Re: Christian Post article Here is an idea that offers considerable promise. Maybe not for everyone, but certainly for some people. Essentially it is what I was looking for during my "dark night of the soul" in the months between February and May. Indeed, it still seems like a good idea, something that could be very helpful. It is refreshing to realize that at least one individual Christian understands what this is all about. I remember my experience, in my own way "reaching out," and the net result was a big fat zero, nothing at all. Sink or swim. Well, OK, I got the message. And about such things, since I rather think that there are many others who go through similar experiences from time to time, we all get the message: Believe in the Evangelical "take" on the Gospel or forget about it, we're not interested unless you buy into our version of Christian faith which, of course, is doubt free, based on views that do not allow discussion that matters in any way since the only acceptable conclusion must be more-of-the-same. But here is a pastor in Colorado who just may get the point. "More of the same" falls on more and more deaf ears. It is unconvincing and the young are voting with their feet and going elsewhere. A portion of the no-longer-young are doing likewise. I mean, if faith is real to you, you need to "engage," tackle the really hard cases, the people and problems that you simply "can't deal with." But that's the point, as I see it anyway, otherwise all you get is preaching to the choir. Or preaching to an echo chamber. Maybe I'm being unfair. However, I cannot judge based on Christians I do not know who may be living in South Dakota or Louisiana. All that is possible is to reflect upon those that I do know. Yes, among them are "saints," no question about that at all, but a major -very large- part of things simply flies over their heads. No choice but to accept this for what it is and move on, is there? Billy ==============================================
Denver Pastor Starts 'Doubters Club' to Engage Skeptics With the Gospel _www.christianpost.com_ (http://www.christianpost.com) By _Brandon Showalter_ (http://www.christianpost.com/author/brandon-showalter/) , CP Contributor July 13, 2016 When Preston Ulmer set out for Colorado with missions on his heart, one of his first stops was at a coffee shop in Denver's Highlands neighborhood. Quite randomly he asked the guy behind the counter, Trax, who happened to be the owner: "What kind of church would you want to go to?" The owner laughed and said "Oh, I'm not religious" — he identifies as an atheist — but then said he would consider attending a church where people were not pushed away for asking questions and for believing different things, a place where they could actively engage their minds with pastors. He added, "I think you should start such a church in this neighborhood." Before Ulmer knew it, a deep friendship and pre-evangelistic space called "The Doubters Club" in a nearby coffee house was born. Ulmer, 29, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, received his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and says in an interview with The Christian Post that he feels a particular burden to reach skeptics and atheists with the Gospel because he used to be one. Now married to his wife, Lisa, and raising two daughters who are toddlers, Ulmer said he was raised in a Christian home but left the faith in 2007 because he had too many questions he could not reconcile. Through the personal mentorship of a few pastors who knew of his deep intellectual struggles, he ultimately returned to Christ after an arduous nine-month process of searching for answers. "I don't care where you land as long as you are honest," he recounts one of his mentors saying. Such honest searching for truth underpins everything in The Doubter's Club, a group that Ulmer started with Trax where the two model friendship and pursue the truth together in highly intelligent discussions. Each week they explore theological and philosophical questions in a group setting with participants who hail from diverse backgrounds, both Christian and non-Christian. They started with 10 people in September of last year but now engage close to 60 in two separate locations; and their vision is to expand to several other coffee shops across the city. At the conclusion of every discussion group they take a vote on what to discuss the following week. The most important core belief they hold is to value the truth over being right. "It's a democracy where votes actually count," Ulmer says with a laugh. Next up for discussion this Sunday: "Did Your Parents Brainwash You?" -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
