Why Such A Fuss Over Standards!!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

After over two hours of prayer, we have finally felt that God is leading us to eat lunch at Famous Daves this afternoon....

Now, hopefully it doesn't take another two hours for Him to guide us in the route that we should take to get there.....

Shamamalllaaaa

Thus saith the Lord. Send ILG a gift card for Famous Daves.

And the church said Amen.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!"

I don't normally like to share too much regarding the church, but in this instance I will.

My children have been treated HORRIBLY by leadership. We didn't cut and run. You know why they were treated horribly? Because we refused to be "suck-ups" in the church. This particular leadership hated us for it. We refused to be liars. Who did they hate the most - me! Because I'm the women of the house and I'm the easier target.

I explained to my children the problem, explained to them what God wanted from us out of the Word and that was that - WE WILL SEE IT THROUGH!

We did see it through for our part. God moved those people. For NINE years we were blamed after we resigned our positions and THIS TIME, God told us to move away from there.

NINE years later, the tempest in the teapot came boiling out for all the church to see! We weren't there, fortunately, but you know what the people saw - how WE handled it while we were in attendance - that is more important than my personal, hurt feelings. My children saw my tears, my struggle and my submission to the will of God.

Sobriety is the important thing - the most important.

I was treated horribly by leadership. And I did see it through--for a little while. We didn't just "cut and run." We even gave a 30 day notice before leaving, since we were on staff, and I personally endured being yelled at from the pulpit, things like, "I don't care WHO your Mama and Daddy are--you're going to split the pit if you don't correct that rebellious attitude." A rebellious attitude which I didn't even HAVE, I might add.

Not once did I EVER speak to another person in that church about the issues we were facing, not even to my friends, except for one who was already attending another church. I did not ONCE talk back to or sass the pastor or his wife. I didn't even look at them funny. I didn't even say a word on our last night in service when the pastor's wife walked up to me, gave me a sickeningly sweet hug, and in a sudden show of solidarity, whispered in my ear that I should watch out--my husband might fall back into false doctrine. I remember being so numb, I couldn't have said anything, even if the words had appeared in my brain--which they didn't until much, much later.

And, like you, years later, I have been entirely vindicated--without my hand ever having to stir the pot. So, PO, I agree. I had to hold out and let God fight my battles. But that does not mean I am weak or wrong for not staying to endure actual harm at the hands of ignorant, spiritually weak, self-serving people. I DID find safe shelter, both in the form of a new church, AND in private with God. And I let Him sort out the rest.

Even now, over 10 years later, I rarely even speak the name of my pastor and his wife. If I do discuss things generically, like right now, I keep it anonymous, and I have no wish to slander the people personally responsible, even though I know enough to rip them to shreds among their peers and their community--and in some cases, even from a legal standpoint.

If God led you to stay, then you did the right thing. He did no such thing with us, and so we also are confident that we did the right thing. At the time, my only backbone was my husband, and I'm so glad he behaved like the godly leader he is and informed me of his decisions, rather than letting me sit and steep in a toxic tea of corruption while I tried to see through a cloud. It's quite possible that God knew I wouldn't be able to handle it, so he placed a man in my life who would lead me right out of the situation.

Regardless, the point is, the same God who is leading you is leading me, and has led me--and my family--for many years.

My father didn't "cut and run" whenever people treated THIS PK badly, either. But there were times when he should have placed the well being of his family above his secondary ministry to the congregation. And that's just plain and simple truth.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

After over two hours of prayer, we have finally felt that God is leading us to eat lunch at Famous Daves this afternoon....

Now, hopefully it doesn't take another two hours for Him to guide us in the route that we should take to get there.....

God wouldn't put that kind of temptation in front of you, no one can eat just what they need at that place you have to practice a bit of gluttony. That must have been the Devil.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I was treated horribly by leadership. And I did see it through--for a little while. We didn't just "cut and run." We even gave a 30 day notice before leaving, since we were on staff, and I personally endured being yelled at from the pulpit, things like, "I don't care WHO your Mama and Daddy are--you're going to split the pit if you don't correct that rebellious attitude." A rebellious attitude which I didn't even HAVE, I might add.

