Heather, one interesting thing that your piece brought to mind is the freedom and joy that a person brings to the Word and the relationship with God who was not raised in a Christian or religious home. Being unfettered by denominational restrictions or traditional mores allows them to approach God with a joy and freedom of a child. There is also a sense among many brought up "in church" that they were "not that bad" those who come with a real sense of sin and lostness - those "forgiven much" have more joy in salvation. I know this theology is flawed, but its a reality that informs our approach to God and the Bible.