I agree with this, but sometimes, depending on your circumstance, the man is all you can see. He is blocking out Jesus. If you have never lived that, it is hard to understand.
Thank you for this.
I often use this example:
When you are born into an abusive dysfunctional family, your concept of "normal" and "healthy" behavior is skewed. When you are "born again" in an abusive "family" it is no different.
I have found in my interactions with others, is that those who had some contact with religion or God prior to the experiencing spiritual abuse find recovery a bit easier to separate the actions of one man, or one church, or one organization from that of the Lord.
Those whose only knowledge of God has come at the hands of the abusers have a lot more to overcome, for to them (and I am one), all of faith seems to be irretrievably intermeshed with the abuse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Esther
Sis. I went through a similiar situation, and when I went to another church I went only to WORSHIP Him and He did the healing.
When you are born into an abusive dysfunctional family, your concept of "normal" and "healthy" behavior is skewed. When you are "born again" in an abusive "family" it is no different.
I have found in my interactions with others, is that those who had some contact with religion or God prior to the experiencing spiritual abuse find recovery a bit easier to separate the actions of one man, or one church, or one organization from that of the Lord.
Those whose only knowledge of God has come at the hands of the abusers have a lot more to overcome, for to them (and I am one), all of faith seems to be irretrievably intermeshed with the abuse.
see above.
Same for me. When I got saved in my teens, the church was the only thing that existed for me. As my church experience soured I began to fundamentally question my beliefs and the whole idea of religion.
With all of my doubts and the pain I was going through I hit a spiritual bottom. Investigating the claims of atheism and of other beliefs, I wasn't satisfied with much I was reading or seeing. Then the thought came to me, "With all of your doubts, what if you gave God the benefit of the doubt?" I certainly had enough doubt to spare. It was about that time that things began to turn around for me.
I'd like to think that perhaps He had given me the benefit His doubt as well.
Same for me. When I got saved in my teens, the church was the only thing that existed for me. As my church experience soured I began to fundamentally question my beliefs and the whole idea of religion.
With all of my doubts and the pain I was going through I hit a spiritual bottom. Investigating the claims of atheism and of other beliefs, I wasn't satisfied with much I was reading or seeing. Then the thought came to me, "With all of your doubts, what if you gave God the benefit of the doubt?" I certainly had enough doubt to spare. It was about that time that things began to turn around for me.
I'd like to think that perhaps He had given me the benefit His doubt as well.
It is religion that has the problems....there is not a church been built that does not have the influence of man and what that man feels is the correct way to be...I have struggled with finding a new church....I don't know if I ever will, and I will always sit and wonder and alway be cautious...and hold a part of me back....never from God but from church yes!
Re: For those who want to know...RULES at my churc
Quote:
Originally Posted by pelathais
Same for me. When I got saved in my teens, the church was the only thing that existed for me. As my church experience soured I began to fundamentally question my beliefs and the whole idea of religion.
With all of my doubts and the pain I was going through I hit a spiritual bottom. Investigating the claims of atheism and of other beliefs, I wasn't satisfied with much I was reading or seeing. Then the thought came to me, "With all of your doubts, what if you gave God the benefit of the doubt?" I certainly had enough doubt to spare. It was about that time that things began to turn around for me.
I'd like to think that perhaps He had given me the benefit His doubt as well.
If people would think about these statements, they might see how profound it really is.
Re: For those who want to know...RULES at my churc
Reading the posts here make me so glad I dropped out of church years ago. You people are so holy! And so self-righteous! I was a graduate of Texas Bible College, 1974. One of the reasons I finally left church, was the fact that the president of the college, E L Holley, was teaching that the God-head was composed of God the Father and God the Son, with his own separate spirit and mind! I was the only student to try to stop this heresy, but unfortunately, after I contacted the Texas board, I found out that many of them taught the same way! As concerns the other students, they were afraid to say anything for fear of not getting their licenses! I do have a question. Are they still teaching this down there? Has anyone over the years done anything about it?
Years later when I went to the graduation of my daughter in law at IBC, Arless Glass, one of my old teachers was preaching the message, "Your rewards are on earth, not heaven". You should have heard the talk after that!
