Restore to Faith Project

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
P

persistent

Guest
#1
#1
Any ideas about restoring a person to faith would be a good thing as I understand Scripture though I can't quote any certain passages.

This to me seems a complex issue and maybe a little considered one, but as I follow internet threads and discover things relating to Christianity I get some possibly crazy ideas. Quite certain this can be time consuming and not very appealing but after reading parts of several posts at the site referred to here I think about the materials I have been viewing and the organizations I have started supporting and somehow they may benefit an endeavor to Restore to Faith some who claim membership in the here posted organization.

Just part of one testimony here and the website>>>https://clergyproject.org/clergy-project-history/

If you have any ideas or comments please post them.

The Story of The Clergy Project
The Clergy Project is the first and only known project of its kind, and like most ground-breaking endeavors, it is the result of the combined efforts of several key players spread out around the globe.

Early Ambitions
TCP cofounder Dan Barker
The dreams that would one day give rise to The Clergy Project stretch all the way back to the mid-1980s with a former Christian minister who had lost his faith in God. His name was Dan Barker, and after coming out publicly as an atheist on a 1984 episode of AM Chicago with Oprah Winfrey (watch it here), he began receiving contacts from scores of other clergypersons around the United States who were also closeted nonbelievers. Barker started meeting with them, compiling their stories, and dreaming dreams of what could be done to help a growing number of desperate peers. Along the way, Barker’s work with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and his 1992 book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist continued bringing him into contact with an increasing number of closeted nonbelieving religious leaders.
 
Seeker47

Seeker47

Well-known member
#2
Aug 7, 2018
1,128
962
113
#2
I admire your courage for bringing up this issue. First and most important we are required to love these people and assist them in their struggles. From my cursory reading on the Clergy Project they provide support for former pastors who wish to "transition" away from the faith. I wonder out-loud (always a dangerous thing to do) if there is help for pastors to transition back into the faith. In other words what support is there for struggling religious leaders, and I am sure they all do struggle from time to time.

Perhaps of even greater concern is these hiding ashiest wearing cleric robes. The damage they can do is tremendous. We all know these leaders face a more fierce judgement. Encouraging them to leave the ministry would appear the Christian thing to do.

Interesting topic.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#3
#3
Seeker47 said:
I admire your courage for bringing up this issue. First and most important we are required to love these people and assist them in their struggles. From my cursory reading on the Clergy Project they provide support for former pastors who wish to "transition" away from the faith. I wonder out-loud (always a dangerous thing to do) if there is help for pastors to transition back into the faith. In other words what support is there for struggling religious leaders, and I am sure they all do struggle from time to time.

Perhaps of even greater concern is these hiding ashiest wearing cleric robes. The damage they can do is tremendous. We all know these leaders face a more fierce judgement. Encouraging them to leave the ministry would appear the Christian thing to do.

Interesting topic.
Click to expand...
Praying for them is the first thing we can do and likely the best. Your point about the ones that still wear the robes may be more likely to have their eyes opened to the truth and repent. This seems like a very complex problem.

Trying to understand what kind of thinking those who are fallen went through is what may help us help them. The Oprah show video is some help in trying to figure out their thinking. But maybe even better is some of the members of the Clergy Project testimonies are even better to help us recognize if any of our own clergy are being influenced in the way that leads them to a bad end.

I have only read a few parts of some testimonies and so far the Mennonite testimony stands out to me. I think there are 14 testimonies and I don't know if trying to post them or just pointing them out would be better? Do you have any preference? Do you think I should try posting each testimony or just tell whoever is interested to link to the Clergy Project site and check on it themselves. Hope I am making this understandable. Your feedback will be helpful.
 
Seeker47

Seeker47

Well-known member
#4
Aug 7, 2018
1,128
962
113
#4
Those who are genuinely interested will take the time to investigate the facts. (Even though there may only be a few). The uninterested will not read the testimonies.

IMHO as they say!
 
P

persistent

Guest
#5
#5
Seeker47 said:
Those who are genuinely interested will take the time to investigate the facts. (Even though there may only be a few). The uninterested will not read the testimonies.

IMHO as they say!
Click to expand...
This thread just posted recently so wait and see and pray. My assumption with preachers is that they would have had many years of learning the Bible and are well versed in it. My background is bad and not well versed in the Bible so if ever we can get to the point where we can make contact with any of those preachers we need someone versed in the Bible to try and communicate with them.

Maybe??!! IMHO as they say...LOL.......

Trying to understand what got into their mind seems important and maybe there is some Scripture which addresses that. Something to keep in mind???
 
Seeker47

Seeker47

Well-known member
#6
Aug 7, 2018
1,128
962
113
#6
I have read several of the "Testimonies" posted on the Clergy Project site.

