Has Your Life Improved Since Leaving the Church? | Why I Don't Go (Episode 2) #WIDG

Four young adults who have left the church sit down for a candid conversation with Lisa Fields to discuss why they don't go. Join the conversation on twitter, use #WIDG

Watch more below:

"Listening is the greatest apologetic tool." -Lisa Fields

Follow us on social @Jude 3 Project on all platforms.

Credits:
Videographer: Lance Asper
Production: RevPro Media

[calebcranke]

I know I learned through this pandemic is people have mastered going to church but not personal relationship with Jesus and God. The moment the churches closed it showed a lot of people were attached to the building instead of being attached to Jesus and God. Also the labor is plentiful but the workers are few.

[naturallymemarie]

I agree with the girl in the orange plaid shirt. Leaving the church has taught me to search for God for myself and not be lead by the flock and follow what the flock does. He had to set me apart to establish my identity and abolish that chameleon spirit that made me conform to my surroundings. A lot of people get lost in the religious crowd and church culture that they never find themselves nor do they find Christ for themselves.

[preciousb]

A lot God’s people are not in the church, anymore but are praying reading there bibles at home, and having small prayer Groups

[ngonigriffith]

Since leaving the church after attending for 40+ years, I have found myself reading the Bible more, doing more Bible studies by myself and with other people, and I pray and meditate more. My relationship with God has improved and I desire to do more things that please him. I am glad I left.

[kourtneydouthard-becker]

I stopped going because im tired of being hurt by leaders who i genuinely respect and trust as my covering. Tired of favoritism. Im tired of being treated like less than, yet when people discover you have a gift, a title or some kind of status they treat you differently. Id rather fellowship with a hand full of like minded people and/or do prayer call meetings for now until God tells me otherwise. Im traumatized and tired.

[LocWonder]

Therapy has helped me tremendously since I left church. That’s what has helped me thrived🤷🏾‍♀️

[petalblossom]

YEP! My life FLOURISHED after leaving man-made religion 15 years ago and running into the arms of Jesus Christ! He truly is the Bishop of my Soul! (I Peter 2:25)

[amcovered]

True dynamic discipleship is lacking in the house, we're preparing people to go to church and not to be the church!!

[fallenlotus]

My life has greatly improved after leaving church. Being born in a southern Baptist home and forced to go to church every Sunday threatened and stunted my intellect. Gossip, constant shaming of free thinkers, sexism, homophobia, peer pressured into joining the choir to make my toxic family look good, hypocrisy, and manipulation using the bible really infected my psyche. At 16 I finally woke up and stopped attending church which caused a lot of shame towards my family and they tried everything to pull me back in. Yet their fear tactics became nothing more than empty threats. The shackles holding back my mind have been unchained and freed from control. Therapy and distancing myself has played a huge part in recovery. It takes a lot of courage to speak your mind against a brainwashed majority. Always push forward, never look back.

[matthewheard]

Not gonna lie. I was watching this in a judging manner at first and I realized they left the church not the religion. I think people confuse the small line between church and faith.

[lynnray]

I believe the money collected in the church should go to the neighborhood. They drain the money from people they do not help or invest in. The money is for the people.

[harveyyarbrough]

I am 63 years old. I stopped going four years ago. Long story short, I saw what was really going on, "Control". Since leaving I have become spiritual and totally reliant on my faith in God.

[WhenGraceCalled]

We must learn to discipline ourselves in listening to others. How can we show people we love them if we don't listen to them?

[ShaanSagoo]

It's helped me massively! I really feel personally my relationship with Jesus strengthened so much more and I hear his guidance way more than I ever did with all the loud music and noise and judgement in church. I feel that I am able to really focus on scripture and The Holy Spirit and true Biblical knowledge.

Don't let any church pressure you or make you feel bad for leaving, Your relationship with Jesus is way more important than a pressure to go every Sunday and being forced doing things you feel uncomfortable with.

[NINAMAVEN]

This is too needed. As someone who has also left the Church.. I agree with what all of you are saying.

[minbrprice]

It is a shame they left the church to develop their own relationship with God! As faith leaders, we must do a better job of using our platform and influence to help people reach Jesus.

[godlovescouture]

The pandemic has taught me how integral the local church is to the believer. The church to me is encouragement, fellowship, and accountability. It’s the icing on the cake. It intensifies what I’m doing in my own relationship with God. You should seek God for yourself, but i also think the enemy works in isolation and division. If you are not plugged in with other believers and being taught the word of God. Think there is a tendency to create your own God. I also think our culture doesn’t like to be submitted under any kind of authority. We like to do our own thing. Which is where trouble can start.

[mswestmoreland]

My life has improved since I’ve come out of the bondage of infrastructure, religious practices, and flawed human guidance.

[gallieled]

Can the videos be a bit longer 🥺🙏🏾 I am loving the discussion!!

[bobbullethalf]

I can say without a doubt my life has improved since I left the church. It’s going on 30 years since I last step foot in a church. I have saved money and gotten so much rest on Sunday morning.