An Open Forum for New Commenters

Posted byChaplainmikePosted inOpen Thread

This is long overdue.

For awhile, I’ve wanted to give opportunity for people who have never commented on Internet Monk to join the conversation.

So, today, the mic is yours. Welcome!

Perhaps you have been reading Internet Monk for years but have not added your two cents’ worth, for one reason or another. If you’ve ever felt like letting us know what’s going on inside that head of yours, now’s the time.

Maybe you just happened upon this site today or in recent days and you are still finding your way around. Please say hi and let us know how you found us.

You might be a bit shy. I’ll admit we can be somewhat intimidating at times. Just like church and Cheers, we have our regular gang, and some of us have developed ways of talking to each other that unintentionally shut others out. It might seem like a clique to you or maybe you think your point of view will get shouted down or dismissed. Here’s your chance to introduce yourself while the rest of us step back and shut up.

Maybe you don’t understand some of the things we talk about and you’d like to ask more questions, but you feel embarrassed. This is not a school and you need not have passed any prerequisites to join the class. Ask away.

There could be any number of reasons why folks don’t join the conversation. Whatever the reason, it’s OK. But we want to give you a chance today to join an open forum with others who are new commenters like you.

So, there’s only one rule — NEW COMMENTERS ONLY. If you are a regular commenter on Internet Monk, sit this one out. Today, you be the reader who listens in and lets others do the talking. I, Chaplain Mike, and the other writers will be available only to new commenters for this post.

Fair enough?

I can’t wait to make some new friends today.

102 thoughts on “An Open Forum for New Commenters”

  2. I think I might have commented once or at most twice previously, but generally I’m a frequent “lurking” reader. I’m something of a misfit… somehow, I find myself much more in agreement with the articles and posts themselves than with the comments below. I can think of at least a full dozen occasions on which I’ve written a lengthy reply in comments and then deleted it rather than submitting it, because I just didn’t want to get in on a debate that I knew I’d lose. I’m a United Methodist, who leans more Baptist in some matters of doctrine and polity and so forth. I’m in the “doctrine-upholding, God-said-it-I-believe-it-that-settles-it” camp on most issues including those that “liberal” Christians (I hate the terms liberal and conservative because they mean so much that they mean nothing) disagree on, and I do respect the Bible as God’s authoritative (and relevant) teachings even if they seem out of date sometimes. With that being said — in a few ways, I’ve come to the “non-fundamental” camp in the sense that I believe in an “old earth” rather than a 6,000 year old one, and I’m willing to accept that not everything in the Bible is meant literally or historically. With that being said…. the lengthy replies that I usually delete rather than offend people with usually deal with a trend I see towards taking the Bible as less-than-authoritative, buying into the “it’s all good, there’s more than one way to skin a cat” treatment of salvation, and the occasional buy-in into human morality rather than “God said thou shalt not, so we shouldn’t.” I recognize it’s a very mixed audience and that in these ways, “post-evangelical” actually doesn’t describe me at all. That’s why I try not to be too loud about it. That being said… one thing that no one will ever convince me isn’t true, is that God is real, heaven and hell are real and are literally as good (and as terrible, respectively) as “classical teachings” would have us believe, and that only a personally-accepted faith in Christ will save you from hell, no amount of works-righteousness or all-roads-lead-to-God will do the trick. I believe in living an ethical life, of course, but to me that falls under “Works come after grace” rather than “Some people only claim to be Christian, but then when you look at them they don’t act like it.”

    Oh, and I’m also the pianist at my local church, also with Methodist lay-speaker training (which, for those who don’t know, is a series of classes at the end of which you are accepted by the church as qualified to preach a sermon in the real preacher’s absence. We don’t believe that God has to specifically approve one person to preach instead of others, of course, it has nothing to do with your “holiness” or anything else…. it’s purely human training about writing sermons, etc… we don’t believe our pastors are any more “qualified” than the laity, we fully accept the priesthood of all believers – we just think it’s a good idea for people to have had some human training.)

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  3. Alex, I was so taken with your tongue-in-cheek rebuking ministry (it was tongue-in-cheek, wasn’t it?) and your pithy comment about IM on its bad days and its good days that I hied myself over to your neck of the post-evangelical-wilderness woods and read three posts at random (I happened to pick December 2011).

    Yours is now my new second-favorite blog and I have bookmarked it accordingly.

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  4. IM has been a regular part of my Saturday morning routine for several years now. I left a pastorate in 2005 to “re-enter” the marketplace and after several months of “detox,” have not regretted one minute of my decision. I ran into IM about that time, and immediately began to drink the refreshing water of Michael’s posts. I (still) look forward to getting my Saturday Ramblings fix every Saturday morning! Although many of the posts “stretch me,” I look forward to reading each and every one of them. (Sorry—my Southern Baptist roots get shaken when the evangelical circus is exposed!)

    I must say, however, that of late the site has begun to “feel like” a church where the long-time or perhaps more keyboard extroverted members were gathered together to visit with each other while the others weren’t quite part of the club.

    Thank you so much for creating this forum and I will continue to join the IM bunch every Sat morning (even though I am cheating and hanging around on a Friday today)

    God bless you and thanks for your willingness to give of yourselves

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  6. Very interesting and helpful comment, Lizzie. I’m so glad you wrote and hope you will continue to be involved with IM. We here in the States need to hear perspectives from other parts of the world, so thanks to you and all who have responded to this post from other lands.

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  7. Hi,
    I’m British, but living in a large expat mission community in Papua New Guinea (about 50% of whom are from the US). I’ve only recently discovered this site, and have been really encouraged by some of the articles, especially some recent ones on grace.
    Many of the US people I work with come from very conservative evangelical background, and even though I’ve been here for most of 10 years, this continues to be a challenge for me as there are some many issues which some of them consider “gospel”, which I would see as cultural – eg view of creation, role of women in the church, discipline of children, republicanism and so on. It concerns me that these views are often perpetuated by those in the youth ministry (we have an international school here, and I have children) by showing dvds of Piper and Driscoll sermons. I know that many of the things the men say are ok, but I do see a lot of cultural assumptions too, so it has been really helpful for me to find some different opinions coming out of the US that are more like my own – or at least give space for me to think differently!

    What I dislike about these vocal mega church leaders is their one-size-fits-all mentality, which is so mono-cultural. The trouble is, with today’s ease of communication, he who shouts loudest goes viral and, in some cases, gets put on a pedestal and turned into a demi-god. When so many Christians don’t really study their Bibles, and only get their theology second hand, it is very easy to influence people. (So in some ways I’m thankful towards these pastors – they’ve driven me to my Bible to search for alternative ways of looking at things!)

    Here in PNG I believe there are aspects of this kind of evangelicalism that are not helpful. One of these in particular is the male dominance, female submission idea. Abuse of women is a massive problem – rape and wife beating are endemic, and the very superficial understanding of the theology of gender that most people have basically gives the church a “christian” justification for either turning a blind eye to violence, or even perpetuating it.

