The Book
In May 2008, Anne Jackson asked a question on her blog, FlowerDust.net. It was simple.
What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?
Hundreds of people have responded. The question spread far – both in the Christian faith and outside, being featured on a highly regarded Atheist blog. Websites in the UK and a radio station in Australia took the question and posed it to their own audiences. Regardless of someone’s religion, it appeared that everyone had input.
Those outside the faith were familiar with the façade the evangelical movement has created over the centuries.
“Christians say one thing and do another.”
“If Christians can’t be themselves within their own faith circle, why are they even a part of it? Why not go someplace where they can be themselves?”
We’ve all heard that sentiment. From the media, to people in our workplaces, to our families, that perception comes as no surprise.
As far as those in the Christian faith, the responses to that question were as equally intriguing as they were heartbreaking.
“I currently feel NO connection to God when I pray or read the Bible.”
“I have been a Christian for 27 years and I still don’t understand the point of praying.”
“Sometimes I wonder if this whole Christianity thing is a lie.”
“Most of the time I never feel forgiven for my sins…. partly because its hard to forgive my self… the other part is that church people seem to never let you let it go and move forward.”
“I’m a pacifist.”
“Why do we have lavish worship centers but there are starving children in our own back yards, and around the world?”
Some boldly placed their names, even links to their websites or blogs, while others remained apprehensively in the shadow, concerned even the modest anonymity the internet offered was not enough to project them from being judged.
A year and a half later, the website PermissionToSpeakFreely.com launched, asking for artistic submissions (photos, postcards, letters, anything really) to be used in this book and on the website.
What are people afraid of? What’s holding them back? How do faith and brokenness coexist? Why do bad things happen? Where is God in all of the mess? Where is evil in all the light?
The purpose of this movement is simple: To share the confessions received from the website, as well as a collection of Anne’s own essays on fear and grace to show you that you’re not alone.
You’ll see hundreds of other peoples’ words and art and blood and guts and hope and love and courage prove it to you. And that in their confession, you’ll find you have the permission – and the responsibility – to speak freely.
That on the other side of the fear you may have is a freedom beyond anything you can possibly comprehend.
You’ll never be fearless – but you can be bold in spite of that fear.
In fact, the world needs you to.
Because, you see, your words, your confession and your voice have the power to not only set you free.
It has the power to set others free.
Free not only from something…but free to something.
Where will your confession take you?
