Hi! My name is Erin Buffington and I quite like your magazine. In fact, I love it lots. I've been gathering up the courage and drafting this 'message' for about a week. I hope, really really really REALLY hope to hear from you!
I've seen and read over fifty bazillion articles about "why the Millennials are leaving the church" or "an open letter to your open letter about leaving the church and why you're so wrong" but the thing of it is the church really isn't listening to us. For many years the church has resided in it's very own corner of the world and with today's social media and the vast reach of the internet in general, the millennials have experienced the world far beyond that corner. Right now I have another tab open on an article from Relevant Magazine about how Italian authorities have detained fifteen Muslims for throwing twelve Christians over the side of a boat because of their faith and the American church would have us believe that our biggest threat as Christians are gay people.
We're leaving because we can't help but see beyond the corner that the church continues to cower in. It's isn't like we can help it, either. In the words of the great Tee Eye double Guh RRR, (that spells Tigger), "I'm seasick from seeing too much". In the light, or shadow, of the information age the church would have us believe that our world is still only black and white, right or wrong, yes or no.
When Jesus came and saved our wretched souls from the hell that we so rightfully deserve He told us to love everyone. My dear, sweet Jesus painted the world grey.
I have quite a few stories I'd like to share with the world that make the church just a little bit uncomfortable. One of them is about a prayer that was sent up, received, and answered while I was sitting on a toilet in a Waffle House bathroom in Bellevue, Tennessee. Quite a few more stories are about the different denominations of churches I've belonged to and the sheer horror, ahem, excuse me... "humanity" *insert the oh the huge manatees meme here* that ensued. My struggles with suicide, anger, coming to terms with who my parents are and who they'll never be, and overcoming being sexually and physically abused by my first boyfriend. Some of them aren't even my own stories. The story of how my husband was ostracized from the church for "pouting" after his best friend died. The story of my husband's best friend who after being raised in the church realized at sixteen that he didn't even know Jesus.
I believe my friends and I haven't been through what we've been through in vain. I would very much like to write for Bedlam Magazine so I can share our stories with people that may need to hear them. I've attempted to work with many a youth group for years but the church doesn't accept a lot of my stories because most of the time it has nothing to do with the "happy ending" if there even is one.
There is hope out there for the jaded church-goer who would rather sleep in on Sunday than put on their best face to go and sit amongst people who think 'blessings' are things with monetary value. There is grace, love, and forgiveness for the Millennial who questions. My God is a big God and He can do whatever He pleases, no matter how much the church tries to box Him in. Pretty please, with a cherry on top -or no cherry and just whipped cream if you prefer- consider me as a writer for Bedlam. I may be only five foot tall but I am quite good at causing commotions. Just ask my husband.
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