only a few years ago, when some of us began to bail out of institutional churches, there were limited resources to support our search for spiritual life outside the frameworks we'd previously known.  "House church"?  What's that?  In fact our little band of "refugees" had been meeting in our home for several years before we ever knew there was any such thing as a "house church movement"...

Since then, however, great multitudes are waking up to the ways that institutional religious structures (denominations, hierarchical [and sometimes abusive] church leadership, corporate politics, maintenance of church buildings and pastoral salaries, oppressive doctrinal guidelines, etc, etc, etc...) have been keeping us in bondage, often impeding the very spiritual growth they're intended to enhance.  Books, blogs, magazine articles, online communities, podcasts, conferences, and conversations with ordinary people have all contributed to an explosion of information!  So many, in fact, that it would be foolish for me to attempt any kind of comprehensive resource list here.  If you're beginning to ask questions that make your "church leaders" uncomfortable, if you crave real fellowship with people who share your beliefs/questions (and you aren't really getting it by attending your Sunday morning lecture),  if you've been silenced because of your gender, if you're curious about how far modern "church life" has digressed from that of the New Testament believers, if you've been abused by authoritarian church leadership, or if you feel called in a direction that conflicts with the agenda of your church (and you're in danger of being branded a "rebel" for it), if you wonder whether the Bible really supports "tithing", just Google "house church", "simple church", "spiritual abuse",  "institutional church" or whatever your question is, and you'll find a wealth of commentary.

Of course, the internet is not always a reliable source of accurate information, so read carefully and think for yourself!  Perhaps more importantly, reading the words of some guru on a screen is no substitute for sharing your questions, doubts, fears, and heart with real human beings who are also on a journey of spiritual discovery.  And none of this is a substitute for hearing the voice of God.  God is a loving father who WANTS to have real fellowship with us and WILL impart his love and guidance to us as our hearts and ears are open.  However, if you're still looking for a place to start, below are a few of my personal recommendations.  May you be blessed in the journey!

Love,
~kyle

LifeStream.org - Wayne Jacobsen's website (check out this quote from Wayne Jacobsen - it's kind of a slogan for our Tuesday fellowship)

the God Journey - weekly podcast by Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings.  Lots of provocative and insightful discussion - highly recommended!

BatteredSheep.com - Stories and resources for victims of religious abuse.  (Lots of intense eye-openers here...)

Tuesday Conversations Podcast - Kyle Knapp with Tim Price and other guests

So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore -by Jake Colson (available in paperback or as a free e-book)

(more links and book recommendations available on the Tuesday Together site)