Dear World at Large,

I would like to take a moment to request a change of title, for I no longer wish to be referred to as a Christian or be associated with Christianity for the following reasons. I feel like I need to explain why I wish to unassociated myself with this category. I wish to leave religion because of the definition Christianity holds in the mind of your people as follows.

1. Greedy Right Wing Republicans

These are the self-proclaimed “Christians” that focus their whole existence on two issues (homosexuality and abortion). Both of which Jesus never specifically mentioned while the one issue (the poor) Jesus mentioned more times in his life than anything, goes on the backburner. Our “Christian” leaders have let the poor go without aid or food while giving the countries richest 1% a large tax break. But some of you world go on to believe in these politicians because they can speak “Christianeze” and you disregard what Jesus said about a person being known by their fruit.

It is my belief that if I am to follow Jesus, the poor, the downcast and those you do not judge as important would be my biggest concern and at the heart of my thoughts and prayers. I would not spend my time hating homosexual people, many of which Jesus would likely be hanging out with or hating Planned Parenthood who are doing what followers of Jesus should be doing which is loving teenage girls who have made a mistake and desperately NEED help.

It is also under my suspicion that the environment and the earth are unimportant in your definition of Christianity and that is also not want I want to involve myself in. The Earth is God’s creation and while it is there for us to use, it is also for us to take care of and part of the responsibility given to us by God in the very creation process.

2. An Unhealthy View of Salvation

I’m not speaking of the actual salvation that Christ gives, but I’m talking about the response to salvation or rather, how “Christianity” teaches one to “work out their salvation.” It tends to start with separating yourself from all things unholy (including friends) so you can shelter yourself from evil influences and grow strong enough to be able to invade the world as you grow stronger, this time being a missionary. Unfortunately by the time this “strengthening process” is over you have no connection back into the outside world because your friends are gone, your music sucks and you have no hobbies that doesn’t include praying after you are done. I’ve always wondered why you would pray after a poker game anyway. You have long abandoned the places Jesus would have hung out and instead have monopolized coffee shops all across the country. How did coffee become the Christian beer and the coffee shop become the Christian bar? And no, for the last time I don’t want to host another Church Coffee House night.

3. An Embarrassing Eschatology

I’m not going to pretend that there has not been some good come out of the Left Behind Series or the ministry Tim Lahaye has done in the sense of people being introduced to Christ for that I rejoice. But I am also not going to pretend to have not seen the damage done in the name of Christ by this series either which includes:

--an escapist mentality such as, “Don’t worry about bettering the world because it’s all going to come to an end soon anyway. Then we’ll be lifted up into heaven on a cloud and everyone else can just go to hell. So let’s just sit back in our church and wait it out.

--a literal interpretation taken straight from apocalyptic (symbolic) literature. After all of my study of eschatology and apocalyptic literature I still have never figured out why you would interpret a symbolic book rich with numbers, symbols, colors and all kinds of figurative dream language literally! My only guess is because fear trumps hope in the sales realm. Media has had so much success capitalizing on people’s fear that it only makes sense for the “Christian” world to jump on the fear train and ride it out. I won’t even begin with those on TBN for whom God has probably had to change his end times plan just because He would be embarrassed if these men got something right on account of their ridiculous demeanor.

4. Cheesy Attractional Churches:

I don’t want to be a part of your church because your music is “cool” or your teaching is “relevant”. No matter how hard you try, your music is going to be sub par to what I’m listening to so please don’t pretend that it is the same quality. And don’t try to wow me by playing the cover of the newest rock song on the radio.

There is a difference between relevant teaching done in a scriptural way and scriptural teaching done in a relevant way. I do not need any more relevant teaching. I know how to balance my checkbook and I know how to have sex. I need something that transcends my regular life, not an escape but a dose of the reality Jesus said he came here to bring.
I need something that is living and breathing that can get inside of me and rattle my world. Sometimes I think I could go to church for a year and at the end I feel like I still would not know God

I do not wish to receive any more of your clever marketing trying to convince me that I’ll love the music and have free gourmet coffee. I can listen to good music and have good coffee anytime I want. I desperately need to experience God. I need something that I can’t find apart from a community of faith.

In closing, these are some of the things I do not want to be related to in any way. And therefore I renounce your version of Christianity. I no longer want to be known as a Christian, Religious or a Church Goer so I would appreciate you making the correct adjustments in further proceedings with me.

From this point on I would like you to address me as a follower, disciple, learner, student, adventurer, or companion of Jesus Christ. Thank you for making the correct changes.

a follower,

Dustin Bagby