Many on this forum, and past forums, have been under spiritually abusive Pastors/leadership/spouses, ect...but I do not agree to name calling because many times abusers have also been victims. I believe it was James and John who said, "We cannot but speak the things we which have both heard and seen".
Everyone's experience may be different or have a different meaning to them based on thier perception of reality. I do believe though that because of the development of transportation, media, and thus exposure to other peoples, churches, lifestyles...we have been able to see:
I, personally, am glad that I got out of my small world as an Apostolic young person growing up in an ultra-conservative environment, and thrown into the diversity I found/saw at JCM. I am glad I got to see how other people handle things through the years spent evangelizing, and see how other leaders lead when assisting other Pastors. I am thankful for having spent time on both sides of the fence: Pastoral leadership to a saint on the pew. It made me appreciate both.
I said all that to say...many of us have had spiritually abusive people, or situations, in our lives but we don't have to stay there, harbor the blame by continually exposing other people who may have learned their lesson or been forgiven, nor do we have to be bound and continually tormented by the past. Jesus Christ came to break the chains of bondage in each of our lives...it is time now to accept what He has done and be free.
I hope you didn't assume that I was defending that practice on our very own beloved and highly estemed forum.
I would not defend that practice even if it is HERE.
Brother, Lois doesn't need my defense, but as a person who once judged her erroneously due to what my opinion was about her website and listening to the negative things others said about her, and how my own words ended up biting me in my hinder parts, it disturbs me to see others do the same with her.
Now that I know the person behind the site and have seen her in action, my prior opinion of her wasn't even close to reality.
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Brother, Lois doesn't need my defense, but as a person who once judged her erroneously due to what my opinion was about her website and listening to the negative things others said about her, and how my own words ended up biting me in my hinder parts, it disturbs me to see others do the same with her.
Now that I know the person behind the site and have seen her in action, my prior opinion of her wasn't even close to reality.
I just love Lois. I consider her a very dear friend.
She has always been very kind. Some people on this forum can be somewhat....
difficult or frightening or not very nice.
If Lois is changing then she should clear herself on her forum. Sorry she might be a nice person I do NOT know her personally but we crossed swords on FCF so many times and her feelings about truth and the church says more than her being nice. All folks who live on the blocks with serial killers always say they were so nice and courteous and petted my dog and held my cat.
NOT putting her in that catagory but the endorsments mean zip to me unless she repents.
If Lois is changing then she should clear herself on her forum. Sorry she might be a nice person I do NOT know her personally but we crossed swords on FCF so many times and her feelings about truth and the church says more than her being nice. All folks who live on the blocks with serial killers always say they were so nice and courteous and petted my dog and held my cat.
NOT putting her in that catagory but the endorsments mean zip to me unless she repents.
Elder Epley,
If it means anything, and I really doubt it does, I find you to also be a very kind and courteous person.
I just love Lois. I consider her a very dear friend.
She has always been very kind. Some people on this forum can be somewhat....
difficult or frightening or not very nice.
I do not know why some think bad of her.
I believe it's because of the same reason I did.
I read what I wanted to read and formed an opinion with the help of negativity about her from others. And from what I've read by several on this thread, that's exactly what's happened.
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
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