    I think the prosperity gospel wreaks havoc wherever it goes, and here it just compliments PNGs own version which is called “cargo cult”. This is a belief that if you go through the right ritual, whatever that may be, then the cargo will arrive – dropped out of planes, growing out of the ground, and many more bizarre ideas. This “cargo mentality” gets transferred into the church and any kind of prosperity gospel thinking is just fuel for the fire!

    Anyway, I’m now glad when I see a new iMonk post in my inbox – thank you!

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  8. I have been checking the site out for several months. Growing up in the evangelical free denomiation I never realized what I was missing until attending a Roman Catholic wedding and saw a liturgical service for the first time. After that I tried several other denominations I settled on an ELCA Lutheran church. Actually, Chaplain Mike’s posts on the Lutheran denomination were helpful to me on deciding on a new church home.

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  9. I have visited IM a few times through links from RHE, but it was a search for Lent that brought me here to stay a while. I came to Christ at age 40, barely two years ago. I was “saved” at about age 9, but walked away from church in Jr. High and never looked back. I love my small town, non-denominational church that teaches from the Bible, verse by verse, and the weekly Bible study. But my background and liberal ways are very different from most everyone I have met at church and BSF. It has been online that I have discovered that it’s okay to believe the earth to be billions of years old, that women can have a voice, to have questions about some of the things I read in the Bible. Online, I found that I am not alone in this search, that my God is bigger than my questions, to find peace in the beauty of the mystery. My church does not observe Lent, but this year, for the first time, I am. I gave up radio time to create a time of silence, to try to meditate and hear from God. The problem is I talk too much to ever let Him get a word in. (I may never be weaned from milk. 🙂 ) All this to say that I am grateful for the honesty, humor, grace, love, and yes, occasional naughtiness, that I hear reading the new posts, from the archives, and esp from the comments. Know that you are an encouragement to new believers, at least to this one. Thank you.

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  10. Robert, I know that Michael Spencer had a good friend who was both an American Indian and an evangelical Christian. I know there was a video I saw where they were both at the same conference and from what I heard from the man, I was impressed. But darn it, I can’t find the info now! I searched through the archives and can’t find it. Hopefully someone else here will remember his name. I tried a google search and didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did find a blog post by Ben Witherington talking about Chief Steve Silverheels His Father was actor Jay Silverheels, who starred as Tonto on the T.V. series “The Lone Ranger.” Chief Silverheels is a Christian minister and he has not abandoned his heritage and helps other American Indian to keep their heritage and still be Christian. I see he has a webpage at chiefsilverheels dot org. (Replace the “dot” with a real dot, obviously.) If I can remember the name of the other guy, I will let you know.

    (Chaplain Mike…I am not a NEW commenter obviously, so I don’t mind if you delete this. But maybe you can get the info to Robert directly.)

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  12. I “met” IM reading an interview by Michael Spencer of John (monergism) Hendryx several years ago. I came at IM from that direction. I have loved IM for all the positive reasons listed above, tho making few comments (being one who is a bit intimidated just a little. I feel so much on the same page, a part for sure but a bit on the outside looking in. I learn lots, have savored Michael’s book and his transparency and am thankful to know that there are others in that wilderness.
    I have wanted to ask a question for a long time but didn’t know where to ask it. Because of this opportunity, hopefully it is appropriate.
    I read (perhaps it was in Michael’s book) that at one point Denise embraced and became RC though he did not and it was hard on them but they survived it and had a good marriage in spite of this difference. I am in a similiar situation and would like to ask her about her courage to make this move. I am not leaning RC but am 180 degrees different from a path my husband of 44 years has taken.
    Please forgive me if this is NOT an appropriate place to ask. I consider IM a great piece of my church experience since I have been without one for several years. One can be in a wilderness for lots of reasons.
    Thanks.

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  13. (Am I allowed to come out of the woodwork and comment again…?)

    Good to hear your voice (metaphorically), Deedee, and do stick around. Paganism has been a long and abiding interest of mine, since much before I became a Christian and I’d be much interested to hear about your experiences in Christo-paganism. And yeah, forget about Piper, Mohler and most of all He Who Must Not Be Named.

    As to not agreeing, the best thing about iMonk is the way people here have of disagreeing honestly and openly but without (well, usually, I must admit) descending into attacking each other.

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  14. I’ve commented on Internet Monk once or twice. I became a regular reader last summer, at the start of what my friends call my “quarter-life crisis.” I was raised an IFB, became incredibly theologically confused as a teenager, then headed to the New Calvinist camp shortly before heading off to college because they had the tidiest answers. I attend an SBC-affiliated university where, up till aforementioned quarter-life crisis, I was a biblical studies major. Last summer, it became clear to me that I couldn’t have both my integrity and employment from the evangelical institution. Now I practice my faith in the Lutheran tradition (but am not heavily involved in church activities and things like that) and am trying to figure out what to do with a BA in English.

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  15. I think I started reading Internet Monk back in 2006 or 2007. Not sure when, but at some point Michael added me as a friend on Facebook and emailed me once or twice. I grew up indy fundamentalist of the BJU and worse kind, but eventually moved to more General Conference, walked away from it all in frustration, landed in a Neo-Third Wave Charismatic Faux Reformed Semi-Pelagian campus church (bout the best I can call it without using the c word, although the pastor would occasionally quote IM if I sent him a link earlier the week), and eventually walked away from that one as well (more in horror than frustration). Now I’m torn between going liturgical mainline-ish where I’m the only one my age or going mega church where I’ve become good friends with many but believe the services are mostly empty and lacking (which doesn’t explain why the people I know are so Biblically literate…).

    I’ve commented a few times but never really gotten involved, although Eagle has come over to my blog fairly regularly when I was blogging more often. I credit IM with messing me up in a good way, challenging my presuppositions and false worldviews. The series on the creationism debate back in 2010 really blew my mind up, exposing me to Biblical alternatives to the crap Answers in Genesis and others were giving me all my life. So now I have a love/hate relationship with the IM community. I love you guys and you keep challenging me and helping me grow, while at the same time exposing me to richer traditions that I long for but just can’t seem to move into yet.

    Thanks!

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  16. Robert,

    Another excellent source is Richard Twiss, Sicangu Lakota. He is one of the leading voices in contextual worship, that is, the worship of Jesus Christ from within one’s native culture.

    His site is: http://www.wiconi.com/

    He has also put out a pretty good book on the subject: One Church Many Tribes – Following Jesus The Way God Made You

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  17. Jeff: You need to look at gathering the best of Imonk’s essays and putting them in book form, with the proceeds benefiting Denise. In the past, I have printed several of Michael’s essays and posts out and given them to individuals who were struggling with the issues that Michael wrote about. Just a thought.

