*sigh* I'm not minimizing anything, nor am I pretending anything doesn't exist. I don't think that recounting negative experiences qualifies as "preacher bashing" and I never stated that I did.
I don't believe these situations are as common as some "pretend", and neither are they as rare as others would like to think. There is a need for balance on both sides, and we should strive to keep that balance even when we have gone through something traumatic.
Surviving is important, and surviving means something different to each person. To some, emerging with their sanity is equivalent to survival. To me, it means I have been able to move past anger, bitterness and hurt, and even speak to some of the people who caused the hurt without bile rising up in my throat.
Not everyone recounts every detail of their abuse, and that doesn't mean they were any less mistreated than those who do. It is important, no matter what the situation, to still evaluate yourself and your reactions and your responses and make sure you and God are on the same page, since ultimately, that is the relationship that has always truly mattered the most, and should continue to be top priority.
Pastor T. preached yesterday about how we cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our reactions. I firmly believe that. There is no need to return evil for evil, and two wrongs do not make a right.
Thad, I haven't addressed my last few posts to Sis. Beezer or STS, so why are you asking me about them as if I did?
By the way: Did you know that optimists live longer than pessimists?
don't want to make anyone here feel defensive or feel bad, I appreciate what you have contributed here...your one post just didn't claify...
This is not about bashing...please don't to go there...this is just what my church was like and my Pastor wanted it....we didn't think it was necessary so we left! I love them, and I hope nothing but the best for them, I just think fear rules them and to me that is soooooo sad!
Rules...
1. No talking on the phone for more than 10 minutes
2. No friends outside of church, not even family (it was discouraged strongly)
3. No more than three families at a time in your home and not too often, if you had a gathering you are suppose to ask everyone in the church so no one gets offended.
4. No home bible studies without the ministry being there
5. You must attend all fellowships
6. So lunch dates, or shopping with friends even the ones in church...
7. No important decisions made without consulting the pastor...like, buying a car(new, used, how much you can spend)...same with a home or property.
8. You were not allowed to move, unless you had his OK.
Being we are older we did not attend parenting classes or marriage classes so we missed out on a lot of the rules...but over time we learned. This is not everything, but for the moment its enough...I might add more as I think of them.....
So preacher can be run down, belittled, bad mouthed and tore down but don't' dare say anything about a church member. That is a double standard. There aer plenty of rotten, backslid, lying, backstabbing, two faced church members out there, that ae out to destroy every preacher they can. They will destroy any preacher that they can not run. They will starve him and his family out. They will use him and abuse him and then dump him. There are many backslidden preachers, [preacher's wives, and preacher kids because of them rotten saints that would stop at nothing to get their way in church.
So preacher can be run down, belittled, bad mouthed and tore down but don't' dare say anything about a church member. That is a double standard. There aer plenty of rotten, backslid, lying, backstabbing, two faced church members out there, that ae out to destroy every preacher they can. They will destroy any preacher that they can not run. They will starve him and his family out. They will use him and abuse him and then dump him. There are many backslidden preachers, [preacher's wives, and preacher kids because of them rotten saints that would stop at nothing to get their way in church.
Whole Hearted - please calm down.
Admin has NOT determined this thread to be preacher bashing, so let it go.
__________________
Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
So preacher can be run down, belittled, bad mouthed and tore down but don't' dare say anything about a church member. That is a double standard. There aer plenty of rotten, backslid, lying, backstabbing, two faced church members out there, that ae out to destroy every preacher they can. They will destroy any preacher that they can not run. They will starve him and his family out. They will use him and abuse him and then dump him. There are many backslidden preachers, [preacher's wives, and preacher kids because of them rotten saints that would stop at nothing to get their way in church.
Sorry we've made it so tuff on you brother.
__________________
God has lavished his love upon me.
So preacher can be run down, belittled, bad mouthed and tore down but don't' dare say anything about a church member. That is a double standard. There aer plenty of rotten, backslid, lying, backstabbing, two faced church members out there, that ae out to destroy every preacher they can. They will destroy any preacher that they can not run. They will starve him and his family out. They will use him and abuse him and then dump him. There are many backslidden preachers, [preacher's wives, and preacher kids because of them rotten saints that would stop at nothing to get their way in church.
I have never seen one like this, never heard tell of saints like this.
I think you are just making it up to stir up this thread.
To speak so of God's heritage WH TSK TSK TSK
__________________
God has lavished his love upon me.
I have never seen one like this, never heard tell of saints like this.
I think you are just making it up to stir up this thread.
To speak so of God's heritage WH TSK TSK TSK
I would have to agree with you, to call people those rotten saints--besides the use of that phrase doesn't actually stir anyone to be a supporter of WH's cause, it's very derogatory and demeaning.
So preacher can be run down, belittled, bad mouthed and tore down but don't' dare say anything about a church member. That is a double standard. There aer plenty of rotten, backslid, lying, backstabbing, two faced church members out there, that ae out to destroy every preacher they can. They will destroy any preacher that they can not run. They will starve him and his family out. They will use him and abuse him and then dump him. There are many backslidden preachers, [preacher's wives, and preacher kids because of them rotten saints that would stop at nothing to get their way in church.
Quote:
Originally Posted by freeatlast
I have never seen one like this, never heard tell of saints like this.
I think you are just making it up to stir up this thread.
To speak so of God's heritage WH TSK TSK TSK
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeanie
I would have to agree with you, to call people those rotten saints--besides the use of that phrase doesn't actually stir anyone to be a supporter of WH's cause, it's very derogatory and demeaning.
just like the stories of bad cult like churches that many of us find so hard to believe......
there ARE saints like WH described. Just b/c YOU havent seen it, doest mean it doesnt exist.
I know of pastors, pastors wives and their children that are unsaved today b/c of church trouble EXACTLY as WH described. Was the church trouble 100% to blame for their losing out with God? No, but it was a catalyst. And it DOES exist.
just like the stories of bad cult like churches that many of us find so hard to believe......
there ARE saints like WH described. Just b/c YOU havent seen it, doest mean it doesnt exist.
I know of pastors, pastors wives and their children that are unsaved today b/c of church trouble EXACTLY as WH described. Was the church trouble 100% to blame for their losing out with God? No, but it was a catalyst. And it DOES exist.
I have to say that there are more 'saints' who have pastor for Sunday dinner than pastor having saint for dinner.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Hybrid Mode
