Spiritual Abuse Forum???

[StMark]

A lot of UPCers and conservatives feel that it's disloyal to admit that one ours could behave badly or abuse members. I've seen it first hand and it's heartbreaking. I feel badly for those who have been mistreated.
I also think it makes us look worse in the long run when we wont admit it.

On the otherhand, as a pastor's son, I've seen members make up lies to garner sympathy and create a camp against a pastor and using manipulative tactics, tithe and giving as a way to force their ideals thru.
has anyone ever heard of board ran churches?? that's a whole nother topic
as Coonskinner said in so many words, there is such as a thing as saints abuse against leadership.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by StMark

A lot of UPCers and conservatives feel that it's disloyal to admit that one ours could behave badly or abuse members. I've seen it first hand and it's heartbreaking. I feel badly for those who have been mistreated.
I also think it makes us look worse in the long run when we wont admit it.

On the otherhand, as a pastor's son, I've seen members make up lies to garner sympathy and create a camp against a pastor and using manipulative tactics, tithe and giving as a way to force their ideals thru.
has anyone ever heard of board ran churches?? that's a whole nother topic
as Coonskinner said in so many words, there is such as a thing as saints abuse against leadership.

well so true friend it goes both ways, and is wrong both ways, dt

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Sister when you get down to the nitty gritty every religious organization and political movement can be blamed for spiritual abuse. Or some sort of abuse. Anyway Lois gives enough information on her sight for anyone without a crying towel wrapped in agenda to make up their own mind.

UPCI has some wonderful splendid people in it, and in the rest of the Apostolic movement we have some dynamite people who are the best on earth.

If someone is really looking for truth the Lord knows how to steer them to a direction where they will be able to make a choice between the Holy and the profane.

I just heard an advertisement for not Religion dot com forum. I bring this site up because this is the fad right now to be anti-spiritual, anti-religious, and just plain old atheist. I speak with a lot of young people who are anti-Christians, anti-religion, these young people are looking for debate and argument but they really do want their questions answered.

The Spiritual Abuse Crew may at times run right along side the atheist's forums and what it tends to do is make our jobs more interesting.

It just makes preachers and teachers dig in and study and strengthen their arguments. This is not a bad thing but a good thing. Sharpen the sword to razor sharpness.

Anyway let the dogs bark and the trucks roll on!

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

being hurt by your spiritual leaders is anything but interesting...it is like a death in you heart of what you thought was truth and true love, it has NOTHING to do with God, it's all about men and their egos....have you ever lost somthing you loved so dearly and believed in so completely...I did...it was the hardest thing I have ever been through...it was harder than when my grandparents died, or my father, or my in laws...it just plain broke my heart! Pastors would win those anti a lot easier if they saw the truth and allowed there hearts to feel the hurt of these lost souls instead of looking at them as "INTERESTING" challenges.....how God must look down on us and just shake His head!

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

well so true friend it goes both ways, and is wrong both ways, dt

That too is my only problem with these forums... People dont seem to realize it does indeed go both ways... and a lot I have seen personally crying and whining about the problems... were indeed the ultimate reason for the problem tobegin with... I know it happens.. yep I have been there done that... but I have also seen it on the other side too...

[rgcraig]

I think what some fail to realize is that if saints or pastors are left on their own to lick their wounds there's a higher chance they will not recover. They hold in what has happened and become bitter and turn completely against the church and sometimes even God.

If there's a place that they can go find out there are other people that have gone through something like them, then they know they can make it just like the others have.

Talking about the problems is not the downfall.....hiding them is.

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Preach against anything and those doing it will feel abused.

Some folks have abuse mentality they just wait to get abused.

Then there are those abuse sites that abuse TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS and the APOSTOLIC CHURCH. They have more in common with Hillary than an Apostolic preacher.

Oh, please!!!

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I think HER site is spiritual abuse so how's that??????????????????????

.......

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by AmazingGrace

That too is my only problem with these forums... People dont seem to realize it does indeed go both ways... and a lot I have seen personally crying and whining about the problems... were indeed the ultimate reason for the problem tobegin with... I know it happens.. yep I have been there done that... but I have also seen it on the other side too...

I think most of us would admit that there are problems on both sides. There is no perfect saint, there is no perfect pastor...however, the Pastor is called to "shepherd" and imho his role is HUGE and he needs to be careful with the sheep.

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by CareyM

I think most of us would admit that there are problems on both sides. There is no perfect saint, there is no perfect pastor...however, the Pastor is called to "shepherd" and imho his role is HUGE and he needs to be careful with the sheep.

Indeed true

Originally Posted by CareyM

I think most of us would admit that there are problems on both sides. There is no perfect saint, there is no perfect pastor...however, the Pastor is called to "shepherd" and imho his role is HUGE and he needs to be careful with the sheep.

Exactly the difference being I have compassion for the ministry.....and what they have to deal with I have more than one in my family! That does NOT change what happened to me or you or anyone else who was abused.....my hearts desire is for these pious, stiff necked men to see what the pain is really like!