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  18. As the oldest daughter of Chaplain Mike, (Hi Dad!) I’ve struggled with my own “wilderness” and have been bruised more than a few times by church. I am definitely my father’s daughter and have always been a bit fiesty and challenging to say the least, not to mention an emotional rollercoaster :). I like that this community isn’t afraid to speak up and challenge each other and the opinions of the evangelical mainstream. Throughout the last year, I’ve found myself in survival mode yet again and there Jesus was, waiting for me to look up at him and ask for help. All of you encourage me to keep my eyes on him instead of worrying so much about how to do it right. As I read this blog and the comments you make each day, I’m so thankful because you have given my dad a voice.

    Abby

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  19. Eagle-

    I recognize you because I read those two sites and see your comments! 🙂 Thanks for your outreach.

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  20. Megan-

    There are others who feel this way– you just have to look hard for them! Unfortunately, I am no in my career and still feel caught between two worlds. I don’t know where you are going to school but InterVarsity and Grad Resources (Campus Crusade) do outreach to graduate students and are on campuses.

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  22. BTW I love checking the little box to prove I am human before I can post. Something about that makes me smile. Internet monk is like that little check box to me. Helps remind me of what it is to be honestly human. Think I will check that box a few more times before I go to sleep 🙂

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  23. Thanks for the invite to comment, the invitation applies to me… I guess. I have commented in the past, but very short sentences. I started coming to iMonk shortly before Michaels passing too, and prayed for his family during their difficult season. Michael’s essay gave me hope when I was going through a very difficult time… his essays were one of the reasons I did’nt walk away from the faith. Sometimes I revisit those essays for encouragement…

    I remember sending Michael a message through Facebook, but he was unable (illness) to answer. I submit it to you:

    Michael,

    I wonder if you have posted anything about syncretism. I am an American Indian and am torn on a few things. I am not looking for something to prove a point, just another opinion. Do you have any thoughts or any input about American Indian syncretism?

    I get the feeling from people around me that they feel that I am trying to do this, which is not the case. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, I am not and will not take from the glory that is only due his name. I have heard Christians (American Indian) say that when we decide to follow Christ we had to give up our old nature. That bothers me, so when we become Christians, we have to give up our culture and heritage and take up western (American) christianity of what is acceptable. It reminds me of a festival that happens in a town north of where I live, where the Norwegian’s (Christians also) gather every year, and to share what, that’s right traditions and culture. (scratching my head)

    Thank you for your time, and I understand if you cant get back to this message.

    Your friend,
    Robert

    -Sorry for posting the whole thing, but I thought my original words would be better.

    “I survived, I shall now go back into hiding!”

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  24. I’ve been reading iMonk for about 6 or 7 years now. Mr. Spencer’s ‘Wretched Urgency’ is a permanent book mark. I hail from Canada and as I understand it, my forefathers booted out the Spaniards from northern Holland and embraced the Reformed faith. This has been the church family I’ve been given, with all of it’s blessings and many failings. I appreciate the Christ centredness here at iMonk. For the most part everyone is speaking the same language but with different dialects — it’s these different dialects that I really appreciate as it forces me to think of matters in different ways. The voices from different faith traditions in the comment threads give me much to ponder for which I am grateful. Blessings to all of you that put this meeting place together.

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  26. Yet, Deedee, we are so glad you are here. We welcome you and your comments. (And don’t worry about Driscoll, Mohler, Piper, et al. They are simply our brothers in Christ whom we feel could use some time in the wilderness. We’re calling them to join us…)

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  27. I mostly just lurk because my beliefs are very different from yours. I’m a Christopagan (interested in both Christianity and Paganism). I love Jesus, but accept that there are many worthwhile spiritual paths, and I feel more at home with the Pagan community than churches. iMonk is interesting and informative, but I get lost whenever you talk about people like Mark Driscoll, Al Mohler, or John Piper (to name a few mentioned recently) whose names mean nothing to me. I guess I just refuse to let churches define who Jesus is, or what human values mean. I realize this means that we’ll never agree.

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  28. hi. been reading visiting IMonk since 2008. learning a lot. I am from the Manila, Philippines. I’ve commented a couple of times, but I’m realizing that it has been best for me to simply shut up and learn. i’ve been talking too much at church anyway. thanks again ! have a blessed day!

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  30. You forgot Australia Jeffrey boy!!!

    Or maybe “trying to forget” given our friendly (!) sparring now and again….but it’s one big cyber hug in the end:)

    Some days you’re the last person I’d want to agree with but you’ll always be the first guy I’d wanna have a beer with if I landed in your town;-)

    All good…

    (John From Down Under)

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  31. I did not know the global influence of this blog. I had no idea….Chaplin Mike and Jeff can I make a couple of suggestions? How about a few more guest posts from people abroad who can write to the following issues:

    1. What is the local African perspective on American evangelicalism which has been exported there?
    2. What does it mean to be a Christian in different continents?
    3. What does worship mean to people around the world?
    4. What does Christianity mean to those who come from different faith traditions? (ie former Buddhist, Muslim, etc..)
    5. What do Christians in Africa think of the rise of Neo-Calvinism?
    6. What do Christians abroad think of John Piper, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, etc….
    7. What does community mean in other parts of the world?
    8. How about an article about how liturgy knows no bounds and what it means for someone in Taiwan, South Africa, etc…?
    9. How destructive is the prosperity gospel in Africa, Asia, etc..?

    It would be super cool to have more posts from a broad perspective.

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  33. Aaron this is a great place. Never feel intimidated. At this time in life I don’t consider myself to be a Christian but I love all the people here. If there was a church made up of all the people here on I Monk…I’d be first in line!! But please don’t feel intimidated, your voice and insight are crucial. You bring a lot in your experience. The more people involved the more we all learn we are not alone. BTW…I checked out your blog, you have some good things on there that were quite thoughtful.

    Okay Chaplin Mike…it’s past midnight here in Washington, D.C. I bite my tongue all day but wanted to say welcome to the family!! 😀

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  36. First of all, I am from Hawaii, so thank you for posting the picture with the invitation. I have enjoyed my daily reading if iMonk for a while now. I find the postings to be interesting, challenging, confirming, and in some cases encouraging. It is always a blessing. While I am drinking my first cup of coffee for the day, I have my devotions then read iMonk. It really makes my day start off right. Please continue the great work your doing. Many blessings to you!

    Jeff

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  37. I’m not new, and I hope CM and Jeff show me a little mercy. I couldn’t take in sweet Eva’s comments and not respond:

    “You haven’t been back, so this is pretty much it for you.” Great! This is pretty much good.

    “I know most of you would say this is not enough, but for me, this is all I can do right now.” The greatest thing I’ve learned about God in my return Home is His uncanny ability to reach us where we are, no matter what someone else has to say about it being ‘enough’ or not.

    Respect the process you are in even when others do not.

