Rachel Held Evans, who is one of them, not one of us, wrote, “When you grow up believing that your religious worldview contains the key to absolute truth and provides an answer to every question, you never really get over the disappointment of learning that it doesn't.” I believe this statement reflects the sentiments of many who have left evangelicalism and I’d like to unpack the statement a bit more.
“When you grow up believing”
Notice who is doing the believing; you. She believed, yet somehow finds the fault primarily with others rather than herself. My friends if you believe in a lie, no matter who told it to you, you are at fault. We all have to take responsibility for our own actions. In my classroom one student will make a farting noise. Then another student will laugh. Inevitably the student who laughs tells me, “But he made me laugh.” To which I respond, “I grant that he made it more difficult for you, but my friend, you get to decide to laugh or not to laugh.” John reminds us that, “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). Therefore, when Peter writes about false teachers, “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed,” he is not excusing those who follow because they believed the teachers. The tenure of the whole NT is that we ought to keep watch so we ourselves are not caught up in these lies and thereby destroyed.
“that your religious worldview contains the key to absolute truth”
Since Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, I think it is more than fair to say it does contain the key to absolute truth. If there is no absolute truth on what basis does she or anyone believe in God? Now, perhaps she only means that it contains the key to knowing everything, in which case she has poorly expressed this belief by her choice of words. For as her statement reads, it implies she does not believe in any absolute truth whatsoever. (And she wonders why some have labeled her postmodern?) If God is truth than he cannot lie and he does not lie. For Paul states in Romans 3:4, “By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar…” And Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Finally, Hebrews 6;17-18 states, “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." Since, God does not lie his word cannot be in error, but can be faithfully depended upon for teaching us truth.
“and provides an answer to every question”
No evangelical Pastor I have listened to has ever claimed the scriptures offer the answer to every question. To name a few of them (some scholars too), I know would say the opposite, John MacArthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson, Kevin DeYoung, David Platt, Wayne Grudem, Gregory Beale, Derek Thomas, Al Mohler, Allistair Begg, Steve Lawson, and the list could go on. The scripture provides all that is necessary to life and godliness in knowledge of God, our Father. There are many things that scripture cannot teach us, like how to mow our grass. All robust doctrines of scripture make this clear. There are many things that we can learn outside of the scripture, but the scripture is the authority over it all. Therefore, if something contradicts scripture, the scripture is the true account. What folly it is to believe that we can know everything, when even the Son of Man does not know the hour of his return. Scripture itself makes plain that we will not find an answer to every question we have, but we will find the power unto salvation and the knowledge of our God that he has chosen to reveal to us.
“you never really get over the disappointment of learning that it doesn't.”
How unfortunate to have such a small view of God; believing that he cannot heal you and help you to overcome past disappointments. We never have a reason to be disappointed in God, for his steadfastness endures forever. He is good, merciful, kind, gentle, gracious, and infinitely more. If we are disappointed it is because of our sin. Remember Romans 5:3-5, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Difficulties produce hope in those who have the Holy Spirit, not disappointment. What Rachel is really saying, is that she has not gotten over her false and sinful expectations of God. She expected something from God that he never promised and therefore did not deliver. By no means does this tarnish the character of God! Instead, it demonstrates the sinfulness of man. We must submit to the word that says, “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases,” (Psalm 115:2-3). We must understand that we were made for him, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him,” (Colossians 1:16).
If there is anything these folks should have learned from evangelicalism, it is that we are all sinners. If then, we are all sinners, we ought to expect our brothers and sisters, our Pastors and leaders, to disappoint us from time to time. It should not come as a surprise to learn that our leaders do not know everything, or even get something wrong. This is why Jesus taught us to forgive one another and one way we are called to love one another. If you expected perfection from your church leaders then you are to blame for your disappointment. The word of God has been there all along for people to read and learn the truth. If, you did not study it, pray it, and live it, then you are to blame for your confusion; not the pastor, not evangelicalism, not the church.
Oh my brothers and sisters do not get caught up in the folly of these lost souls. Make no mistake about it; they were never apart of us if they left us. God desires to make clear the way of righteousness so his name may not be defamed. He warned us we will know them by their fruits, so considered the poor fruits of these “so called” Christians and do not be deceived. Instead, contend, fight, for the faith because certain people have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the Grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ. These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Excerpts taken from the book of Jude)