Quote:
Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker
I have been friends with The Mrs for 10 years now...hard to believe it has been that long...but she is one of my closest friends...she is the kind of friend that will drive alllll night to get to you if you need help...she is the first one I call when I am in need...and she is always there.....
I told you all that to tell you this.. .I pushed her away because of that pastor...they left the church....and we did not speak for almost or around 2 years...I thought she was so decieved...and had a bad spirit of rebellion on her(this was drummed into me over and over)...oh my goodness I am confessing here folks...it was really ugly...she and her family were hurt more than she will ever admit.... I have cried many tears over what a beautiful and dear friend she is and how she still loves me in spite of what I did to her......the whole time we were separated I grieved more for her than I did anything in my life...God kept speaking to me, and giving me signs I would be close to her again....when we left that church they were the FIRST ones we called....they came and forgave and loved us all the more! God is so awesome and He gives us such wonderful friends! I love my friend 
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I absolutely cannot understand the concept that is being put forth in situations like this. When a pastor forces his saints to cut someone off because they are "backslid" (or perceived to be, based on whatever this pastor has decided to be sin) how is that supposed to be portraying the love and grace of Christ? How horrible for the poor saints being forced to go through with this behavior out of obedience to their pastor, when they know in their spirits that what they are doing is not pleasing to God.
I have been on the receiving end of this kind of situation, at the time I was what I consider to "backslid", but never, before God, had I ever tried to influence anyone or persuade anyone into any kind of un-Godly behavior. I was seriously wounded, and this pastor knew it, yet he told my two best friends to cut me off. One of them refused, and her husband was told by this pastor that he had better get control over his wife.
If it had not been for the love of God that was exemplified to me through my family and friends, I don't know what would have happened to me. I do know that if all I had seen of God was what that man showed to me, I would have kept on walking and never looked back.