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  38. I would agree with Tor – as a person living in the “land downunder” I’m a regular reader, but have never commented, usually because someone says what I’m thinking before I get a chance (dang it!!). It’s good to read a plethora of voices on this site, as someone whose Christian experience is pentecostal/evangelical and is in somewhat of the wilderness at the moment I find that I’m not alone in my wanderings. It also helps me understand the somewhat weird (to non Americans) beast of US evangelicalism and to realise that not everyone’s faith is perverted by the political/evangelical shenanigans we hear about so often. So many thanks to all who comment here regularly, I do so much appreciate it.

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  42. I really miss Michael Spencer’s podcasts….so much so that I had to break the rules for this thread to say it (being an occasional commenter, but a follower of this site for…..10 years now? wow).

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  43. Thanks for this invitation to delurk! I started reading IM shortly before Michael died. Not only did I enjoy his posts and guest posts, but also the great variety of commenters – never a dull moment. I’ve learned a lot. Grew up Evangelical Free in Germany as Baptists were not welcome. Parents came from a Lutheran background. About 15 years ago joined a Pentecostal church and now do not hold membership anywhere but attend worship services with other seniors in our independent supportive housing complex. Word as pastoral care assistant to people in long-term care. I find a lot is ‘over my head’ – hubby is the OT scholar, I only typed his papers. Love it though when nuggets bring on the ‘aha’ moments in my faith walk. Thanks for the explanation of ‘evangelical wilderness’. Wish I had a real life group like y’all of which I could be a part! Oh, and proud to be Canadian, having lived in SD and KY during hubby’s studies and served in church in CT, MA, and NY. Keep up the good work and if I ever have something to say, I won’t be shy.

    Oh, and what does +1 or +100 stand for – I’ve seen both!!

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  44. I’m not new here, but just want to say that it’s been wonderful reading what has been said today. I hope we hear more from those who introduced themselves. These new voices are very encouraging.

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  45. I’ve been a regular visitor to IMonk for a couple of years now and find it to be a wonderful oasis in the middle of nowhere. Being raised In and struggling with conservatism for many years I have found this site to be a like minded friend where no others could be found. Thank you so much for the love you pour out In all your work here!

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  46. I have been reading Internet Monk now for about six months and have been making it part of my daily routine and shared a few posts on my Facebook page. I am a Presbyterian pastor in Virginia and I read several blogs about different aspects of the church each day. I find the Internet Monk posts quite thought provoking and you help me to think through ideas, theology, and the church in ways I might very well be avoiding for a variety of reasons. I appreciate reading the posts because you are not trying to sell me on a specific point of view, but helping me consider respectfully the conversation. Even if I don’t specifically agree with your view, I do believe you are seeking an honest, respectful discussion of the subject and for that I am grateful for what you share. I have always learned and matured in my faith and life, when I am engaged in a honest, respectful discussions with others who might hold to a different view of theology and life. You have helped me to think differently and focus on areas I might have neglected in how I prepare my sermons, how I deal with church elders, and in teaching. I don’t always have time to read all the comments about a post, simply because you tend to get a lot of them, but I appreciate the discussion and it helps me better understand views and opinions I would not typically encounter in my daily tasks. Thanks so much for your efforts and what you have contributed to my work, faith, and responsibilities within the church. I look forward to what the future will bring and the challenges I will discover in preparing for the places Christ will be sending me. You are helping me in that journey even if I do not comment on your posts, I am indeed a grateful reader and appreciate your gifts in sharing this ministry with the world.

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  48. Hi! I’ve been reading Internet Monk for several years. I don’t remember how I first found it, but Michael Spencer was running the site back then. I checked back occasionally and gradually became a more regular reader.

    I’m 30 years old, married, and I live in sunny, balmy Edmonton, Canada. (Well, it’s sunny. Even when it’s -30°C–that’s about -20°F–it can be sunny. And this winter has been unusually balmy.) I still attend the same evangelical church that I grew up in, but I’ve had numerous other Christian (mostly evangelical) influences in my life, especially in high school, a year of Bible college, and university. I’m also less involved in church than I used to be. I tend to think of myself as somewhat evangelical. I still attend an evangelical church and follow evangelical traditions more than traditions of other denominations. But there’s SO MUCH in evangelicalism that I just don’t identify with anymore. Fortunately, many of those issues aren’t all that prevalent in my church, but I do see them at times. The writers on Internet Monk have written so much that resonates with me. I think I’m drawn more toward the critical essays (that’s my cynicism showing), but I appreciate the other ones, such as the devotional ones, too.

    In general, the Christians in my life are alright with hearing my questioning, doubts, and criticisms, and sometimes they appreciate it. But it’s a rare few that seem to really understand. Reading here is a good reminder that there are many who would understand.

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  49. I’ve been reading IM for close to two years. I’ve probably commented about 4 times. I stumbled onto this blog via a link that Headless Unicorn Guy posted on a different blog. He linked to Michael’s first of two posts dealing with “Wretched Urgency.” That post brought tears to my eyes and i’ve pretty much been reading every since.

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  50. I’ve been reading Internet Monk for several years. I began about the time Michael was taking a sabbatical. My husband would join me in listening to the Saturday morning podcasts. I was an evangelical and many things had begun to bother me about that world. Michael and the Internet Monk community put it all into words for me. AND, gave me the courage to look elsewhere. I explored RC, Anglican, and ended up LCMS. Leaving evangelicalism (two years ago) has been very freeing. It’s amazing what I see now that I didn’t then.

    This community has also helped me consider all sides of an issue, whether it’s politics, religion, etc.

    I often think of the impact that Michael Spencer had on so many people, and yet he lived in the middle of nowhere, didn’t have a megachurch, lived simply and humbly. Makes me weep.

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  51. I’ve been reading iMonk for about two and a half years. I’ve commented a few times before, but generally just read. I’m a college student who went through the post-evangelical wilderness much, much earlier than a lot of people here, I think. I was raised in a nondenominational evangelical church that bought into the seeker mentality and was very disillusioned, very young (it didn’t help that I had a strong interest in theology that was not being nourished by my church.) Internet Monk, as well as a number of other websites and books, helped me to gain a broader perspective on the Christian tradition and made me very unsure about being an “evangelical”. Ironically, perhaps, I am now comfortably attending a southern baptist church in Tennessee that proclaims the Gospel in Word, prayers, worship and sacrament and–despite occasional reservations–am reasonably comfortable with the label “evangelical”. I am one, as stated above, who has decided to stay within evangelicalism for now and do what I can (especially on campus) to introduce people to the deeper, wider faith of the church throughout history.

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  52. I’ve been struggling with the patriocentric authoritarianism creeping into the idependent bible church I’ve been a member of for over 15 years. My online research into this phenomenon led me to iMonk as well as other perspicacious blogs. I’ve been reading here for about a year now. I stand at the edge of the postevangelical wilderness but have yet to set foot in it. I can’t decide if it’s time to quietly leave or take a bold stand …

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  53. I knew I wasn’t alone in that –especially from reading other posts here over the years — good luck to the both of us on finding out more about pruning and all that entails …….

