This article is thoughtful even if provocative to some. Holly expresses what I know is the experience of many. My own has many parallels. I’m one (of quite a few) who DID choose to return eventually… to a progressive form of Christianity, for reasons I won’t go into now except to say that I believe I can do more good “inside” than “outside”. But staying out is a fine option in my mind. I respect people like Holly who make that choice and support them in their efforts to do many of the same loving things many followers of Jesus who stay in churches try to do.

Christians, I understand your panic. As you see numbers drop in church attendance and fewer and fewer people self-identify as Christian, you fear the flames of Christ are being snuffed out by idolatry and ignorance and you frantically search for reasons as to why anyone would leave the church and its savior. There has been no shortage of articles trying to Explain why people are leaving:

“6 things people need to hear from churches (but are rarely said)” 

“Dear Church, Here’s Why People Are Really Leaving You” 

“Six Reasons People Leave Your Church” 

“Losing My Religion: Why People Are REALLY Leaving the Church (It’s not what you think.)” 

“10 Reasons Why People Leave Church” 

You’ve got to stop this; you’ve got to stop trying to explain away why people are leaving the church in droves.