So Much Hurt On This Forum

[CC1]

In all of the angst lets not fall prey to the spirit of this age which is one of not accepting personal responsibility.

We may not be responsibile for things in our childhood and our past but we are responsbilie for how we respond to circumstances as adults fully capable of entering into and pursuing a relationship with God and his Word that will help us overcome those hurts and wrongs of the past.

Is it easy? No. Is it instantaneous? Rarely. But God gives us his Holy Spirit as a comforter and empowerment and his Word as a life manual.

In my 50+ years of living my observation is that too many times people let bitterness take control of their lives and it is an acid that destroys much.

Almost as bad as bitterness is apathy. Because things have not been easy or gone the way they would have liked some people just give up and don't care any more about their soul or their relationship with God.

I have not gone through some of the terrible things some of you have but I have had my share of heartaches and disappointments in this life. Times when things were not fair and people treated me poorly. Through it all the one thing I am determined about is that my anchor is the Lord Jesus Christ and my way to a better life on this earth and an eternity where I want to be is following him. Even though I stumble and fall and am a long way from perfect!

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

I definitely have a wall up. The psychobabble I was raised on says having a wall up is bad but I am not so sure. Sometimes it's just a wall that helps you discriminate between certain types of people.

No one could jazz me up either with rah, rah stuff pre-UPC. However, I fell for it hook, line and sinker in the UPC.

I want to share a weird experience that has me downright disconcerted. About a month ago, I felt them "God-bumps" and a need to pray "in the Spirit" like I used to do on a regular basis. I don't do it often now. So, I went ahead and did it. I spoke in tongues and gave myself over "to the Spirit". It felt good for the present moment but afterwards and especially the next day I was majorly depressed, the way I used to feel all the time when I was in church.

Okay, so this got me to thinking......when I first got into the church, I had an amazing experience with no depression attached. However, after being in the church for a year or so, I became depressed in a way I had never been before. I stayed that way for 10 years and then lessened all the fasting and praying I had been doing and I became less depressed and more able to stand up for myself and think for myself. Now, I generally feel much better than I did emotionally at any time in the UPC........except after I prayed "in the Spirit" last month.

I thought "Yikes!" What is this thing that is called "praying in the Spirit"? It reminded me of this guy I used to know who called his wife and mother and a couple other women who prayed all the time the "depression crew". I seriously wonder now if there is some biological attachment between "praying in the Spirit" as it is called in Pentecostal circles and depression. This is just based on my experiences. I was very surprised by how depressed I felt the day after giving myself over like that after not having done it in such a long time. So much for the "joy of the Spirit".

It makes me wonder if some praying is not a mere counterfeit of the real experiences but a person can't really tell because it is so encouraged and hyped. Scary.

What if there is a very rare real experience (that I know I have experienced) and a fake, hyped, counterfeit experience that people manufacture? This experience is like a drug.....makes you feel good for the moment and then depression comes afterward.....so you then feel like you must pray again to get that good feeling.

I think there may be something to it....

"Godbumps" - that is funny! I understand "tongues" exist out side Christianity and perhaps even outside spirituality. Therefore, I have never sought any experience in tongues apart from my relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, and certainly not apart from sincere repentance and praise to Jesus.
What you describe is scary whether associated with depression or not.

After initial conversion it is not imperative to speak in tongues. I would suggest yielding to the Godbumps by visiting the sick, and comforting the poor and elderly. When I do that I feel great the next day, too!

[rosejones]

Originally Posted by BroJoe

I'm literally amazed.

So much hurt here. So much pain.

No, no one is posting it.

No, I'm not speaking to anyone in particular.

But I feel it in my spirit.

A lot of people, in fact I'll go as far to say most on this forum have been extremely hurt spiritually.

Spiritual Abuse is real folks. And I'm so sorry most of you have been mistreated and hurt by some ministers and pastors in the UPC.

My family and I have certainly been hurt by the UPC. Yes, Spiritual abuse is real. I have seen so much out of these people that it is just sad. I was raised in a UPC Church and have seen many abusive situations that happened while attending there. I later moved on to some "Apostolic" Churches that were even more abusive and controlling. Some of them won't hardly even speak to you if you do not wear long sleeves. The Pastor in one of them said Jesus wasn't enough, and in the other one the Pastor had some in the congregation say that they got their blessings from him (the Pastor). I think NOT. I get my blessings from Jesus Christ.

In another situation the Pastor declared that if he seen you in town and told you to "leap for joy" that you were to do so. They had the men in the Church mess up the women's hair and put salt in it - to get rid of the pride. I kid you not. I was there and witnessed these things.... The list goes on and on.

I am in the process of trying to find a REAL Church of GOD in my area, that believes in baptism in Jesus name, Holy Ghost, and oneness - AND also lives the life.

Yes, I forgive these people, but I also feel that God wants us to come out from among them and be separate. We can suffer unnecessary pain and hurt because of lack of knowledge. Believers that are suffering spiritual abuse may often find it difficult to break free because they lack the knowledge of what the Lord has actually obtained for them through the Cross. The knowledge that we receive from God has the power to deliver us from all bondages and abuses, heal us of all pain of the soul and set us FREE to follow the Lord wherever HE leads. We are not to be men-pleasers, but we are to please God.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by rosejones

My family and I have certainly been hurt by the UPC. Yes, Spiritual abuse is real. I have seen so much out of these people that it is just sad. I was raised in a UPC Church and have seen many abusive situations that happened while attending there. I later moved on to some "Apostolic" Churches that were even more abusive and controlling. Some of them won't hardly even speak to you if you do not wear long sleeves. The Pastor in one of them said Jesus wasn't enough, and in the other one the Pastor had some in the congregation say that they got their blessings from him (the Pastor). I think NOT. I get my blessings from Jesus Christ.

