The Christian Refugee

Posted by Jonathan Brink
September 22, 2008

Are you a Christian refugee?

Mark Sayers offers an interesting video about planting a missional church, which is intriguing.  But his distinction of a “refugee” caught my attention. His comment was essentially that there is this group of people who will attend a new plant who are not converts, but are not part of a local body of believers in the traditional sense. They have essentially left the traditional “church” institution and are seeking something else.

The dictionary’s definition of refugee is:

“a person who flees for refuge or safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.”

Add the word “Christian” and its easy to begin to ask what people are running from or seeking safety from? Is it abuse, as so many in the CLB crowd have experienced?  Is it theology, or boredom, or even persecution for asking questions?

I also found the timing of the word almost ironic.  We are in the midst of what Phyllis Tickle would call the Great Emergence.  Everything “seems” to be up for grabs.  Politically Christianity feels like it is in a state of unrest.  Is the old guard being forced out or simply reformed?  Is the new guard creating revolution or upheaval?  Is a hybrid of sorts emerging that will usher in a new expression of Christianity that looks 2,000 years old.  Only time will tell.

It is hard to argue with Mark when people like George Barna suggest that there are twelve million people essentially in this category.  And when someone like Bill Easum admits that there is a problem with the church, it becomes hard to ignore the bright pink elephant standing in the middle of the room.

What is interesting about the concept of refugees is that it suggest displacement from the homeland.  Refugees are forced to wander, and disconnected from community they have no roots to plant. Forces have appeared to work against them leaving them with no place to settle.  Their heart is with their homeland, yet where is that?  Is it back where they left?  Is it somewhere right next to them?

I think the value of this distinction is important because it will give language to what people are feeling.  It will give them a way of communicating an experience.  And hopefully that conversation will lead to healing.

What do you think?  And do you consider yourself a refugee?

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Christianity, Church, Church Planting, Conflict, Emerging Church

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  • HW
    Yes, I do. Or misfit would work too. :)
  • Geoff
    Yes, I consider myself a refugee. I've been out of paid ministry for couple of years, all the while rediscovering my own faith. My wife and I are still refugees, searching for a place to belong in the sometimes barren land known as Christendom.

    I don't say that with a negative notion, I love Christendom, just don't really fit what is generally accepted as Christendom in our westren mindset.

    My own journey has led me to start a ministry for like minded people. Church is vital, in all it's forms, but there are many people on the journey of faith who are still longing for more of what they can't yet grasp. Rediscovering aspects of Christendom outside their experience is what helps them survive as refugees.

    Thank you Jonathan
  • am still laughing at comment #1 - fits me just fine!

    Jonathan, I have struggled to respond to your Sunday experience posts, mostly because I have not found the way to articulate how I feel about my church, I live on the edge of it... its not a particularly enriching experience at the moment, but for some reason I keep going.

    This post has made me think about all the folk I know who are and have been refugees and the emotional turmoil and anguish leaving ones 'home(land)' causes. Its made me think about just how much persecution one can bear before fleeing to a place of refuge. Perhaps the blogosphere is my place of refuge ATM, so thank you for articulating what I am unable to.
  • Like Tobit, I think my refuge is online.

    My refugee awareness began several years ago and culminated in my walking out last year. What was I fleeing? hypocrisy, church marketing and consumerism, spiritual greed and gluttony, attempts to silence or distract from the questions, etc.

    Eventually, I did go back but to a liturgical church. There, at least, was tradition that had been beautifully upheld for hundreds of years, there was more of a focus on people outside the walls. My faith in God's people was restored. But there was still much I was wrestling with.

    And my children weren't there. Their friends and fellowship was at the church I had left. I had healed from some unintended but nevertheless deep wounds. So, I have returned to be a guiding influence for my children. Now, I am back to feeling like a refugee, even though it is supposed to be my homeland. Or is it? See, the questions still remain.

    I think that Phyllis Tickle is right about this Great Emergence and it is exciting to see what may be ahead for the church. However, this time of transition is difficult and I don't believe I will live long enough to see it all come to fruition. It gives me hope for my children and my grandchildren though.
  • HW, sometimes I wonder if misfit is what we're all feeling but just don't want to admit.

    Geoff, my blessings to your new ministry. I hope it brings about much restoration for your and those you reach.

    Tobit, no worries. Maybe this was the post you needed.

    Cynthia, I was listening to Phyllis and she said historically it takes 100 years for the new to flesh out, so we're in for a long ride.
  • Alexander
    I am Christian refugee. I am Russian citizen and preacher of the Church of Christ. We had many problems with social environment. My pohone and mailings were searched! Information about us was send to security. We had three criminal deals! Our congregation is closed. I leaved to Moldova and I could be send from here each day!
    I will be thankful fore every ideas about receiving of asylum status! I could prove my history with some documents! All this could prove American preacher Leonard Medlin (medlinmb@gmail.com)
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