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  54. I’ve been reading for about a year now. It’s refreshing to come to a place on the web where people are asking the same questions as me…recovering from the same things as I am.

    I currently attend a reformed, Christ-centered church, but still cringe when I hear certain phrases that take me back to my neo-charasmatic, dominionist, Joel’s Army, spiritually abusive upbringing.

    I love reading the comments as well as the articles. Thanks for being here.

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  55. Not really a new commenter but have not posted in many months. Still read IM daily though. I appreciate the depth of discussion at times and the wide range of people and viewpoints involved. IM has helped me to mature in many ways, learning better how to disagree agreeably and to be much more humble about my own views. I’ve followed up and read many of the recommended books and websites occasionally mentioned (such as regarding the liturgical year…has been very helpful spiritually) and been exposed to many ideas I might never have come across elsewhere (at least as easily). I also met up with a fellow IM poster on a European trip a couple years ago.

    I particularly have appreciated interacting with Catholic and Orthodox readers and have done more reading based on those discussions than just about anything else in the past few years. Fr. Ernesto, Martha of Ireland, Devin Rose and Patrick Lynch (haven’t heard from him in ages) have been some of the most thoughful commenters that have led me to study and appreciate Catholic and/or more historic Christianity in ways I never would have imagined 5 years ago. Thanks to all involved for the past, present and future of IM.

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  56. Brinn–

    I’ve never commented here before, either, but your comment resonated with me. I’m single, late twenties, finishing an M.A. and am going to start a Ph.D. in the fall. I’m a member at a PCA church, and while I haven’t had the experience of having had to sit through explicit teaching implying that I am somehow incomplete and doing something wrong by being unmarried and in academia, I do feel like a consistent outsider just because my life doesn’t look like what is culturally normative for women in evangelicalism. Anyway, I can’t tell you how nice it was to read that someone else feels like she lives in two worlds.

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  57. Here’s another ingredient in the international mix…

    I am a Dutchman currently living in Switzerland, with a Reformed background and Catholic sympathies. I found Internet Monk a couple of years ago and have been visiting more and more frequently since. I enjoy the thoughtful, inspiring essays and conversations here. As for the US-centeredness: I find this place a refreshing demonstration that Christianity in America is more than the big evangelical circus it usually seems to be from a distance. Being someone for whom adding something to the discussion takes much time and energy, I normally don’t comment, but I happily make an exception for this occasion.

    Thank you and keep up the good work!

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  58. I started reading after Michael’s article on the coming evangelical collapse was featured … somewhere, I forget. I’ve been here ever since, mostly lurking. As others have said, sometimes things are a little over my head but I still chug along with you all. Like Eagle, I had a bad experience in church, and I haven’t been back, so this is pretty much it for me.

    Its been a relief to find a place to go where I feel semi comfortable. I never did let go of Jesus, (or visa versa maybe) so its nice to find some fellowship here. I know most of you would say this is not enough, but for me, this is all I can do right now. Maybe someday I’ll venture back :). Thanks for being here :).

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  59. Um, yes. I have commented once or twice before but I’m still kind of shy and new around here.

    I’m a member of the noble but often fearsome LCMS tribe of the Lutheran world, but I grew up in a heathen hippie town without many Christian friends, playing an odd sort of role as bridge between the Bible thumpers and the agnostics, but never fitting in with any of them. Attending a Lutheran college introduced me up to the beauty and depth of Lutheran theology, which was much more meaningful to me than the “Baptist lite” evangelicalism I had seen around me growing up. It also showed me the tendency of the LCMS to be…how shall I put this…very focused on truth and committed to protecting that truth at all costs.

    Since then, I’ve spent several years as a missionary overseas, and discovered IM last year when I was transferred to a Middle Eastern country and went through a bout of severe depression and spiritual isolation. Trips home only brought out reverse culture shock where I could no longer deal with issues in American churches that I had started to view as unnecessary, distracting, or even harmful. It was refreshing to find this website and see that my concerns about the state of American evangelicalism were shared by others, and also refreshing to see an internet forum about religion that is full of thoughtful, insightful commenters who discuss and listen rather than shout past each other.

    I love seeing different perspectives on this post-evangelical wilderness, what led people here, and where people might be going in the future. For now, since I have separated from the mission board (long story) and am stuck in a foreign land with no access to a church, this is one of my main sources of personal spiritual and Bible study resources, and I really appreciate the depth, passion, and thoughtfulness with which the writers approach each and every topic. It’s truly a blessing, especially at times like Lent when I need reminders that being in a wilderness doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve failed. So thanks, all.

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  61. I’ve been reading Imonk for almost a year now. I first started after I watched “jesus camp” , and I searched the internet looking for good reviews , and i found two. one over at “sentient developments” and here at Imonk…and the rest is history 😛

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  68. Seeing I have embarked upon a “rebuking” ministry where by all things I encounter which may give even the slightest hint of compromise I engage with a hearty “I rebuke you”, please now allow me to engage, here, with a hearty and powerful, “I rebuke you”!

    With my powerful rebuke (I learned how to do it powerfully by watching Rod Parsley after a night with too much brandy) out of the way and my “rebuking ministry” clearly established I wish to say that IM is a bit self-righteous amd immature on its bad days and enlightening and generallu satisfying on its good days. I now remove my powerful rebuke lest someone faint from discouragement.

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  69. Correct. I should have clarified that our particular diocese ordains women as deacons, but not as priests. Each ACNA diocese determines whether or not to allow female priests, and the majority do not take ordination of women to that level. I believe most of our jurisdictions accept the practice of ordaining women into the diaconate. Our arch-bishop, Robert Duncan, has ordained women into the priesthood in the past. So, I guess my point was to say that the ACNA is friendlier toward the idea of female ordination than most evangelical entities, such as the Baptist church. And I don’t hear as much of the fundamentalist attitude toward females within the ACNA as I did in other settings.

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  70. I agree. I certainly don’t think that because I homeschool I am more “spiritual” than someone who doesn’t. I also don’t think it is the right choice for everyone. There are many ways to educate a child, and one size does not fit all. Sorry if I read too much into your comment. I just get tired of people assuming that homeschooling isn’t a serious occupation.

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  71. Lee-

    Thank you for your kind comment. One of the things I like about IM, is that the men here are very supportive of women in the church. It is breath of fresh air.

    I actually am in the process of figuring out what to next in terms of writing about how evangelical churches address women, in particular women with careers. A website, magazine articles, and a book are all options I’ve been floating around.

    Also, I have “flirted” with going to other denominations but haven’t been able to make that leap. As I get older it seems I will eventually end up in the Anglican or RC tradition.

    That being said, I just love the dialogue that goes on here at IM and the call to focus on Christ.

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  72. Hopefully, I didn’t imply that I thought that way about homeschoolers and it was not my intention. My problem lies with setting that as the standard for what a Christian woman or family should do and claiming it is the most Christ-like. I personally know many homeschooling families that do a wonderful job and think it works for some families. Just like public and private education works for others.