Your standards are a joke. I remember that the girls were required to put their hair up. It was not allowed to hang down. But I recall that a woman's hair is given as a veil (which hangs down) and that Jezebel put her hair up!
Anymore your religion is more about your standards than any gospel. Remember all the laws the Jews came up with? You are following the same path. And finger pointing at members who do not meet your standard is not the right of a Christian. Jesus said in a parable, not to pull the tares, they would be separated at the harvest, and judge not lest ye be judged.
The real Bible way is not a task or a drudgery and it never was intended to be. Maybe you people are not reading the correct parts of the Bible. Or maybe you only see what you want to.
Well, I finally decided that if God did not have a church on earth, he did not have a heaven in the sky. I have no fear of my future. But, if you really believe in God, I think I would be shaking in my boots for lack of respect for your religion, your cowardice, and blind eyes. You make me sick!
Re: For those who want to know...RULES at my churc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redenegue
Reading the posts here make me so glad I dropped out of church years ago. You people are so holy! And so self-righteous! I was a graduate of Texas Bible College, 1974. One of the reasons I finally left church, was the fact that the president of the college, E L Holley, was teaching that the God-head was composed of God the Father and God the Son, with his own separate spirit and mind! I was the only student to try to stop this heresy, but unfortunately, after I contacted the Texas board, I found out that many of them taught the same way! As concerns the other students, they were afraid to say anything for fear of not getting their licenses! I do have a question. Are they still teaching this down there? Has anyone over the years done anything about it?
Years later when I went to the graduation of my daughter in law at IBC, Arless Glass, one of my old teachers was preaching the message, "Your rewards are on earth, not heaven". You should have heard the talk after that!
Your standards are a joke. I remember that the girls were required to put their hair up. It was not allowed to hang down. But I recall that a woman's hair is given as a veil (which hangs down) and that Jezebel put her hair up!
Anymore your religion is more about your standards than any gospel. Remember all the laws the Jews came up with? You are following the same path. And finger pointing at members who do not meet your standard is not the right of a Christian. Jesus said in a parable, not to pull the tares, they would be separated at the harvest, and judge not lest ye be judged.
The real Bible way is not a task or a drudgery and it never was intended to be. Maybe you people are not reading the correct parts of the Bible. Or maybe you only see what you want to.
Well, I finally decided that if God did not have a church on earth, he did not have a heaven in the sky. I have no fear of my future. But, if you really believe in God, I think I would be shaking in my boots for lack of respect for your religion, your cowardice, and blind eyes. You make me sick!
When you refer to "you people" and "you make me sick!", is this directed at all of us?
Re: For those who want to know...RULES at my churc
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWayne
When you refer to "you people" and "you make me sick!", is this directed at all of us?
Let me ask you one question, and then I think you will have my answer.
The doctrine of a dual godhead is probably still common in Texas. Do you plan to do anything about? Does anyone? And your oneness doctrine is SOOO IMPORTANT!
Re: For those who want to know...RULES at my churc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redenegue
Let me ask you one question, and then I think you will have my answer.
The doctrine of a dual godhead is probably still common in Texas. Do you plan to do anything about? Does anyone? And your oneness doctrine is SOOO IMPORTANT!
For somebody who has decided that if God does not have a church on earth he doesn't have a heaven you sure seem wound up about doctrine!
I am sure there is a lot more to your story than you have shared thus far. The bitterness is palpable. From what you have posted so far you come across as someone who didn't like the playground and when you didn't get things your own way you took your ball and went home. One of those people who believe the whole world is wrong and they are right. Someone who ditches church because none of them are correct enough for them. I am 52 years old and have seen a lot of you through the years.
I pray that you Will find the tender loving part of God that can reach into your heart and give you peace and joy. It is ok to disagree and champion for your beliefs but when you do it outside of the constraints of a Christian attitude and perspective bitterness is usually the result, which is obvious here.
I say this with the kindest of heart. I don't mean to offend or anger you. I am not defending any particular doctrine you have a gripe with.
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
Hybrid Mode