My first observation is that most of the non-believing clergy came from early strict fundamentalist/evangelical backgrounds against which they eventually rebelled. I also observed that many of them had difficulties with church doctrine or church behaviors. The Catholic testimony is especially clear on that issue, but one of the Baptist testimonies and one of the Evangelical testimonies also raised that issue; as did others.

I also find it interesting that in nearly all instances these "atheists" were not atheists all. While they publicly rejected the God of Abraham, they almost immediately embraced humanism/science in his place. They changed gods but did not reject one altogether. This furthers my belief that it is absolutely impossible for any human to be an atheist. God sits on the throne or we do! One or the other.

Again, thanks for making this thought provoking post!
 
P

persistent

Guest
#7
#7
Seeker47 said:
I have read several of the "Testimonies" posted on the Clergy Project site.

My first observation is that most of the non-believing clergy came from early strict fundamentalist/evangelical backgrounds against which they eventually rebelled. I also observed that many of them had difficulties with church doctrine or church behaviors. The Catholic testimony is especially clear on that issue, but one of the Baptist testimonies and one of the Evangelical testimonies also raised that issue; as did others.

I also find it interesting that in nearly all instances these "atheists" were not atheists all. While they publicly rejected the God of Abraham, they almost immediately embraced humanism/science in his place. They changed gods but did not reject one altogether. This furthers my belief that it is absolutely impossible for any human to be an atheist. God sits on the throne or we do! One or the other.

Again, thanks for making this thought provoking post!
Click to expand...
Your point about atheists seems valid with the exception of 'Atheists' that are the leaders at universities, and they are paid to maintain that philosophy. That is in my opinion the real Satanic stranglehold.

It seems that what you point out about the 'trading' the God of Abraham for 'humanism' is something that can be overcome with the right presentation to these folks. Maybe it is the discouragement that you notice in their testimonies that got the better of them and they let their guard down.

Even though I am new to Christianity I sort of saw some similar type thinking that preceded the Mennonite ministers abandonment of Christianity. Not necessarily to put any exact point of what led to this but similar to what you point out in the sense that these ministers seem to have rejected God in a moment of 'despair' or 'faulty' thinking.

Thank you for taking the time to look at this. If you have time to look at this video which is about 10 or 15 minutes long and seems to be presenting a line of thinking which would counter some of what those ministers fell for in their moments of weakness.

Myself having had a very 'atheistic' bent it appeals to me greatly but for ministers that have had a weak moment I have no idea. Your opinion will be helpful and I hope we can keep working together on this and get some others interested to help out as this seems to be a complex endeavor.

How I Found My Christian Faith - John Lennox
 
P

persistent

Guest
#8
#8
An organization which likely supports "The Clergy Project' is this posted here. I found this after seeing an ad on a CBS show. 48 Hours

Freedom From Religion Foundation - Wikipedia

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is an American nonprofit organization, which advocates for atheists, agnostics, and nontheists. Formed in 1976, FFRF promotes the separation of church and state, and challenges the legitimacy of many federal and state programs that are faith-based. It supports groups such as nonreligious students and clergy who want to leave their faith.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#9
Aug 13, 2014
27,359
9,373
113
#9
See the insolent man standing on the street
Hear the thundering sound of rebellious feet
Demanding rights, defending wrong
It can bring the righteous blood to boil
And we ask, "Oh Lord, how long?
Oh, Lord, how long?"


This is not the enemy
Flesh and blood have been deceived
When we move
Beyond the anger
We will see
We've got to rescue the prisoner
Rescue the prisoner
Prisoner of war
That's what He came here for

- Twila Paris
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#10
Aug 13, 2014
27,359
9,373
113
#10
In simpler language:

Humans are not our enemies, and we should keep this in mind when dealing with humans who are working for the enemy.
 
Seeker47

Seeker47

Well-known member
#11
Aug 7, 2018
1,128
962
113
#11
I hope neither of us identified them as enemies if we did it was unintentional. I don't believe we can help anyone overcome unbelief without first understanding the cause. Neither were we critical of the Clergy Project for their support of fallen pastors, they serve a legitimate function. I'll leave the advocacy of the FFRF for others to judge.

I love Twila Paris and the quote is spot on!
 
P

persistent

Guest
#12
#12
Lynx said:
Humans are not our enemies, and we should keep this in mind when dealing with humans who are working for the enemy
Click to expand...
I googled to find out who and what you are referencing and don't see what your post signifies.
Seeker47 said:
I hope neither of us identified them as enemies if we did it was unintentional. I don't believe we can help anyone overcome unbelief without first understanding the cause. Neither were we critical of the Clergy Project for their support of fallen pastors, they serve a legitimate function. I'll leave the advocacy of the FFRF for others to judge.
Click to expand...
Very little interest in helping those who have fallen. Seems this verse could apply here.
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.