Quote:
Originally Posted by Praxeas
See? That is my point. I believe pastoral relationships like that are not only unbiblical but unhealthy.
I know people and a church that is like that. It took YEARS for some of his members to finally wake up and leave but others chose to just not go to church anymore at all rather than go to another church for fear of going to hell..ironic eh?
Seriously I have friends that are former members. He has told some before that they were better off backsliding than going to the Apostolic church just in the other city and that they might as well pitch their tents in Sodom.
Too this day former members are STILL affected by this strict control and manipulation. It's a long long process of healing to get over that.
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Was there many years ago, but my eyes were opened very early in my mid twenties. The pastor preached this same fear, eventually installed his youngest son, who he and his wife could controlled, as pastor. This son had sexually abused young girls in the congregation and later, spent years in prison, and may still be there.
It grieves me to state these facts, however, it is important to speak plainly. If you are under the control of a man, and not directly in relationship to Jesus Christ, you and those you are in community with are in great danger. God did not give men to LORD over the church. Rather to SERVE, in love, allowing folks to make mistakes, love them anyway, so that they may grow.
This son was a product of the control of his parents, cared for and supported financially. As result he did not grow, and became shipwrecked, a direct result of the same controlling influences mentioned in this thread.