David French on being exiled from the community

A friend recently forwarded me an article by David French that appeared on The Dispatch. The article was titled "How Fundamentalism Fails: Ultimately the closed fist can't overcome the open hand." As a former member of the Armstrong Church of God culture, I found his commentary to be very relevant and descriptive of what many of us who have left that community have experienced.

French wrote: "When fundamentalism arises in your own community, it can be profoundly painful and disorienting. People who were friends will call you enemies. They’ll warn others not to associate with you...while you’re reeling in pain, other people are sneering in contempt. You were never a Christian. You were never one of us. You are weak, they say—even when the hardest and most dangerous thing you’ve ever done in your life might be to say no to your own community when you know they’ve gone awry."

What is the antidote to this abuse? French framed the problem and solution in these terms: "But if this is the reality, how does fundamentalism fail? Because the bruised reeds and the wounded souls find each other. The community of the closed fist ultimately creates a community of the open hand. We were not created to be despised, to be hounded, and to be hectored into righteousness. Instead, our souls long for actual love and true fellowship."

So, welcome all of you bruised reeds and wounded souls. It is my prayer that you will find love and comfort in the voices which have chosen to post on this blog!