Did a traumatic experience make you unchurched?

[Rick Otto]

Glad I stopped in for a lurk.
Some solid posting goin' on here!

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

 

[Rick Otto]

"PTCD"
It was ALWAYS trauma for me, not that i wasn't able to get some wheat outta the deal, but those tares kept getting stuck in my teeth & left a bad taste in my mouth.

I found out God created everything because He loved me at 3&1/2 yrs old. On my 4th birthday, I was "filled with the Holy Spirit" in my front yard.

From then on it just got complicated & frustrating, trying to make sense of the difference between spirituality & churchianity.

Fortunately, I found Reform Theology when I went online in 2000. As I grasped the doctrines of grace & election, I felt my spirit freed.
I don't share the same ecclesiology as Calvin (especialy in the area of church discipline), but I now recognize God's sovereignity is as total as omnipotence & omniscience define it.

No longer am I addicted to illigitimate authority figures & no longer am i neuroticaly attached to the illusion of safety in the "herd" of sheople that cling to each other for a couple of hours a week without realy getting to know each other. I don't measure my committment to my beliefs in how much time or how many programs, or how much money I hand over to any hirlings or their agendas.

Jesus is far more reliable & rewarding.

 

[TheAJKMan]

I don't measure my committment to my beliefs in how much time or how many programs, or how much money I hand over to any hirlings or their agendas.

Jesus is far more reliable & rewarding.

Therein lies a paradox of scriptures, for do they not also say that we are not to forsake the gatehring together of the bretheren. The trick is, what charecteristics define such a gathering.

theajkman

 

[Rick Otto]

Absotively, posilutely.
Discern the difference between spirit & religion,principles & rules, wheat & tare.

 

[faithpilgrim]

Exactly, while we are to continue gathering, we just can't continue with the tares who leave such a bad taste.

I find in interesting that the parable of the wheat and tares shows the tares bundled up in bundles first to be burned, while the wheat continues to grow in the field. So our main purpose is not to gather ourselves into a bundle is it? But to grow in the field where we are.

 

[Starcrystal]

"PTCD"
It was ALWAYS trauma for me, not that i wasn't able to get some wheat outta the deal, but those tares kept getting stuck in my teeth & left a bad taste in my mouth.

I found out God created everything because He loved me at 3&1/2 yrs old. On my 4th birthday, I was "filled with the Holy Spirit" in my front yard.

From then on it just got complicated & frustrating, trying to make sense of the difference between spirituality & churchianity.

Fortunately, I found Reform Theology when I went online in 2000. As I grasped the doctrines of grace & election, I felt my spirit freed.
I don't share the same ecclesiology as Calvin (especialy in the area of church discipline), but I now recognize God's sovereignity is as total as omnipotence & omniscience define it.

No longer am I addicted to illigitimate authority figures & no longer am i neuroticaly attached to the illusion of safety in the "herd" of sheople that cling to each other for a couple of hours a week without realy getting to know each other. I don't measure my committment to my beliefs in how much time or how many programs, or how much money I hand over to any hirlings or their agendas.

Jesus is far more reliable & rewarding.

PTCD! Ha! Good one!

Yep, I've bounced around between so many churches it's not even funny. I've left some because the church itself fell into sin, or legalism, or false doctrines. I was part of a church that split over a hyper faith prosperity doctrine. I was cast out of a church because of a false rummor started by someone who had never even met me and spread lies based on what so and so said so and so said (major hearsay). I was cast out of a church by a pastor who had been involved in a sort of "hostile takeover" of my pastor and I still supported my pastor.

Each time I remained "unchurched" for awhile, some of those times I actually got stronger and closer to God - others I backslid. On a couple occasions I did the home church thing.

I now go to a church that I only have issues with 2 of their doctrines. I don't agree about their "timing" of the rapture, and they preached on tithing and said we were stealing from the Lord if we didn't tithe. But since these are not ongoing messages constantly thrown in your face I can worship around them. The love and the excellent music ministry as well as the annointed messages far outweighs the negative.

 

[Rick Otto]

Consider it maturity that you can forgive without forgetting.
We all have some kinda blinder somewhere. Consider those people who are aware of your differences are allowing them as well.
Only obsessive/compulsive people demand rigid conformity.

If a sense of humor could save, I'd be Jesus!

Good to hear your laugh, girl. Heaing for both of us.
Thank you, Str, & thank you, Jesus.

 

[TheAJKMan]

I know that as I get older I'm less inclined to stick around in a loosine situation. If it ain't working, I'm outta there. Thee only reason I'd stay, particualrly in a "church" type situation, is because God tapped me on the shoulder and said "Stay!"

TheAJKMan

 

[hairettic]

I'm feeling like it is traumatic to stay! But it is a small community and you can't slip quietly out the back door unnoticed. Still praying for release from ALL religiousity. I WANT FREEDOM I feel better now.

