Is Agency Possible in Faith Communities?

Fourth post of a four-part series: Trauma in the Pews Section 2: Part III

Regulate to be Calmer
Pause to Consider
Use Agency to Choose

Photo by DNK.PHOTO on Unsplash

What does agency look like when choices are limited by how we interact in faith communities? Up to this point, except for the pesky backseat driver, we have discussed our individual agency as completely within our control. The need to belong in the community, church teachings, culture, and peer pressure will often affect our ability to use agency.

While in very conservative church settings, a common sermon illustration was about a little girl (or boy) who refused to sit down when told to do so but was forced to sit either physically or verbally. As the story goes, the defiant child said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.”

The online sources of this story attributed the child’s actions to a spirit of rebellion. None viewed the behavior as communication. No one suggested having a conversation with the child. Obeying without question was the goal because it was believed that was how children learn to obey God.