I am a member of a Christian congregation
But I myself am not Christian, I do not attach such a label to myself
Everyone at my church knows this and are totally cool with it
And one of the elders told me I am much more Christian than I think I am!
I don't believe there was an historical Jesus, never mind that he rose from the dead and ascended up to Heaven, etc. although I do (in a roundabout way) believe in a Supreme Being and I like the biblical Jesus
Within my church, this is totally fine, it is a theologically liberal congregation which has recently voted to allow same-sex marriages - they are more welcoming than perhaps some other congregations I can think of would be...
They are tolerant of my somewhat bizarre beliefs and to be honest I've never really talked about them much but if asked I do bring them up
I was going to do the worship leader training in my denomination, with a view to eventually becoming a lay preacher - I received some encouragement to do this from various people
But I then realised that it would be inappropriate for me to lead Christian worship if I myself am not a Christian
Because that is what the whole point of the church is - to be a Christian presence in the local community
So I promptly withdrew myself from the training
It's OK not believing in the pews but it is an entirely different matter not believing in the pulpit
That would be hypocrisy
But I myself am not Christian, I do not attach such a label to myself
Everyone at my church knows this and are totally cool with it
And one of the elders told me I am much more Christian than I think I am!
I don't believe there was an historical Jesus, never mind that he rose from the dead and ascended up to Heaven, etc. although I do (in a roundabout way) believe in a Supreme Being and I like the biblical Jesus
Within my church, this is totally fine, it is a theologically liberal congregation which has recently voted to allow same-sex marriages - they are more welcoming than perhaps some other congregations I can think of would be...
They are tolerant of my somewhat bizarre beliefs and to be honest I've never really talked about them much but if asked I do bring them up
I was going to do the worship leader training in my denomination, with a view to eventually becoming a lay preacher - I received some encouragement to do this from various people
But I then realised that it would be inappropriate for me to lead Christian worship if I myself am not a Christian
Because that is what the whole point of the church is - to be a Christian presence in the local community
So I promptly withdrew myself from the training
It's OK not believing in the pews but it is an entirely different matter not believing in the pulpit
That would be hypocrisy