Posted by:
ThinkingOutLoud
(
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Date: November 01, 2013 09:04AM
Speaking truth to power, bucking the system, just plain old telling the truth about your reasons for doubt or for leaving, has certain purposes, I'd guess.
For some, it might be necessary for them to hold onto their integrity, to tell the truth, be authentic, move forward with dignity. To heal.
For others, it might be so that no one they tell or explain these things to can truthfully tell others that they left because of sin or being offended, instead, or for being unworthy, not wanting to live the commandments, etc.
Anyone who does those things after you personally have set the record straight with them directly, is lying. Compromising their own principles, sinning, being unworthy, causing offense, creating the spirit of contention, inviting the devil in, whatever it would be called if you knowingly did these sorts of things to them.
It can separate the wheat from the chaff, if others who know you are telling the truth see what is being done to you behind your back; help them see how petty most of this church worthiness business is, or even lead them to question some leaders or members and their behavior, as well as question some church teachings those same people espouse.
Telling the whole truth is never easy; it can hurt us, our loved ones, and people we respect and care about. Some people will not want to know or hear the truth, even when evidence of it is staring them in the face, and even when they have the same doubts themselves. They may blame the messenger, you, for telling it out loud, making it real and making them face it.
But sometimes, there is a need for being truthful. And if we do it rationally, calmly and with respect, there is no need for it to be contentious, anger-filled, blaming, aggressive, or anything other than honest. Perhaps the other will make it seem so or twist your words to make it be so, to others, but if you have tried to be honest and not critical or hurtful, helpful versus passive-aggressive, and you are doing it to help yourself and perhaps help free someone else, then the question isn't why would you, but why would you not?