A salvage mindset means taking an active role as the one who sifts, rejects, reclaims, and decides what is meaningful to keep and repurpose. It offers a protective mindset that strengthens you against future encounters with oppressive, authoritarian leaders, religious and otherwise.
Here are a few principles to support a salvage mindset:
Prioritize your own safety and well-being. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone simply because they claim spiritual authority in your life.
Allow yourself time and space. There is no timeline to have completed figuring everything out. Don’t be quick to jump into one new place.
Know your values and priorities. If you don’t know them, or aren’t comfortable with them, spend more time.
Don’t compromise on basic topline values even if it disqualifies the majority of churches around you, or leaves traditions you are unfamiliar with. Build in protective practices that maintain your freedom.
It is better to be a post evangelical without a church, than to suppress your conscience. You can have community and friendship outside of church.
Trust your intuition, conscience, and judgement. You will not be right about everything, but you are the one responsible for making decisions about your life and what you believe.
You can experience healing and freedom. It is not dependent on the actions and opinions of others. Your life matters as an end in itself. Your experience and well being matter.
The Bible can be read and appreciated as a source of wisdom and encouragement. You are not required to affirm inerrancy in order to engage with the Bible.