 

[loribee59]

PTCD! Ha! Good one!


I now go to a church that I only have issues with 2 of their doctrines. I don't agree about their "timing" of the rapture, and they preached on tithing and said we were stealing from the Lord if we didn't tithe. But since these are not ongoing messages constantly thrown in your face I can worship around them. The love and the excellent music ministry as well as the annointed messages far outweighs the negative.

AAAAARRRRGHH!!!. the greed in those churches astound me. by taking the OT verses and applying to the NT churches just sounds SO wrong. that's the WORSE excuse I've heard over and over again about stealing from the Lord. I left two churches because of that issue. One church constantly preached tithing and the other just started preaching on tithing after 2 years of preaching about GIVING. I left that church with angry tears.

But~ you're right---if the pluses outweigh the minuses at church, then I can handle that. For now I've been unchurched for over 2 years and I get my fellowship with others, whether it's in a coffee shop, at home or at work.

BTW, Star, your wolf avatar is gorgeous!

 

[TheAJKMan]

loribee, you comment reminds me that our "christian" lives are emant to be lived in the real world, so much so that the unsaved come flocking in for salvation cos they want whatever it is we have. And, last time I looked that wasn't happening.


theajkman

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

 

[TheAJKMan]

The house churches are nicknamed "the church of the silent lips" -- because they STAY QUIET publicly - they don't evangelize publicly with spoken words.
This church is the fastest growing in the world by some reports.
Neighbors and others who see THE CHANGED LIVES, HOLY BEHAVIOUR are converted WITHOUT A WORD !!!! WOW.

WOW indeed. Didn't know that they were called by that name. Thanks for sharing that point. It is indeed a fine example of what the whole church should be like. I'm reminded of the scripture that says "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, by the love you have one for another." Same thing as is happening in China.


theajkman

 

[discernomatic]

Consider it maturity that you can forgive without forgetting.
We all have some kinda blinder somewhere. Consider those people who are aware of your differences are allowing them as well.
Only obsessive/compulsive people demand rigid conformity.

I agree totally.

PTCD - that was a good one! (I know some with PTSD because of spiritual abuse). I did embrace the concepts of predestination and sovereignty, since 2001, which did broaden my horizon. I was also spiritually abused in a Reformed church. I share your views on churchianity and Calvinism.

 

[faithpilgrim]

That is very interesting "the church with silent lips." Much different than the house or cell churches who think you must be vocal and join together into some big seen or heard thing.

Jesus stated the kingdom of God was not seen by some because it was not a big vocal movement; but rather it was right in their midst, unseen by them because it is in the hearts of those who believe. The same is true today.

Love the Lord and love others, this is how we should be known.

 

[laterunner]

We too thought we had been abused in this''deep meat of the word'' group we were birthed into. (Hadn't we been strenthened ? )
Through leader's methods & personal human problems & the insullar structure of the oversight. ( Are we not still human ? ) (Are the shepherds not responsible for the flock the guard for the owner ?)
A number of us decided that we could no longer continue with the group(Church) We met together for some 18 months in our house. Not knowing that there were other born-again christians so close to us in our location. Sad Eh!
We wondered if we should go to the meeting of another group to hear a well know preacher. The revelation we had was that we should trust the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us & the He would be with us in any situation.
We were mightily blessed.
The next location or meeting we went to, also gave us more faith & insight to God & His Kingdom. The preacher;again well known, during his talk/preach, led the congregation in meeting with the Holy Spirit & being free in His presence.
But the breaking point in all of our group of 9 + was the knowledge that Jesus had died & shed His blood & life for us.
Up till then we had only known of God & His precepts & oversight of us all; the ''deep meat of the word''. We all cried when we came back together afterwards. We were heart broken to think that we had never been taught the basic truths.
Some of us read two books ''Three Kings'' by Murray & '' But a grain of wheat dies---'' or similar. They helped.
What has the devil accomplished through this? NOTHING, he helped to spread the Church that is God's.
He bought his hand down on it & splat! it spread. & at least 9+ people took the Holy Spirit with them to where ever they went.
Many of us have sat under the ''Word of God ''in many & veried situations. Good & bad as they were, we have been fed; sometimes not even aware of what God is doing in & with us.
All things work together for the good of God's church. He allows us to be strengthend. Aren't we His army.
SO be encouraged when all about you seem black. It ain't. Bless you.

 

[densi]

Anybody here?

 

[ananda]

What does "unchurched" mean?

 

[CloudByDay]

When I heard people saying it, they were referring to people (or children) who had never spent time sitting in the pews of churches, hearing the Bible taught.

I thought it was a bit judgmental of them to say that, because I know adults and children who have been brought up in house churches who love God and understand His word better than many "churched" people.