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  73. By the same token, I resent the implication that those who homeschool their children are by default less educated, intelligent, sophisticated, or accomplished than those who don’t. I dislike being judged just as much as you do.

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  74. I agree the rapture concept is wrong as presented in the Left Behind series. The sequence of events will be the tribulation, the 144,000 (those in Revelation 7) called from the tribes of Israel, and then the millennial reign. And finally the day of judgment. These are as indicated by the symbols in Genesis 1. Each day there begins with the evening (spiritual darkness). And creatures on the land applies back to Abraham and Jacob-Israel. And the “man in the image of God” is the Holy Priests of God and Jesus, He being the firstborn. (Sorry, I took down my website, and my book isn’t finished.) But the 144,000 called from the tribes of Israel will age, like us, while the Holy Priests will not suffer death (again). It is this generation (the 144,000) that will not pass away till all things are finished. See Matthew 24 as their story, the servants feeding those of the household. And Israel is the servant of God (the Father). So many of the 144,000 will fall away: the master is long in coming, and beat up on their fellow servants. If you are still with me on this, NOW you can see that when the millennial reign begins, some of the 144,000 that remained loyal despite persecution will be worthy to join the Holy Priests. So they will be taken to join them. And it’s certain that it applies to the 144,000, since those who are taken are involved in “feeding” – working in the field, at the mill, and sitting at table in the kitchen. (NOT in a bed, wrong word for Greek “klinee”. It goes in the kitchen, since it’s kasherized at passover per another verse, which is to remove all flour.) So the rapture is of the 144,000 to join the Holy Priests for the thousand years. But that won’t be literally a thousand years, but instead much shorter, since “a thousand years is as a day.” And this is the only place where that verse could apply.

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  75. I have been reading imonk for about a year and a half. You are one of my must-reads during my lunch hour (and short peeks throughout the day). The spiritual depth I find here has been so helpful to me. I love the emphasis on grace and that has been a real encouragement to me. Faith does not come easy to me. It’s not that I really doubt Jesus … I just doubt my own sincerity and my own deceitful heart. Thanks so much for the the time and effort all of you put into this site. You are a real blessing.

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  76. I began reading this blog during the final two months of Michael Spencer’s life, and have been following on a daily basis ever since. As one who comes from the Bible Belt of Central Canada, this blog helped me through a period of my life where I was re-evaluating what Christianity should look like in the Church, and in my life personally. IM showed me that it is OK to not be on-board with all the typical evangelical clap-trap, it has also helped me understand what it means to live a Jesus Shaped life.

    This website continues to be an outlet where I can read, be intellectually stimulated, and relate to others who are looking for something deeper, and more profound than what modern evangelicalism has to offer.

    Thank you

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  77. Some ACNA Dioceses ordain women, some only to the diaconate, like ours Lee.

    Just wanted to clear that up.

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  78. I’ve been reading imonk for about 2 years. I found it on my journey back to the Lord. I really don’t know what to say that would express how I feel about the minds that make up this site and what you have done for me. God bless, God bless, God bless you all. Thank you and do keep up the freeing, thought provoking, loving work. It most certainly has been a God send for me!

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  79. I’ve been reading this blog for about a year, after I unceremoniously dumped all my Calvinist and patriarchal blogs because they were damaging my soul. I remain Southern Baptist, but I’m starting to see the beauty of the liturgical tradition.

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  80. Brinn…

    Great comment, btw. I think CM should recruit you to do some writing.

    I’m an Anglican, currently attending the UMC that I grew up in. I can tell you that the ACNA and the UMC are open to the ordination of women, and I haven’t heard as much of the “submission” rhetoric as I did in other Evangelical and non-denoms in which I served. That being said, I do respect the traditions of my Roman Catholic and Orthodox brethren who don’t ordain women…I will say, though, that I believe both traditions give a high place of honor and respect to women, and respect their leadership capabilities…Looking at the list of female saints of the Church certainly inclines me to that impression.

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  81. How interesting that you are RC, with a bent toward reformed theology. Have you ever read Bernard of Clairveaux? There are hints of reformed theology in several of his writings. I’m inclined to believe that Calvin and the boys really didn’t have much original thought…they just grouped together some already existing ideas in a way that hadn’t been seen before.

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  82. I’ve been reading IM for a couple of years as well…..ended up buying and reading Mere Churchianity as a result and loving it! I must admit that many posts are ‘over my head’ and I might skip some as “I just don’t get it”…but so many I love and am motivated and inspired, to say the least challenged.

    and Willy……yep……..totally get what you are saying, even if I don’t quite see where God is leading yet……

    —“but I’ve wondered often if people in similar, good churches have gone through a period of what I’ll call ‘pruning’ that makes us leaner, with less of the trappings, even from good churches, that sometimes invade a simple Christian life?”

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  83. I’ve been reading for 5+ years. Since then I’ve gotten married, had two kids, and left a conservative home fellowship. Also in that time, Michael died, which I experienced as a great shock and a greater loss. No one was saying the things he was saying the way he was saying them.

    Internet Monk has helped me to recognize that I am solidly in the wilderness and also helped to sustain me there. I am very thankful to you guys for your dedication and talent that keeps this conversation going. Jeff, you are hilarious. And it’s not everyday you meet someone as stable and gracious as Ch. Mike who can still write a “full-blown rant” when he needs to.

    I really appreciate the invitation to say hi; I’ve been kind of intimidated by the well-established comment community here. Maybe I’ll drop in more in the future. We’ll see – two under 3 keep us busy!

    Peace.

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  84. I am new to this blog. Got interested because i was looking for something about religion and about lent. I know i will be coming for more reads here. Looking forward to reading more blogs that i like.
    Keep up the good work.

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  85. I started reading a few years ago while I was working on a Ph.D and often felt caught in between two worlds- my church and academia! At the same time I started to have concerns about some aspects of the evangelical experience (no liturgy, etc). When I stumbled upon Michael’s blog, I was so thankful that I was not the only one who had felt this way and that there was a term for what I was going through– the “evangelical wilderness”. 🙂

    While I have many of the same concerns about evangelicalism that have been brought up here (yes, the song “How He Loves” makes me cringe too) but the issue that I struggle with the most is women in evangelical churches. As single, almost 30 year old female with a Ph.D, I feel like I don’t fit the mold of a typical evangelical woman and this has caused much pain and anger for me. I feel like I’ve been made to believe that I haven’t reached my full potential in Christ as a woman if I’m not married, don’t stay at home and homeschool, or make my own laundry soap, poptarts, or any other list of DIY stuff found on Pinterest. I can’t even wrap a present that looks good and if I have children I want to teach them the joy of eating a real poptart every once and awhile. 🙂

    I had been attending a baptist church where I was pushed off to the singles group along with college kids (I could be their professor!) when everything came to a head. The following events took place in a two-week timeframe at the end of which I left that church and never went back: 1) I was with the “older” single ladies in the singles group and we were talking about marriage with a pastor’s wife. She remarked that we all seemed okay with being single. I couldn’t help myself from cracking a joke and said “yep, I can buy a purse without having to ask someone”. Her response to me, “looks like we need to talk about submission.” 2) a sermon on marriage from I Peter where the pastor said that if a person wanted to get sanctified they should get married and then gave an example of submission in marriage that I felt exemplified borderline spousal abuse, 3) a sermon regarding women’s roles taken from I Timothy where it was said that if women had a problem with what was instructed, then they should take it up with God.

