Spiritual Abuse: Fact or Fiction

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Ferd

yea this is true. however what thepew said is also true. you took the time to consider before you lashed out in a way you might regret, and responded in a meaningful way that address the situation quite well.


good for you!

Oh....well....in that case....

Originally Posted by Rico

I've got some news for you. I have never lied to a preacher in all my life. I have always been honest and upfront with every pastor I've ever had, whether they wanted me to be or not. I don't believe in putting on airs and pretending to be anything other that what I am. What you see is what you get, period.

I wasn't suggesting that you were dishonest or deceptive. However, what you posted is typical of what many Christians do: hold pastors to a higher standard than they hold other people or, especially, themselves.

[nathan_slatter]

Originally Posted by Chan

I wasn't suggesting that you were dishonest or deceptive. However, what you posted is typical of what many Christians do: hold pastors to a higher standard than they hold other people or, especially, themselves.

I don't know about Rico -- but this is a common thing, as you said. Here's the questions: Are these doing it just because? Or have they been taught that the pastor is above them and therefore should be held to a higher standard?

I think that the problem of this sort of thing is due to both of these questions being answered in the affirmative. Some hold pastors up that way just because -- others do it because they have been taught to do so.

Originally Posted by nathan_slatter

I don't know about Rico -- but this is a common thing, as you said. Here's the questions: Are these doing it just because? Or have they been taught that the pastor is above them and therefore should be held to a higher standard?

I think that the problem of this sort of thing is due to both of these questions being answered in the affirmative. Some hold pastors up that way just because -- others do it because they have been taught to do so.

I think it's more along the lines of Western culture and residuals from Roman Catholicism creeping in. Both held ministry as being somehow superior to laity (which I believe is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans that Jesus said He hates). While pastors do have God-given authority over the saints, that does not make them superior to the saints.

[nathan_slatter]

Originally Posted by Chan

I think it's more along the lines of Western culture and residuals from Roman Catholicism creeping in. Both held ministry as being somehow superior to laity (which I believe is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans that Jesus said He hates). While pastors do have God-given authority over the saints, that does not make them superior to the saints.

Yeah -- I agree.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Rico

I guess I can agree with you that some people are bent on bashing the church over what they have been through and have no intention of moving on. I know that right now I am still very angry and not interested in trusting another pastor again. That may change though. It's gonna take a lot though, to be honest with you. I know it isn't fair to make someone have to jump through hoops over what someone else has done. In a way what I am going through now will be harder to get over than other hurts I've experienced because at least I can say that the uc pastor I had was sincere in his beliefs and wasn't intentionally lying to me. He really believes part of his job is to micro manage people in their walk with the Lord. Kinda like your friend in Owensboro you sent me to. LOL

Your criteria was an ANTI-Xmas church they fit the bill did they not??? Of course they might be ANTI a few other things also?

[Steve Epley]

I ask for everyone's forgiveness you have a right to be angry and bitter for the rest of your live's and it is none of my business if you have chosen that miserable life of suspiction and pain. I am guilty of trying to convince you God's will is for you to have a happy-abundant-peaceful life without the weight of bitterness. But I can see my offer is not attractive and I have already given you everything I can muster on the subject. I would wish you the blest but that would insult you since you have no desire to be better and if I wish you the worse I feel guilty so I wish you nothing.
I am going to have a good day. You have whatever you want.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Ok, that's it.

You have no idea the sheer volume of self control that it is taking to keep my teeth clenched together at this point. If the words in my mind were counted, I just earned about 87 infractions.

I need to stop typing now, or they are gonna spew out all over the place.

Good job at controlling yourself. I said fiction because I believe that it is possible to deny anyone power to spiritually abuse you. When one feels abused in the sense that is being discussed, it is because the abused individual is giving power to Satan to be spiritually abused. I'm not really denying the existance of it, as much as I am trying to help people understand, that if you have the Holy Ghost, and your "spirit" is connected to "His Spirit" then the outcome of abuse can not affect you.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I ask for everyone's forgiveness you have a right to be angry and bitter for the rest of your live's and it is none of my business if you have chosen that miserable life of suspiction and pain. I am guilty of trying to convince you God's will is for you to have a happy-abundant-peaceful life without the weight of bitterness. But I can see my offer is not attractive and I have already given you everything I can muster on the subject. I would wish you the blest but that would insult you since you have no desire to be better and if I wish you the worse I feel guilty so I wish you nothing.
I am going to have a good day. You have whatever you want.

Yep, that's right! Too bad you've never learned to get past all of the bitterness and nastiness you have toward the UPC and/or any other organization, hmmmm?


Hey Mr Kettle, you have just been hit upside the chops with the pot!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Subdued

WRONG!

Depends on how you look at it. Read my response to Michlow.