Believers being bullied by other brothers and sisters in Christ.

jmldn2 said:

1. May I express that I once was a "church going christian" for years and years and years.

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Thank you for your expression.
I appreciate you sharing.

jmldn2 said:

2. I need no excuse to say I no longer attend a brick and mortar building called a "church." That does not mean I am "taking the easy way." Nothing about the Christian life is "easy."

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Why not ask Jesus?
If he told you it's an excuse, would you accept his word for it, or would you think you are right?
I'm expressing to you, that in general, it is an excuse. Jesus himself states that, though indirectly.

Those who stop going to certain brick and mortar building called a "church", do so for various reasons that are definitely merited.
However, they do not decide they are done with all brick and mortar building called a "church". They search the truth, and go where it is found.
That has been the case, even before Jesus was born.

To decide that one does not need "organized religion", is to reject Jesus' arrangement. Is that not so.
Consider that the congregations in the various districts gathered in brick and mortar buildings. Philemon 1:2

jmldn2 said:

3. As for work, I was a nursery worker in church, Sunday School Teacher, member of many Bible Studies, took my children every Sunday, Wednesday and brought them up in knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is concerned with our Hearts/Souls and not how regularly we "work."

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Again, why not ask Jesus.

Out of the heart... The mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
Matthew 12:35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

What are the treasures of our heart?
Is it only what we say, or is it also what we do?
Jesus answers that for us as well.
Matthew 7:21

Not everyone saying to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens.

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His brother James, backs him up, but he adds something very significant. James 1:22

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

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James says people are deceiving themselves.
So, while those words "Jesus is concerned with our Hearts" may sound 'nice'... and I have heard them often... we need to add something to them, don't we?
Jesus is concerned with our heart and what it produces, isn't he?

Remember the slaves that were given the talents... the work did matter, didn't it.
Was it a matter of how much work? Yes indeed.
In fact, let Jesus be the one to answer that.
John 15:8

This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

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So, would you say, what you said there is true?

Yes, we hear these things in the brick and mortar buildings called churches, but that's because the churches do not do the work of the master.
They really are the slave in Jesus' parable, that dug a hole, and buried the talent.
Jesus came looking for what was his, and found no earnings.
So, I don't blame people for leaving the buildings. They should... However, that pertains only to those that fall in line with that mentioned at Revelation 18:3-5

We can find the Church of Jesus Christ, which produces much fruit.

jmldn2 said:

4. The "narrow door" is not the church building but believing in the the Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him our total trust and living as best we can by following His Way. The Pharisees and other "workers, strict followers of the Law" thought they had it down pat too.

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I understand you believe the "narrow door" is believing in the the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, can you provide a scripture that supports that?

If you read Jesus' words from Matthew 7:13-23, it should reveal that the narrow gate is not believing in the the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do you see there?
Did you not see a broad road with many professing, but not producing?
What did Jesus refer to them as, and what did he say they failed to do?

Did you notice? That's the broad road - professed worshippers of God.
The narrow gate that leads to life which few are finding, is the way of worship Jesus outlines. Matthew 7:21; John 4:23, 24
Many do not want to do God's will.
They do everything else but that, and say they know God. Jesus says he does not know them, because they neglect the will of God. Which is... 1 Timothy 2:3, 4

jmldn2 said:

5. I did not stop going to that building because of "frustration, etc" but I stopped going to that building whenever my step daughter (my husband's only daughter) committed suicide and NOT ONE PASTOR, LAY PERSON, came to our door to give my husband one bit of help.

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Thanks for sharing that.
I'm very sorry about the loss of your step daughter. My deepest and sincerest sympathy. Hug
Take heart in the hope of the resurrection, and please don't believe the lie that she is in heaven.

Jesus commends you for leaving that brick and mortar building, because he "gave gifts unto men". Ephesians 4:8
Those shepherds are their to comfort, protect, refresh, and nourish the flock. That is fruit.
If the tree produces rotten fruit, Jesus said you should identify it for what it is.

So, does that mean you haven't written off all brick and mortar buildings called churches?

jmldn2 said:

The "church" is not that building, whether or not it is a big building, little building but the "church" is the Body of Christ believers.

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The Church in the Bible, yes.
However, the churches (congregations) of the Church (body of Christ), uses brick and mortar buildings Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 1:2, where they feed at God's table, on the food that he provides through the ones leading. Hebrews 13:17

Thanks.

JO Standing firm in Jesus said:

Recently, I have been hearing experiences from other believers in Churches of being bullied with God's word and by aggressive verbal abuse
from their brothers and sisters in Christ. God's house is supposed to be full of God's love and prayer for those who are not coping with things within their lives.
Jesus is the prince of peace not the prince of hardness and from what I hear these brothers and sisters in Christ are weary because of the bulling. The Bible verses that come to mind are, Matthew 11:28-30 which says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The other verse is from Isaish 33:2 which says, "Lord, be gracious to us. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble." Worthwhile thinking about??

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I think you take on this is just way to vague to know exactly what you mean.

I agree and I think we are living in a time of culture wars which is creeping into the church. We see society divided along ideological and identity group lines.

We see the same thing happening in the church where there is a growing number of denominations regarding other denominations like 'the other identity group' as in society.

Whereas I think from what I understand the church should be united in mind and spirit under Christ. Which means there are no identity groups that are 'the other' and no 'other denominations'.

The disciples and especially Paul and the early church fathers soon afterwards emphasised that a sign that Christ is not in the church is 'division' full stop regardless of the issues and who is right or wrong.

As the universal church is becoming more and more divided and fragmented in modern times like society this is a sure sign that the church overall is very sick at present and is more like the world than Christ.