    One morning while I was getting ready for work, I realized I had been fed lies about my identity in Christ and never went back to that church. I have since been fellowshipping at an EFCA church and have found them to be less dogmatic on secondary issues and I’ve been welcomed with open arms. In fact, I met more people at the EFCA church in one month than I did in two years at the baptist church.

    That was a long rant but it feels good to “get it out there”. I was wondering about IM readers’ observations on women in evangelical churches?

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  86. I’ve been a reader for about four years now. I wept and prayed the day of Michael’s passing. I believe I posted my condolences then. Internet Monk has challenged and in many ways reshaped my faith, taking it to a more genuine place. I’m thankful for the wisdom found here, the courage to celebrate the mystery and explore the heart of grace.

    Thanks.

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  88. I’ve been reading for a couple of years now, laughing, weeping, cringing, and pondering along the way. I must confess; I pastor an SBC First Baptist county seat. It is a difficult tension to live with, trying to be true to who i am, what i believe is authentic Christianity, and leading a congregation that would not agree with much of it. Maybe you would agree that “evangelical” is an extremely broad and nuanced label. Most of the content on iMonk is painfully accurate concerning the state of evangelicalism and there are some of us within that are attempting to work through these issues at least on a local level. Perhaps it is a lose lose situation, for sure it is the cause of these headaches, but it is where i find myself. The criticism and critique i find here is a helpful look into the mirror. I think there is much worth saving here in evangelicalism, or at least in local evangelical churches.

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  89. Wonderful invitation! I started reading iMonk shortly after college, around 2006. I grew up evangelical and found the essays here stimulating and provocative, enough to keep my faith engaged. When I moved across the country for a job, I also found myself without a church home for a little while and found iMonk a good source of encouragement and intellectual stimulation. At that time, I still considered myself evangelical. Around 2007, iMonk fell off my radar for a few years–for some reason I just stopped reading due to life and distractions and etc.

    Over the next few years, I gradually shed my evangelical bent–so many of the positions just ceased making sense to me as I grew and learned more about the world, other Christians, other religions, politics. I couldn’t stay evangelical and stay true to myself or reality! I soon considered myself a “liberal” Christian but had trouble expressing what that meant, especially since I now empathized with so many things that were taught to me as “wrong” (Democrats and feminism!) and many of my old friends were concerned for the state of my soul and therefore impossible to talk to in any meaningful way.

    So about a year ago I started searching for like minds and people with similar experiences online and I re-discovered iMonk (I think it was one of the post-evangelical wilderness posts, in fact, which made my ears perk up!) The community here has truly helped me navigate my own post-evangelical wilderness: I find myself relating to Christianity in a more holistic way; thinking about scriptures in a less prescriptive, more beautiful way; and identifying with my faith in a much healthier, joyful, Jesus-centric way. It’s a long journey, but iMonk has been a wonderful encouragement along the road.

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  90. Hi, not an entirely new commenter – maybe two or three times in the many years I have found a home at IM. Though I come from a main line liturgical church ( ok RC there I said it!) my journey with the gathered faithful has been long and to be honest painful. Though RC I found Jesus as a teenager in a charismatic catholic community which was Benedictine in spirituality,charismatic in expression, missional in purpose, liturgical in formal worship, evangelical in practices and shepherding / dicipling in pastoring – and all this by lay people – maybe the best and worst of all parts. Anyway I am over 50 and been in ‘recovery’ from church in its various guises for a long time. When things seemed really dark Michael Spencer and the fellow monks provided me light and hope when there was literally no one else. Michaels writings spoke so deeply into me and kept me attached to Jesus even if only by a fine thread at times.

    I love the honestly, the reality, the openess, the fun, the occasional naughtiness, the music, the movies, the earthiness,the beverages, the acceptance, the wisdom and lack of judgement that permeates IM. Most of all I love the way it connects me with my creator without preaching at me, without SHOUTING at me without selling me anything.

    Like anyone who had travelled with Michael his passing was all to sudden. I have so much appreciated the legacy that Chaplin mike and the others have honored Michael with by continuing on in the spirit of IM

    Sometimes I yearn for the type of fellowship and discussion I experience on IM with people in my geography. As yet that has not happened. Maybe it’s not meant to – who knows? What I do know is that IM provided a lifeline when things were looking pretty rough and ongoing support in my journey. Funny that I have not even met anyone in person yet I feel part of something just by being a reader- and maybe a more regular participant on the site.

    Thanks fellow monks

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  92. I have wrestled with that same question about boundaries and redefining church (and I guess I continue to wrestle with it). Over the past 4 or so years, I have been blessed by amazing people (inside and outside of “regular” congregations) who have been kind enough to dialogue with me and wise enough to let their responses be led by Holy Spirit. Here are some thoughts, questions, and, hopefully, insights from my journey.

    Why are we worried about boundaries? Are we concerned about offending God if we get outside of the boundaries? I have come to believe that He is not as “easily offended” as I grew up thinking He was. Are we worried about not being safe/protected? A friend once asked, “How far do you think is too far for the arm of God?” Do we really think we can go off some edge where He cannot reach us and lovingly pull us back?

    Who defines these boundaries? If it is the people around us, then I need to have a legitimate answer to that inevitable question, “What church do you attend?” Therefore, I need a definition and boundaries, or I won’t be sure my answer is legitimate. If it is God who defines the boundaries, then that alleviates my concern. Right now I am resting in Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20 – ” where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” That sounds like church to me. My temptation had been to jump to Acts (ie. 2:42) and say that it was not church that day if we weren’t regular in our meeting, weren’t taught directly from the scripture, didn’t pray, or didn’t take communion while we were together. But I no longer think that is true. I think that came from my own rather narrow view of those passages in Acts and my a love for structure, order and definitions.

    I trust that the same Holy Spirit that led me away from our previous (and much loved) evangelical congregation also led me to my current Starbucks and Paradise Cafe churches. I trust that He will continue to lead me. I trust there is not only grace for my salvation, but grace for my journey.

    May He continue to lead you on your journey. May you experience His presence wherever and whenever and however two or three of you who love the Lord gather together.

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  93. When Mike began this web-site years ago he asked that I write some essays as the “Correspondent from our public schools”. It was gratifying having that opportunity and I miss Mike terribly. Now as I near my final few months before I retire – I think about the things that have been influential in my career and can’t help but believe this website has kept me grounded as I navigate through the “wilderness”.

