Did a traumatic experience make you unchurched?

[StormyOne]

Nice rant breezy.

I find many people feel uncomfortablke or threatened when they say "what church do you go to" and I say, "oh, we murdered our church", or "as a church we have become unchurched in order to church it with the non-church" (if you can riddle that one out, it's pretty much what I'm about!).

Persoanlly I was shocked to start with because EVERY non-christian I have explained my position to will say, "well of course, church meetings and buildings are irrlevant and nothing to do with God - that's why I don't go there!". I ONLY HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CHRISTIAN'S!! But ot all, of course! Some are patronising, some see us as backsliders! Some get it, and wish us luck or ask how to be involved.

Either way, my point is that christians, especially those in religious denominations that have to fight with the beliefs and practices of other denominations or even religions!, will usually be threatened by matter-of-fact personal experience. And usually call it unBiblical to base something on common-sense, without proof-texting it!

And don't get me started on proof-texting! I think Phelps is the best proof-texter about at the moment, and look at what his lot do!!!!!

Flanny out.

Interesting that it is indeed those christians that go to church that you will have to fight with... and as it was pointed out somewhere (wish I could find that post again) that often church stunts our growth as opposed to empowering us to go and get busy living as God would have us live....

 

[New_Wineskin]

Interesting that it is indeed those christians that go to church that you will have to fight with... and as it was pointed out somewhere (wish I could find that post again) that often church stunts our growth as opposed to empowering us to go and get busy living as God would have us live....

Yes . As many of the groups go about their business , they *do* stunt the growth of the people .

 

[ffinder]

Maybe,

I had a personal traumatic experience that had nothing to do with the church i was attending but somehow immediately after that my eyes were opened and i saw the failures and wrong teachings of my church.

I had to go cause i couldn't agree to some of their teachings, but we are not unchurched we meet 6-9 of us in a house and have church (word, prayer worship)

During the days we left i prayed if we are going to start a new church we must be given all the right foundations from scripture.

After visiting many pentacostal-independent churches the Lord just poured down revelation on us from the scriptures that it is impossible to agree to their many man made pentacostal-independent traditions.

We still go to different churches (God is using us to help them) but we see the same pattern of pastors wanting to manipulate and control us and ultimately make us part of their church (i was offered ANY kind of ministry that i wanted from a specific church)

But the joy in our little house church.. oh!
No pastor or pastor controlled church can give that.

We still visit them until God says no more.

But a traumatic experience probably helped cause before that i was a fanatic of that church to the point i cut myself off from ppl that spoke against their teachings.

In Christ,
Carlos.

 

[strikerchris0411]

I recently had a traumatic experience that kept me out of a church when I thought I finally had "come home" after many years of being away from them. Have you had one? If it is not fit to print here because of the restrictions you may send it to me via my website. Just click on my profile and then the site link. I will definitely handle it discreetly. If you want it posted on my site anonymously, I will consider posting it. I have some links to organizations that help in such matters but am looking for more. If you can help me in that way (you will be helping others as well), please send me a mail.

Some people may just feel led to leave their church.

 

[mystery4]

I found the links for ya.

The Transforming Church: G12 Testimony
Part One www.banner.org.uk/apostasy/G12testimony.htm
Part Two www.banner.org.uk/apostasy/G12testimony2.htm

Thanks for posting these, I hadn't even heard about G12 until today. It breaks my heart to see all these people Satan is decieving.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Unfortunately G12 is still heavily shepherded. So go carefull.

 

[heron]

"Some people may just feel led to leave their church."
"We still go to different churches (God is using us to help them)"

Yes! I am seeing a lot of this lately, not just a trend of flexibility but of personal obedience. It is so reassuring that the Holy Spirit knows what's going on and actually defends individuals in time of oppression...even when the churches see these people as rebellious or divisive.

God has been speaking to individuals lately about justice and standing ground: through scriptures, through hunches and directives to back off emotionally...allowing them to be used for the real work of emotional healing and limiting injustices in the church body.

We don't need to turn on our churches, but to do the work that the Lord has called us to. If everyone is responsible with what they know and hear, these errors will not develop as they have. Being rejected is a possibility--we have to decide whether we value comfort or the health of the Body.


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[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

we have to decide whether we value comfort or the health of the Body.

Or whether to euthenise the dying body in order to spread the healthcare to those who really need it!

 

[heron]

Well...if you're in a position to do so. Usually there are some people still benefitting from the church.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Are you talking about Church the Mechanical Body,or Church the Organic Body? (Meetings/services/leaders v's People?)