In another situation the Pastor declared that if he seen you in town and told you to "leap for joy" that you were to do so. They had the men in the Church mess up the women's hair and put salt in it - to get rid of the pride. I kid you not. I was there and witnessed these things.... The list goes on and on.

I am in the process of trying to find a REAL Church of GOD in my area, that believes in baptism in Jesus name, Holy Ghost, and oneness - AND also lives the life.

Yes, I forgive these people, but I also feel that God wants us to come out from among them and be separate. We can suffer unnecessary pain and hurt because of lack of knowledge. Believers that are suffering spiritual abuse may often find it difficult to break free because they lack the knowledge of what the Lord has actually obtained for them through the Cross. The knowledge that we receive from God has the power to deliver us from all bondages and abuses, heal us of all pain of the soul and set us FREE to follow the Lord wherever HE leads. We are not to be men-pleasers, but we are to please God.

To me, THESE type of men are so whacked that I don't, and never did, consider them a danger. Anyone who does take such a moron seriously is equally whacked -in my humble opinion. At this point I feel that buffoons like this pastor exist only to be mocked, ridiculed, and have flaming bags of dog poo left on their front porch.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

To me, THESE type of men are so whacked that I don't, and never did, consider them a danger. Anyone who does take such a moron seriously is equally whacked -in my humble opinion. At this point I feel that buffoons like this pastor exist only to be mocked, ridiculed, and have flaming bags of dog poo left on their front porch.

Lol. Or you could just run.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by ILG

I definitely have a wall up. The psychobabble I was raised on says having a wall up is bad but I am not so sure. Sometimes it's just a wall that helps you discriminate between certain types of people.

No one could jazz me up either with rah, rah stuff pre-UPC. However, I fell for it hook, line and sinker in the UPC.

I want to share a weird experience that has me downright disconcerted. About a month ago, I felt them "God-bumps" and a need to pray "in the Spirit" like I used to do on a regular basis. I don't do it often now. So, I went ahead and did it. I spoke in tongues and gave myself over "to the Spirit". It felt good for the present moment but afterwards and especially the next day I was majorly depressed, the way I used to feel all the time when I was in church.

Okay, so this got me to thinking......when I first got into the church, I had an amazing experience with no depression attached. However, after being in the church for a year or so, I became depressed in a way I had never been before. I stayed that way for 10 years and then lessened all the fasting and praying I had been doing and I became less depressed and more able to stand up for myself and think for myself. Now, I generally feel much better than I did emotionally at any time in the UPC........except after I prayed "in the Spirit" last month.

I thought "Yikes!" What is this thing that is called "praying in the Spirit"? It reminded me of this guy I used to know who called his wife and mother and a couple other women who prayed all the time the "depression crew". I seriously wonder now if there is some biological attachment between "praying in the Spirit" as it is called in Pentecostal circles and depression. This is just based on my experiences. I was very surprised by how depressed I felt the day after giving myself over like that after not having done it in such a long time. So much for the "joy of the Spirit".

It makes me wonder if some praying is not a mere counterfeit of the real experiences but a person can't really tell because it is so encouraged and hyped. Scary.

What if there is a very rare real experience (that I know I have experienced) and a fake, hyped, counterfeit experience that people manufacture? This experience is like a drug.....makes you feel good for the moment and then depression comes afterward.....so you then feel like you must pray again to get that good feeling.

I think there may be something to it....

yup. Nice signature!

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by rosejones

My family and I have certainly been hurt by the UPC. Yes, Spiritual abuse is real. I have seen so much out of these people that it is just sad. I was raised in a UPC Church and have seen many abusive situations that happened while attending there. I later moved on to some "Apostolic" Churches that were even more abusive and controlling. Some of them won't hardly even speak to you if you do not wear long sleeves. The Pastor in one of them said Jesus wasn't enough, and in the other one the Pastor had some in the congregation say that they got their blessings from him (the Pastor). I think NOT. I get my blessings from Jesus Christ.

In another situation the Pastor declared that if he seen you in town and told you to "leap for joy" that you were to do so. They had the men in the Church mess up the women's hair and put salt in it - to get rid of the pride. I kid you not. I was there and witnessed these things.... The list goes on and on.

I am in the process of trying to find a REAL Church of GOD in my area, that believes in baptism in Jesus name, Holy Ghost, and oneness - AND also lives the life.

Leap for joy just because a man says so? I think not.

If any man put his hands in my hair to mess it up and salted my head down, I would consider that to be assault. There are no excuses to do these sort of things except meanness.

This is the fruit of their spirit I guess.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Leap for joy just because a man says so? I think not.

If any man put his hands in my hair to mess it up and salted my head down, I would consider that to be assault. There are no excuses to do these sort of things except meanness.

This is the fruit of their spirit I guess.

Technically I could shoot him in order to stop the assault against your person. Now I agree with everyone reading that that reaction would be WAY to extreme, but I would probably dive in and help your husband beat the snot out of him.

In the end, guys like that only weld that much power because their congregations allow it.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

In the end, guys like that only weld that much power because their congregations allow it.

Yep. One has to wonder why a group of people allows one man to do this?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Yep. One has to wonder why a group of people allows one man to do this?

They do because to question anything or criticize is to touch God's anointed.