Monday Club — An American Christian Mini-Post VIII
As of this writing, I’ve been steadily publishing chapters and mini-posts for a month. In that time, I’ve heard several accounts of the Joneses and those who are Jones-adjacent contacting different people connected to our shared past. I have yet to hear that this point of contact was to help, support, or apologize. Every single mention has been strictly for damage control.
Sorry if it sounds pretentious, but I told you so.
This is one of the reasons I started writing. There has never been an attempt to repair or even apologize for the damage done. It’s just to make sure the talking stops so they can carry on. It seems apt and almost comically ironic now that we had to read a book in GTC titled “Stop The Runaway Conversation.” (This book was often used as leverage over us when we disagreed with anything.)
I’ve also mentioned before that I don’t know their full intentions; I know there’s always more to the story. I can accept that. However, I cannot accept that the damage done has just been left up to time. As if people who were hurt by them would just forgive and forget. That’s not how trauma works.
However the Joneses choose to interpret this, these things happened. If they disagree with the intent, they need to understand that this is how it was received. Those of us who are sharing our stories aren’t talking out of our asses. These are real hurts from real people from actual events. Denying the pain you caused only adds to it. It adds to the frustration and anger that people have towards you in the first place.
Has this caused problems in your life? I’m sorry to hear that. We’ve all spent the last decade-plus dealing with it. It’s affected our relationships, marriages, views and feelings towards sex, our children, our jobs, our worldview, and our entire concept of God. We’ve wracked up enormous bills in therapy and at the pharmacy. We’ve hurt those around us because we were scared and confused. “Hurt people, hurt people,” right? Isn’t that what you preach whenever someone points out an issue? Do still prefer to say “I’m sorry you feel that way” undermining all responsibility in a single sentence? Is it before or after you use your platform as a bully pulpit? Do you start with Luke 6:42 or Matthew 7:5?
Do you prefer to belittle your detractors with warped interpretations from the New Testament or Old? Peter or Paul? Do you still believe the Bible is infallible?
While the acclaimed TV series, The West Wing, certainly has its problems and a very whitewashed viewpoint of politics, I do rather enjoy this segment. It adds perspective.
For a month, my DM’s have been open. My email address and phone number haven’t changed in 15 years. I haven’t blocked anyone here on Medium or on the official Instagram where this content premiers. Not once has someone tried to reach out to me.
This could be because they think I won’t listen or will ignore them, or maybe they know I’ll publish anything ignorant they say. The latter is true, but it wouldn’t be out of spite. If I’m going to be fed a big ‘ol helping of bullshit, I’m certainly going to share it.
I would listen, though. I would listen to real ownership. I would listen to an honest apology. I’d listen to genuine change.
But I wouldn’t stop publishing.
I’ve stated that this writing isn’t about the Joneses. It has never been. This is about American Christianity. This is about the abuse of power. This is about toxic theology. This is about spiritual trauma. There are too many stories that go unheard and untold because of fear of retaliation.
That being said, stop trying to silence people. I will find out about it, and just like you did to me all those years ago, I will light your ass up for it.