 

[heron]

Just responding to your "euthanise the dying body" comment. Even in the worst of church splits, I usually see a remnant who truly wants to stay and make things work.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Ah, but what *things*?

Or do you mean relatioships?

 

[heron]

Flan, I know that you enjoyed your experience of "blowing up your church," but the best solution is not always as simple as that. God leads people in different directions, and one of those directions is the established church. I believe that the changes your members made were of God, but I also believe that people's choice to attend a traditional church is of God. The thrill is not in the destruction, but in meeting needs of the people and following His leading, wherever He takes us. If there's a need for a shaking, God will do it. And people will be sent in several directions.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

I HAVE SAID EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS YOU HERON!!!
I know what you mean and agree, have always maintained that euthenaisure is a calling, an extreme version of the change needed in all of God's Church.
I was just wondering what exactly you were talking about!

 

[breezynosacek]

Flan, did I really read that right? Did you take a church building and blow it up????
That should have been on the news, LOL!

And by the way guys, I'm asking that you keep praying for our group. One of our members mother discovered that she suddenly had a huge lump in her breast. She's diabetic. We don't know for sure that she is a Christian. She says that she believes in Jesus but won't discuss it even with her own son.

We are dealing with a lot of wounded people. So, if you could keep us on your permanent prayer list, I would personally feel very grateful to have that backup.

 

[New_Wineskin]

I believe that the changes your members made were of God, but I also believe that people's choice to attend a traditional church is of God.

With regards to *most* people's choice to to do so , I completely disagree . *Most* attend traditional settings are because of a few reasons , The biggest reason is because of the handed down traditional doctrine that they *must* do so . Go to any forum in the Congregation group of forums in CF ( except for the liberal forum ) and see what the majority in each one thinks about a Christian that does not "go to church" . Even in *this* forum , there are those that consider that all need to be a part of a group . While they are not involved in the traditional setting , many still have the traditional mindset which has been passed down through the centuries .

I do consider that *some* are in those settings because they have asked the Lord what to do and were willing to go nowhere if He so said . But , most are in those settings because of doctrine .

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

I do consider that *some* are in those settings because they have asked the Lord what to do and were willing to go nowhere if He so said . But , most are in those settings because of doctrine .

Bit harsh Wino, but you may well have apoint... the statistics here in UK definately reflect this... which is why people are leaving church buildings in droves... and from what I have experienced of the almost Islamic-Style Christianity in USA, may be it's true for you lot too!

Being "unChurched" does not mean you have no fellowiship or even church - because the world is Church.

 

[discernomatic]

Thanks guys...and yeah, I know it was a rant. I even thought about coming back and deleting it, but I'm getting pretty fed up with turn the other cheek so that someone can continue to spout something that isn't even rational and then shut my mouth about it as if I was the one that was a false teacher.

Sorta have issues about that. Learning when to stand for what I've said and when to let others go on being blind or misguided and when to allow others to be wrong. I don't like debate, never have. I don't know that it does the hearers much good. But, when somebody wrongly accuses me or tries to put words in my mouth, I quit standing there like a dumb deer in the headlights.

Gone for a few days and all hell breaks loose...

Hey, MPaul and Breezy....I agree with you, Breezy, but nonetheless...

Next time take it out in PMs, okay, or start another thread. I don't believe in deleting stuff others have posted unless it is really rancid. None of that rebuking in Jesus' name, please. That can trigger people that have been hurt in an environment where that phrase was misused against them. This is more of a thread for those that are hurting and wish to rant about their experiences, not against one another. A little off topic stuff is okay, but you gotta know when to stop.

Thanks for being there, Heron.

 

[discernomatic]

Maybe,

I had a personal traumatic experience that had nothing to do with the church i was attending but somehow immediately after that my eyes were opened and i saw the failures and wrong teachings of my church.................

But the joy in our little house church.. oh!
No pastor or pastor controlled church can give that..........

But a traumatic experience probably helped cause before that i was a fanatic of that church to the point i cut myself off from ppl that spoke against their teachings.

In Christ,
Carlos.

Glad you made it, Carlos, you're a survivor.

 

[discernomatic]

I'm asking that you keep praying for our group. One of our members mother discovered ..........We are dealing with a lot of wounded people. So, if you could keep us on your permanent prayer list, I would personally feel very grateful to have that backup.

Already in prayer, breezy.