The other day I read an article written by a peer in Australia, and it hit home. It was like someone had punched me in the chest hard and I couldn't breath. Tears began rolling down my cheeks as he talked about the C-PTSD that many of us have received as a "going away" present from the church. More accurately we should call it our "kicked out and rejected" present. He was speaking of a friend who ended up in a psychiatric ward because of it, and the others she met with similar stories. I asked him if I could share the article here on HealingtheGap.org , and with his permission I will post the link below.
The Author of this article is Mike Frost. He is a world renowned Missiologist. He has written 19 books including award winning ones such as, "The Shaping of Things to Come," "Exiles," "The Road to Missional," and "Surprise the World." These books have been translated into many languages, and he has been a guest lecture at many colleges and seminaries around the world.
The fact that a man, on another continent, who has never met me, could write such a clear and concise understanding of what happens when the church attacks the victim is amazing. The struggle to understand what one believes after going through this is real. Many join the "deconstruction" movement. I choose to reconstruct, but somedays I am so lost and I don't know what to believe, or what is real. I struggle with trusting others, but I struggle even more with trusting myself. Can I trust what I think, or what I believe?
Thank you Mike Frost with permission to repost your article.