But its usually when Gods people get to a point where they are so far away from God that God intervenes. So I think we should expect a revival of some sort in the near future.

stevevw said:

I agree and I think we are living in a time of culture wars which is creeping into the church. We see society divided along ideological and identity group lines.

We see the same thing happening in the church where there is a growing number of denominations regarding other denominations like 'the other identity group' as in society.

Whereas I think from what I understand the church should be united in mind and spirit under Christ. Which means there are no identity groups that are 'the other' and no 'other denominations'.

The disciples and especially Paul and the early church fathers soon afterwards emphasised that a sign that Christ is not in the church is 'division' full stop regardless of the issues and who is right or wrong.

As the universal church is becoming more and more divided and fragmented in modern times like society this is a sure sign that the church overall is very sick at present and is more like the world than Christ.

But its usually when Gods people get to a point where they are so far away from God that God intervenes. So I think we should expect a revival of some sort in the near future.

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I was thinking of two particular scriptures, and one fact of history, as I read your post.
The two scriptures are Acts 20:30, and1 John 2:19.
The historical fact is, schisms in Christianity has been ongoing from the first century, and has not reversed,

What do we learn from this?
I learned that when there are divisions in the congregation of God, it is either rectified immediately, as in the case of Acts 15:1-35, with follow up visits from overseers, to make sure the unity is maintained. Acts 15:36-41
Or, the division results in a breakaway on the part of the peacebreakers, because it is a work of Satan. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Jesus referred to it as a sifting. Luke 22:31, where the unsuitable vessels fall through the holes, and the suitable remain. Matthew 13:47, 48; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Timothy 2:20-22
The apostles referred to it as Satan gathering ministers to teach what appears to be truth, but is really watered down, demonic and tainted with lies doctrines. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-5

So, those looking for some kind of revival, where these more than 45,000 denominations unite, perhaps they missed when that happened, and we have a warning to make sure we separate from what Satan has organized, because there can be no unity between Christ and Satan. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

It just cannot happen. Just as oil and water can never mix.

The division is over human theology which holds the interests of Christians, this rather than God’s truth which Jesus said was the basis of church. People want to make scripture fit our world rather than change our world and themselves to fit the Will of God. Earth forbid we love all as self as there would be no gain, celebrity or elitism , but just a fair shake for all.

jmldn2 said:

1. May I express that I once was a "church going christian" for years and years and years.
2. I need no excuse to say I no longer attend a brick and mortar building called a "church." That does not mean I am "taking the easy way." Nothing about the Christian life is "easy."
3. As for work, I was a nursery worker in church, Sunday School Teacher, member of many Bible Studies, took my children every Sunday, Wednesday and brought them up in knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is concerned with our Hearts/Souls and not how regularly we "work."
4. The "narrow door" is not the church building but believing in the the Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him our total trust and living as best we can by following His Way. The Pharisees and other "workers, strict followers of the Law" thought they had it down pat too.
5. I did not stop going to that building because of "frustration, etc" but I stopped going to that building whenever my step daughter (my husband's only daughter) committed suicide and NOT ONE PASTOR, LAY PERSON, came to our door to give my husband one bit of help.

The "church" is not that building, whether or not it is a big building, little building but the "church" is the Body of Christ believers.

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I am so sorry hugs.
(maybe it is easier to show some level of care in small groups)
There should be teams in the churches that actively take a portion of money to save to give for people in emergencies, and people that visit people, people that notice and show care for vulnerable etc.
There should be counselours at least in case need be
I had a very interesting conversation today about things like this while I got my home broadband installed. The man was a catholic christian a black man and he explained if something happened, or if someone died etc thousands or whole community would show up or whole church each do what they could to help. This was common practice. They did not have much money, but they had community and help. Yet living in Uk still going on in the community. He was the most helpful kind polite man and me with my broken heart from how other "christians" treated me felt comfort. I could notice that because it came up. How that was what I longed for in a christian setting where you are not just left to yourself or ignored. Or worse. I`m bruised basically and lack trust because of it all and afraid too. Lonely. Same here abusive relationship and trouble with the persons mental health. No support no comfort. we talked about things. I was almost crying. So, I feel you.

You know, I have even been to church all come birthday parties, or lets say just coffee and cake, did not even know the person but they got the biggest gift and they treated it with suspicion and like I was weird. When all I wanted was to show love. I have a big heart. I was like, but they are a christian I feel even deeper for a fellow believer. so it should not matter we don`t.. that is how I thought. I was wrong.

Godcrazy said:

I am so sorry hugs.
(maybe it is easier to show some level of care in small groups)
There should be teams in the churches that actively take a portion of money to save to give for people in emergencies, and people that visit people, people that notice and show care for vulnerable etc.
There should be counselours at least in case need be
I had a very interesting conversation today about things like this while I got my home broadband installed. The man was a catholic christian a black man and he explained if something happened, or if someone died etc thousands or whole community would show up or whole church each do what they could to help. This was common practice. They did not have much money, but they had community and help. Yet living in Uk still going on in the community. He was the most helpful kind polite man and me with my broken heart from how other "christians" treated me felt comfort. I could notice that because it came up. How that was what I longed for in a christian setting where you are not just left to yourself or ignored. Or worse. I`m bruised basically and lack trust because of it all and afraid too. Lonely. Same here abusive relationship and trouble with the persons mental health. No support no comfort. we talked about things. I was almost crying. So, I feel you.

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I feel for you as well. I believe small groups, small churches are better for relationships and comfort. I was raised in a small church!!! There is a difference.