Old church taking advantage of me

[Faithfulandtrue]

I wasn't sure where to post this thread, but I want to know if anyone else is experiencing this too? I left my old church last year for many reasons. One is I felt like people were being put on pedestals and others like me were just there to clap for them. The one thing I want to see if anyone else has experienced is being used for ministry when your suffering. I know serving can be a great way to get our minds off ourselves but I felt honestly hurt when I was really struggling and being told that I needed to serve more. I talked to some people after I've been gone and their response to my pain is "let's put you to work". Like seriously?!!!! WTH. I know that's not right and I know God doesn't approve of their words to me. Anyone else experience this? Btw I was serving in children's ministry for years when I attended this church and felt guilty the day I needed to step down for my own well-being.

 

[BobRyan]

I wasn't sure where to post this thread, but I want to know if anyone else is experiencing this too? I left my old church last year for many reasons. One is I felt like people were being put on pedestals and others like me were just there to clap for them. The one thing I want to see if anyone else has experienced is being used for ministry when your suffering. I know serving can be a great way to get our minds off ourselves but I felt honestly hurt when I was really struggling and being told that I needed to serve more. I talked to some people after I've been gone and their response to my pain is "let's put you to work". Like seriously?!!!! WTH. I know that's not right and I know God doesn't approve of their words to me. Anyone else experience this? Btw I was serving in children's ministry for years when I attended this church and felt guilty the day I needed to step down for my own well-being.

It's called "burn out". When they lean too heavily for too long on a very talented resource person (because "nobody else is that good at it") without any consideration for the spiritual health and growth of that person, eventually it will get to a breaking point.

 

[Faithfulandtrue]

It's called "burn out". When they lean too heavily for too long on a very talented resource person (because "nobody else is that good at it") without any consideration for the spiritual health and growth of that person, eventually it will get to a breaking point.

Thank you for understanding. That's exactly it!

 

[Paul4JC]

Thank you for understanding. That's exactly it!

I think it's more than just burnout. You made the right decision by stepping down.

One is I felt like people were being put on pedestals and others like me were just there to clap for them.

So true. I call it Cliquish Christianity.

 

[JAM2b]

This was done to me in a church years ago. Essentially I was neglected by the church, but expected to continue serving in children's ministry. I stopped attending altogether.

 

[com7fy8]

I know serving can be a great way to get our minds off ourselves

Prayer can prepare you to get your mind off yourself . . . in the right way while you are serving.

If you are a problem, somehow, get this taken care of by God in prayer so then you can be a good example while serving . . . of how to be and how to relate.

If you have emotional troubles about things in your life, I would say do not use serving to keep your mind off of that; but in prayer first get with God and get things taken care of so you are in peace, right while you still can be thinking about things. And then go serve, once things can't have power over you

Does this make sense?