So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey

by Wayne Jacobsen

Jim, pretending to be leaders when they lie and devour others? I’m sick of it, John.” “They are not all frauds, Jake. Not all groups become as destructive as yours. Those who treat leaders as if they have some special anointing are the most susceptible to being deceived by them. It seems people who assume or who are given the most human authority forget how to say no to their own appetites and desires. It is so easy for any of us to end up serving ourselves when we think we’re serving others by keeping an institution functioning. But not all of those who do it end up so broken. Many are real servants who only want to help others, and they’ve been led to believe this is the best way to do it. Always separate the failure of the system from the hearts of the people in it. “Any human system will eventually dehumanize the very people it seeks to serve, and those it dehumanizes the most are those who think they lead it. But not everyone in a system is given over to the priorities of that system. Many walk inside it without being given over to it. They live in Father’s life and graciously help others as he gives them opportunity.”