You Are Not Alone

One of my favorite phrases is, “You mean I’m not the only one?” 

The Reformed Journal has become a place where people discover they’re not the only ones, that they are not alone. I received a note from a retired Reformed Church in America pastor the other day that said, “I’m a new subscriber. I feel like I’ve found my people.” 

That warmed my heart. 

I spent my formative years in both a Methodist and Presbyterian church. For the past 40 years, I’ve found a home in the Reformed Church in America. The church has done more for me than I’ve done for it. I love the church. Yet I also know the church has done great harm. On the one hand, I believe the church of Jesus Christ has been and continues to be an incredible force for good in our world, and on the other hand I know the church has disappointed and hurt many. As a result, I find myself with mixed feelings. I’m guessing you feel like that, too. The RJ has become a place for people with mixed feelings. 

I have never been Christian Reformed, but I know what it feels like to be told by someone in power, “You don’t have a place here anymore.” And I know what it feels like to love a local expression of the church more than a denomination. If you feel like that, you’re one of our people. 

I bring my faith with me into the voting booth. (Although at this point of my life, my voting booth is my kitchen table while I fill out an absentee ballot.) The intersection of my faith and politics is complicated, not simple. My faith leads me to be skeptical of politicians, sound bites, slogans, and theocracy. I’m scared of Christian Nationalism. If you share those feelings, you’re one of our people. 

I’m a reader. Always have been. My house doesn’t have enough shelf space for my books. That doesn’t stop me from buying more. (You should see the storage room in my basement.) If you don’t have enough space for your books, you are one of our people. 

I could go on, but you get the idea. You are not alone. 

A while back, Tom Boogaart, one of the wise guides who regularly appears in the Reformed Journal, suggested we think of the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism a bit differently. Instead of the traditional “I am not my own,” Tom suggested we hear the Catechism saying, “I am not alone.” 

You are not alone. It’s a good thing to find your people, and you are our people. 

And so, we turn again and ask our people to help provide this space. 

We’re kicking off our annual fund drive today. Over the next week, my RJ colleagues will be stating their cases for supporting our work. They’ll say different things, but the bottom line is we all benefit from being connected by this space and your help makes a difference. 

Please take a look at this year’s version of “But Wait, There’s More.” We’ve worked hard on this, providing books we believe will delight and inspire you. 

All we do—our blog, featured articles, poetry, reviews, podcasts, and the books we publish—is designed so you know you are not alone. 

The purple button above or clicking here, will take you to a page with details on this year’s special “But Wait, There’s More” offer–three new books from Reformed Journal Books in 2025!

You can use the same page to give a gift of any amount or find info on giving by check via mail.

Thank you for your generous support!