Why am I labeled backslid and unusable by God

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

My point is that if these people believe this is truth to them, how can that be passing judgment? How can they NOT think he is wrong and not share that with him? He's family, as has been stated? Right? Families can get really angry over stuff. lol

They aren't allowed to say that they think he is wrong? Why not?

He told them they are wrong by leaving. He doesn't have to say it.

I'm not saying he is wrong for leaving. He should leave, but I think it's ridiculous to think someone isn't going to get upset over it, especially, since he was a leader and had been with them for any length of time.

I think people should be understanding and compassionate, but when someone feels strongly that you are wrong, they are just going to voice that and they are going to be upset. It's a no-brainer.

Being upset is one thing - I can understand that. I knew my Mother was going to be upset. But, not one time did she tell me I was lost.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

PO - you are being stubborn again....lol!

You know what I was getting at.

I'll add the steps - - you didn't go back to church, but you saw Sis. Sour at the grocery store - no Hobby Lobby after you cut your hair and she said all that to you.

Leaving because of something your pastor did is different than leaving because you changed on standards and are told you are a backslider. Hurt is hurt, but did anyone tell you that you are lost because you left when the pastor sinned?

Well, you know me. If I ran into Sis. Sour at Hobby Lobby, I would kill her with kindness and I wouldn't care what she thought. I would probably keep talking to her until she got a headache and then she would avoid me for the rest of eternity! And if she tried to avoid talking about why she was uncomfortable, I would make her talk about it. LOL!

We've been blackballed over something that wasn't our fault some years ago. So, I know exactly what it feels like to be the bad apple and to be "shunned". Even though it wasn't over leaving standards, the return wasn't any different to me. Hate is hate. And even though the true colors of the pastor and his wife showed themselves (nine years later) in the end, we knew what it felt like for people to turn against us - friends. So, like Ferd said, we have experienced hurt, pain and rejection.

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Being upset is one thing - I can understand that. I knew my Mother was going to be upset. But, not one time did she tell me I was lost.

I wouldn't expect your mother to do that, although, there are mothers that do. When my son was out of church, I was very careful what I said to him. I never pushed him. We sang a song together on Mother's Day. Two years ago, I wouldn't have thought I would see that day. God is good, if we use wisdom and allow God to do the convicting and allow the person to find their own way. I'm not God. Even though he is my son, I don't know his heart or his thoughts.