    I’m not one to write many comments on web sites – I’ll leave that to others. But I do appreciate this opportunity to post.

    Blessings to everyone who is keeping Mike’s legacy alive.

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  94. I was introduced to Internet Monk by chance. My day-to-day church identity has been Roman Catholic, but my reading and praying over Scripture has created an internal acceptance of Reformed Theology. While using iTunes to do a general search about that specific topic, I happened upon Michael Spencer’s podcast. I subscribed, and decided to look over his blog.
    The first article I read was entitled “Jesus Shaped Spirituality-Part 1”. Need I say more? I’ve been coming back every week since then. I will risk the dramatic while stating that this blog has consistently offered me a nearly singular opportunity to address this world I live in with the language of the world into which I have been adopted. I often “Like” iMonk articles to my Facebook page.
    Thanks for the work and the love and the wisdom that goes into the blog…and for the continuing opportunity to learn humility, and assess wisdom, and to be inspired.

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  95. What a great idea for a post!

    I’ll introduce myself then. I’m Tim, I’m 25, I live and work in Nottingham, UK, for a well known mission organisation. I’ve been following iMonk for about a year now and absolutely love the depth and authenticity of the posts I read here. I love God, His gospel, my wife, thrash metal, films, reading, running and helping students take God seriously.

    Working with students at the University has brought us to the same page as much of iMonk’s thinking. While the culture of evangelicalism in the UK is certainly different from the US, we nevertheless share much of the frustrations and disillusionment with Christian subculture.

    In Acts 15:19, James says “It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God”.

    Agree!

    So then, let’s make our mission about making it as easy as possible for students to meet God and be transformed by the gospel. Which means throwing out traditional paradigms of evangelism because “that’s the way we’ve always done it”. Stripping away Churchianity. Thinking outside the box. In the work that we do here, we desire to see the gospel connect with students’ lives in genuine ways. What does a gospel-affected student life look like? That’s what we’re trying to help each of them work out for themselves, as we journey with them (often trying to un-do much what they’ve grown up with in Christian backgrounds pre-University while we re-do Jesus).

    If you have any thoughts (in the archives?) or upcoming posts on how to engage with the Bible and/or its themes, especially in regards to narrative – especially from the perspective of those still seeking – then keep me in the loop.

    I’ve found iMonk to be so helpful in giving me an absolute feast for thought personally and in sharing with others so far. Keep up the amazing work everyone, thanks for having me!

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  96. Cyn, excellent question! Thanks for joining us. The phrase “post-evangelical wilderness” lies right at the heart of what Internet Monk is about. Our founder, Michael Spencer, spent most of his life in evangelical denominations (Baptist, Southern Baptist), and came to see that the church culture was severely wanting. Current writers have had similar experiences in other evangelical groups.

    One main reason Internet Monk exists is as a critique of American evangelical culture. Most of us have left that behind — hence we are “post-evangelicals.” Some of us have become Roman Catholics, others Lutherans, others Anglicans, etc. Some of us remain in evangelical church circles and try to change things — to encourage a more Christ-centered, historically informed, broader and deeper faith.

    Many of us are still in the “wilderness” — we have left evangelicalism but we don’t know where we’re headed.

    Hope that begins to answer your question.

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  97. Yes, Tor, I keep a watch on who is coming from where. You would be surprised at all of the countries represented. We try to keep an international flavor as much as we can, including Mike Bell (Canada) and Martha of Ireland as not only rich commenters, but also as regular essayists.

    Oh, and I left out Denise Spencer who lives in Kentucky. If that’s not another country, I don’t know what is! (Hi Denise…)

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  98. Been a reader for a little more than two years — during which time my son was diagnosed with leukemia though thankfully he’s had a successful bone marrow transplant for over 420 days now. Pondered much of Mere Churchianity during that time.

    I’ve enyoyed the essays, posts and comments almost all of the time. I think I’ve grown deeper and stronger and leaner because of many of them. ‘Leaner,’ I emphasize. I don’t go to a church rife with problems. We’re open and filled with grace. Our pastor isn’t preaching on sex from the roof of the church while lying in bed . . . . but I’ve wondered often if people in similar, good churches have gone through a period of what I’ll call ‘pruning’ that makes us leaner, with less of the trappings, even from good churches, that sometimes invade a simple Christian life? And if so, how have some of the others out there handled a sort of backing off from activities within their own church in favor of a simpler approach that isn’t tied to a ministry that is always tied to something from within the church itself? Not sure I’m clear enough with this but just wondering…….

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  99. I have just found iMonk thru an online search for information about mental & emotional illness and what, if anything, the bible has to say about it. I was quite surprised to read what I’ve read. I guess I knew by instinct that people in general are misguided and uninformed about such illnesses; and, intuition has advised me to be cautious of my Christian brethren. I liked iMonk’s essay of 10November09 and want to read more, so I will be combing the archives, as well as reading daily.

    (What the heck is a post-evangelical wilderness?)

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  100. I have been reading IM for well over a year now and would like to thank you all for often being the highlight of my lunch hour at my desk!

    As a Brit living in Singapore I suppose my comment would be a question about your international audience – do you ever look at your analytics to see how many overseas readers you have?

    I have no issues at all with the US-centricity of IM and in many ways it has nuanced my understanding of the US evangelical/post-evangelical culture wars which are almost always grossly misrepresented by the international media (even by the BBC!)
    As such, IM acts as a great ambassador for North American Christianity offering a unique forum for reflection, reason and hope.

    I would like to add that IM is one of the few places on the web where the quality of the comments are equal to, and sometimes better than ;-), the essay itself. Keep up the great work and the excellent moderating.

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  101. Okay, I’m not sure how the rule applies as I met one qualification (not a regular) but not the other “new.” It has been about a year since I commented. So, I will throw out a question and if no one is interested in it, I won’t be offended if it dies here nor will I be offended if I’m declared not a new commenter and am deleted right away..

    in your opinions, what are the absolute boundaries to “church” with a small “c?” Are four people who meet once a week at Starbucks to share their lives, with a common denominator that they are all Christians . . . a church (knowing that they have no other church contact)? While the center of the church forms are obvious it’s the edges that not well-defined. For us post-evangelicals, how far can we go to redefine our church experience, and yet remain inside the boundaries?

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  102. I’ve been reading iMonk since college, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented here. iMonk was a constant uplifting and thought-provoking read during some very spiritually difficult times. As an undergraduate, Michael Spencer’s essays were usually more substantial food than the sermons at the churches I could get rides to, and more interesting than what passed for Bible study in the campus fellowships. I very quickly became sick of all of that, and as I made my first steps into the post-evangelical wilderness, I scoured the archives here. It was comforting to know someone had asked a lot of the questions I had been asking over the years and had reacted to the standard answers with the same frustration. It’s been about five years since I graduated, and I’m now finishing up a PhD. I still look forward to iMonk posts, and they remain thought-provoking and insightful. Keep up the great work!

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