Not once did I EVER speak to another person in that church about the issues we were facing, not even to my friends, except for one who was already attending another church. I did not ONCE talk back to or sass the pastor or his wife. I didn't even look at them funny. I didn't even say a word on our last night in service when the pastor's wife walked up to me, gave me a sickeningly sweet hug, and in a sudden show of solidarity, whispered in my ear that I should watch out--my husband might fall back into false doctrine. I remember being so numb, I couldn't have said anything, even if the words had appeared in my brain--which they didn't until much, much later.

And, like you, years later, I have been entirely vindicated--without my hand ever having to stir the pot. So, PO, I agree. I had to hold out and let God fight my battles. But that does not mean I am weak or wrong for not staying to endure actual harm at the hands of ignorant, spiritually weak, self-serving people. I DID find safe shelter, both in the form of a new church, AND in private with God. And I let Him sort out the rest.

Even now, over 10 years later, I rarely even speak the name of my pastor and his wife. If I do discuss things generically, like right now, I keep it anonymous, and I have no wish to slander the people personally responsible, even though I know enough to rip them to shreds among their peers and their community--and in some cases, even from a legal standpoint.

If God led you to stay, then you did the right thing. He did no such thing with us, and so we also are confident that we did the right thing. At the time, my only backbone was my husband, and I'm so glad he behaved like the godly leader he is and informed me of his decisions, rather than letting me sit and steep in a toxic tea of corruption while I tried to see through a cloud. It's quite possible that God knew I wouldn't be able to handle it, so he placed a man in my life who would lead me right out of the situation.

Regardless, the point is, the same God who is leading you is leading me, and has led me--and my family--for many years.

My father didn't "cut and run" whenever people treated THIS PK badly, either. But there were times when he should have placed the well being of his family above his secondary ministry to the congregation. And that's just plain and simple truth.

And so we agree - Do not cut and run - allow the Lord to move you and/or instruct you to stay - not every situation will be the same.

The main thing is to follow His leading - there are children and weak saints watching - we must do the right thing by example.

I remember Nona Freeman telling us at a Ladies Meeting - "If you don't like your pastor - pray that God will change him or move him or that God will change you or move you." Now, that is wisdom!!!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

My father didn't "cut and run" whenever people treated THIS PK badly, either. But there were times when he should have placed the well being of his family above his secondary ministry to the congregation. And that's just plain and simple truth.

Amen and amen. We should have "cut and run" long before we did. But, alas, at last we have cut and run now. The best thing we ever did.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

God wouldn't put that kind of temptation in front of you, no one can eat just what they need at that place you have to practice a bit of gluttony. That must have been the Devil.

Will it take another two hours to hear from God as to whether or not it was Him who spoke to us?

Would my wife be in sin if she followed me there not knowing if God spoke to me directly?

SHE first mentioned it, but is that just the wily words of a woman talking?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by ILG

Amen and amen. We should have "cut and run" long before we did. But, alas, at last we have cut and run now. The best thing we ever did.

And thus we come back to my earlier point of all things in our past being a learning experience! Perhaps God doesn't WANT us to make the same mistakes again and again and again.....

Just now God is speaking to me about Famous Dave's and I know from my past that it should be a good experience....

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

After over two hours of prayer, we have finally felt that God is leading us to eat lunch at Famous Daves this afternoon....

Now, hopefully it doesn't take another two hours for Him to guide us in the route that we should take to get there.....

Smart Aleck!!!!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

And thus we come back to my earlier point of all things in our past being a learning experience! Perhaps God doesn't WANT us to make the same mistakes again and again and again.....

Just now God is speaking to me about Famous Dave's and I know from my past that it should be a good experience....

And you would also be helping the economy. BUT! Does God WANT you to help the economy?? Perhaps you would be keeping the democrats in office and making them LOOK GOOD!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by ILG

Amen and amen. We should have "cut and run" long before we did. But, alas, at last we have cut and run now. The best thing we ever did.

It probably was the best thing you ever did - IF you were in the will of God!