Who has been hurt by a "church"?

[Jennie@ifish]

I have.

I am still very affected by it.

I was walking really strong for a long time, and then.... SCREECHING HALT.

I am slow and steady in my walk back, but... at one time, I never thought I would.

Jen

[Fish-n-Fever]

Jen, a very wise man once told me an importnat thing to remember, church is a place people go to be with others like they are but remember man made religion and churchs and they are governed by men so, keep your eyes on God not on the people. People make mistakes and will faulter but by keeping your focus on God and not these people you will be stronger.
Keep the faith.
Ron
one other point to ponder...
It is better to congregate with a few hipocrits in a place filled with God loving people than to pass through this life into the next and be with ALL the hipocrits! :wink:

[Jennie@ifish]

I like that!
:smile:

[PittsburghD]

Church is not the house, but the people inside of it. When the people inside my old church led lives in the world to a point where it affected the body, I moved on. Now in my new church I could not have a stronger more hungrier faith. Not because of the building, but the people. We, I am the body and my body is a temple. I travel 30 minutes across Portland to worship at New Song Community Church and wouldn't change a thing.

Seek a new home Jennie. Find a new Bible study. But most of all pray for guidance and He will place you where you are supposed to be.

In Him,

Dustin

[Jennie@ifish]

This was more than 10 years ago.
I found a great church, since then!
J

[Grantspastor]

The people we are hurt the most by, are the people we have trusted the most. I have Pastored for almost 25 years now. The people who have hurt me the most are the ones that I have invested my trust and my life in. Its grievous and very difficult to overcome, yet that is the only option I have. Jesus said "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". The church is people...being built together by Jesus. He only has imperfect people to work with. That is where the problems and hurts come from. It helps to know that the church...imperfect as it is...is the instrument of God in the earth and in fact is part of the eternal purpose that God has (Eph 3:10-11)

For every insincere, hypocritical, hurtful person...there are many more that are sincere, genuine, and full of the love of Christ. Redemption is for real...the church is for real...but most of all Jesus is for real. I count it worthy of my life's investment...hurts and disappointments aside.

[FM2]

Jen, I appreciate your making this issue public in a place you and God created. I read your post before there were any replies and when I read it I really needed to pray for you so the Holy Spirit would allow a response that could help you grow past your bad experience and to put your total trust and faith in God which your heart leads you to this direction.

As I have heard in the past about tribulations and the guilt associated with them and the redemption that is sought, I would like to say Jen you have a tremendous heart for God and have proven through determination, that is not without temptation, your heart comes back in alignment to where peace and joy dwellls within you and you and God rejoice together in praise.

There was a reason Jen you have brought up this topic and maybe it's because how deep rooted the hurt resides within you. I truly believe you have the resolve and the love to move on and focus on the important issue's in your life that God has put before you. Jen you have the ability to touch lives in many different forms meaning you love people and all living things and that is a God given gift that can be cherished beyond words. Please keep doing what you do and seek the name of Jesus through the bible and your reward's will be certainly rewarded through eternity in heaven. Find the church that meet's you half way between the world and God and let go of issue's that have cause an impleasant experience in your life.

I would like to add and something you are well aware of, music breaks down the barrier's and brings a closeness to Jesus that in my opinion is one of the strongest path's to joy given to gifted people like yourself as this breaks down the difference's between man and God.

I care about you Jen and will always be here for you should you need someone to talk too.

YBIC, Keith

[ 03-30-2003, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: FM2 ]

[Jennie@ifish]

What brought this up, was a chance meeting I had the other day with a guy I hadn't seen in 10 years... He was on the worship team there with me.
We led music, together...
Anyway, he, too, was very hurt and when I spoke with him, he said he hadn't been involved with a church since then.
WOW.
He was involved heavily with the youth, and I really looked up to him.
In a way, it was kind of nice to have my feelings validated, but in another, I felt so sad for how he felt, and the damage that had been done.
I only hope he still has a very personal relationship with Him.


Jen

[Grantspastor]

Jennie...FM2 brought up a good point. Even though I've never met you or talked with you...I too think you're probably a pretty special person. I'm really glad you have found another church where your gifting can find expression. I'm really glad you've chosen as an act of your will to keep traveling on with Jesus. I've seen plenty over the years that didn't. I keep thinking about an old plaque that my mother kept on the wall of her home before she died. It read "Only one life..t'will soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last". Truer words were never spoken. At times when I've felt like packing it in...those words have come back to me and put it in perspective again.

Blessings,

Dave

[FM2]

I find it amazing how sometimes hurt can last so long in lives. Jesus asks us in His name to forgive those who trespass against us, just as He forgives so many that have turned their backs on Him.

Ten years is a long time and obviously the hurt is deep, but the love of Christ will help to overcome those feelings. Whenever I get into any type of situation which is out of the ordinary I always think of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I have been amazed at how many times one of these fruits will apply to whatever situation I am in and when I remember this, I get through the issue with the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

:smile: :smile: :smile:

[ 03-30-2003, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: FM2 ]

[Jennie@ifish]

I agree, both of you.
You know, it's really a blessing to be raised in a Christian family. I still remember things that gave my Mother comfort in her walk, also.

I often reflect on those memories.

Jen

[Walleyed]

I got to say that I have a little trouble with church.when I was younger I was looking for something and just didn't find it in church.
I do have a power that I work with and so far it has been an one on one. Hay the way I look at it if IT can work with me one on one and I let it then why should I take a chance that something might get change buy hearing it from a nother human. I'm not knocking church !!!! I just work at keeping my chanel open and this is what is working for me. It has made me a better person and I can say I am proud of who I have become.

[PittsburghD]

FM2 touched it. The part of the Lord's prayer that says, As we forgive those who trespass against us, is about one of the hardest things we as humans can do. Put all pride, self and flesh aside and step away from our comforts and forgive our enemies and those who trespass against us. Wow.

Every once in awhile I run into folks who have been stung by a church or other Christians. Recently I spent time with a couple who used to run the youth program at a church and the man's heart was extremely hardened. Through our meetings, the Holy Spirit has lit up his wife again and through that, he is opening back up. I think what has helped is surrounding themselves with other Christians from a different church. As in any other personal relationship, time will build trust. For those of us watching, prayer will bust walls and build mountains.


---D

[feisty's wife]

My wife will take our two boyz to church, they are being home-scooled, one is in Awanas, I will sometimes go to be with them, boring. If they choose to not go when they nare older, I will not discourage them, I will certainly explain my beleif/knowledge in reincarnatio/astral travel