I have been going to a church since I was ten. I have never really felt accepted there. I had no real friends there for two years. Finally, met up with a girl that was alone like me. We became like sisters. The other young teens and teens bullied us a lot, but no one seemed to see them or when they did they didn't do anything because it was their child, niece, nephew, etc. So a year passed and we both started into the youth group. The girl that bullied us worst was the daughter of the youth pastors. One night at our overnight cookie bake, the teens ganged up on us. Because we dressed unique they called us goths (which in their terms translates into witches, evil, etc.). Because I brought two different boyfriends to church (one I dated for 3 years and broke up with and one I'm still dating to this day) they said I was sinful. They called my friend a fat cow. They called my boyfriend, my friend, and me retards and they threw things at us. Before we could tell the youth pastors, their daughter told them everything they did to us, we did to them. We got yelled at in a corner by the youth pastors with all three of us crying.
That was about two years ago. My boyfriend who was unsaved at the time almost stopped comming to church, but he did and gave his life to the lord a month later. He is still having trouble forgiving those involved. My friend slowly stopped comming to church. She became a cutter, bisexual, and I believe is currently running from God although she wants to be near him. She still comes to church sometimes.
I have done much research on the gothic society they fear and have concluded that I am a goth. I know their view is wrong and that goths CAN be Christians. I didn't come out of the situation without scars, however. I, who grew up in the church, am now afraid to go to it. When I am there, I am nervous. If the pastor or somebody says something about our church being accepting or those kids or youth pasters being so loving and kind I want to run to the bathroom and cry (I have several times). I have asked my family to switch churches but they won't. I go to this church as little as possible (once a week) but I am a Christian still...I'm just hurt...
I'm asking for advice. How can I help my boyfriend? How can I help my friend? How do I make this situation better for them? I am my least priority in this, but how do I cope in this? I have nowhere else to turn to for advice. Please help me.
That was about two years ago. My boyfriend who was unsaved at the time almost stopped comming to church, but he did and gave his life to the lord a month later. He is still having trouble forgiving those involved. My friend slowly stopped comming to church. She became a cutter, bisexual, and I believe is currently running from God although she wants to be near him. She still comes to church sometimes.
I have done much research on the gothic society they fear and have concluded that I am a goth. I know their view is wrong and that goths CAN be Christians. I didn't come out of the situation without scars, however. I, who grew up in the church, am now afraid to go to it. When I am there, I am nervous. If the pastor or somebody says something about our church being accepting or those kids or youth pasters being so loving and kind I want to run to the bathroom and cry (I have several times). I have asked my family to switch churches but they won't. I go to this church as little as possible (once a week) but I am a Christian still...I'm just hurt...
I'm asking for advice. How can I help my boyfriend? How can I help my friend? How do I make this situation better for them? I am my least priority in this, but how do I cope in this? I have nowhere else to turn to for advice. Please help me.
