. I became an atheist because I'd been hurt by church, by theology, by people using Scripture to justify harm. I was done.
Now I'm in my late twenties, and I'm questioning the deconstruction. There was truth in what I abandoned, and I'm slowly returning, but carefully. I don't want the abuse back.
John addresses a hard topic: when people come teaching false things, don't welcome them into your home. Don't give them a platform. There's a time to be open and a time to have boundaries.
I'm learning to distinguish between 'closed to new ideas' and 'protecting my spiritual wellbeing.' Some people use Jesus language to manipulate. Some theology is genuinely harmful. My boundary about not sitting under that teaching isn't unkind; it's self-protective.
I'm finding my way back to faith with my eyes open. John affirms that you can be open-minded AND discerning. You can be kind AND have limits. You don't have to be exploited to be Christian.
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