Sunday, June 3, 2012

Garth Young: Lost and Found, Part One

It’s not easy to find former Followers who are willing to speak publicly about their experiences in the church. I am grateful, therefore, that former member, Garth Young, has agreed to tell his story on this forum. Please check back on Wednesday for part two and the final section next Sunday.

* * * * * 


My name is Garth Young and I grew up in the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City. I am 41 years old, and am married to Elaine whose maiden name is Moore. We have five children, three of whom were born while we were attending the Church in Oregon City.

For those of you who are curious, this is the first time I have ever written anything about the Oregon City Followers of Christ Church - anonymous or otherwise.  This is a brief recounting in my own words of what happened to me ten years ago, when I led my family away from the church that had been our life.

Being born and raised, and starting a family within this group has meaning. It means this is my life; these are my people, my family and my friends. We had a common bond not just because of the close relational togetherness, but because we were different from those outside because of what we practiced and how devoted we were to the assignment of following Christ.

Dedication to being a member by attendance and belief in the church held out great potential for escaping the wrath of God and going to heaven. This makes complete sense because nobody wants eternal punishment and even the simplest mind can grasp the idea that good people are rewarded while bad people are punished. As a young person I was taught from the pulpit to get my good works in early and that would make me prepared. I still remember a time as a boy helping stack firewood for an older couple in our church, my friend brought up the fact that we were doing it; we were getting in our good works.

The last elder died when I was fifteen and there was no more teaching from the pulpit. The potential hope for salvation now came down to attending church twice a week and singing hymns – and of course, being a good person was still a huge part of the equation. Helping people within the group (especially when sick) was highly promoted, as was prayer and fasting, greeting with a holy kiss, and abstaining from the services of a physician. Along with these I had heard from an older and seemingly wise man that drunkenness, sexual sin and killing a human would greatly hinder my chances of finding favor with God, but most of all stay in the church.  As a result of this, a pattern began to develop within me; everyone makes mistakes, but if I can do more good than bad, it should work out in my favor, especially if I remain part of the church. This was my understanding of what God wanted his people to know and to do.

There were opinions within the FOC that considered some of the essential teachings of the church to have been radically softened over the last twenty years. The hard lines that made up the earlier church had been restructured as a remedy for our missing parts. Baptism, Lord’s Supper, preaching and leadership were areas of contention because they didn’t exist anymore. These practices disappeared due to a lack of leadership (Apostle or Elder) to implement them. At nineteen, I was well on my way to becoming an obstinate hardliner. Not only did I think salvation was achieved by going to the right church and following the prescribed actions, I also believed the bar of earning salvation needed to be raised.     

I was familiar with the bible and considered myself in agreement with the teachings of scripture. My reading however, centered on me. My understanding of the bible was always filtered through the lens of what I must do, and how I must continue in my own strength. I prayed for help, I prayed for a preacher, I prayed for understanding, but really I had the idea that faith was self mustered. There were many deficiencies in my character like pride and anger, just to name a couple.  My assessment of the continual behavior and desires that proceeded from my heart and mind fell far short from the calling Jesus gave to be perfect as the father is perfect (Mat 5:48). If perfection was the requirement for entering the kingdom, then I was disqualified at every level and so were all of my family and friends.  But if perfection was just a target to aim at in hopes of an occasional hit, all the while knowing I was safe because I’m part of the right church that does the right things, I could rest. The burden of perfection was relieved because I did what I was supposed to do. Or did I? Was it really possible that my actions could somehow erase all the condemnation that my sin had accumulated?

Little did I know, my life was about to radically change. 

11 comments:

  1. Nicely put, what was the hardest thing about leaving? Missing your family would be an obvious one, but beyond that?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Even though I was 31 at the time, I was very immature. On top of that, we were in a new enviroment and didn't have any good friends with us; we were pretty much on our own in the begining. I do touch on some of the problems in patrs 2 and 3, but it is only by God's grace that our marriage survived.

    I don't know if there was one thing imparticular that made it hard. Having been so accustomed to life being a certain way, it takes time to acclimate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Garth: It is nice to meet your aquaintance. It is sure something when a man can see the enormity of his sin. In so doing he will then and only then be able to comprehend the Holiness of God and the provision that has been made through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I to have grown up in the Followers of Christ Church hear in Idaho. I look forward to reading the rest of the account of your Exodus.

      Delete
    2. Hi Shane, I have seen you on this site before and was very impressed with what you wrote. I would very much like to meet you. My emial will be available on Sunday, send me email and maybe we can exchange numbers.

      Delete
  3. I'm sure it would take some time. Do you see members of your old church? How do they treat you, if you do? If you even live in the same city.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do still live in Oregon City and see people often. There has never been a time when it wasn't awkward. What I mean is, I don't know if I'm welcome to visit with them or not. Some have been friendly, and some try to avoid or ignore. I do remember one conversation that was beneath the surface. It took place at Home Depot, the person told me he was looking both ways to see if anyone could spot him talking with me.

    Ten years ago, a few days after I told our immediate family that we were going to start looking for another church, a woman came to my home and screamed at me that I was going to hell. Nothing like that has happened since. Infact, I have seen her since then and she has been very friendly.

    I guess the answer to your question is, I don't know. It seems it could change at any minute, and without any warning.

    For the record, I would like to have normal relationships with them. Especially my family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. with our family? this was your choice you left we are still here,for the record,remember, this is what you wanted,you, not us.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for bringing this to the table. This may be helpful. If I understand you correctly, you are my relative, and you are practicing this concept of separation with me. Your separation is based on my failure to attend your church. Is this right? Is there more to it than that?

      It may be helpful if you could explain the fundamental principle behind your separation. Bible verses would be great.

      Delete
    3. I loved what you wrote....it is in fact well written and the truth of the description of that church. My prayer is they all learn one day soon learn God's truth and the only way to the Father is through the Son.....not where you attend church or how good you act. We were born with sin and that separates us from God- We can only go to heaven by accepting Christ and that he paid our price. I wonder if any one of them out there know that? I had never heard it.

      Delete
    4. So it's sort of a "Blazing saddles" relationship? In public it's "up your n----r"! But did anyone ever bring you a pie later that evening? I'd like to think that the chosen ones would be at least as classy as frontier white trash. But maybe not?

      Delete
    5. I do not remember any pies. I do have a relative that sends Christmas cards. Cards are nice because there are usually pictures of the kids.

      Delete

The catchpa has been removed to enable easier commenting. Spam and irrelevant comments will be deleted.