For those who want to know...RULES at my church!

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Just a question of my own...

Generally speaking, is it better to remove yourself out from under a dictatorial authority figure entirely, or to "stand up to it", e.g., rebel against it?

Rebellion against any authority figure is never good. I say run as fast as you can away from the man in charge!! But don't stay in his house and rebel.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Rebellion against any authority figure is never good. I say run as fast as you can away from the man in charge!! But don't stay in his house and rebel.

I agree. I think it has to be left up to God to overthrow temples! In order to make sure my own heart is right, I think its best to just leave.

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Just a question of my own...

Generally speaking, is it better to remove yourself out from under a dictatorial authority figure entirely, or to "stand up to it", e.g., rebel against it?

OH wow... you can not rebel...you will be driven out...even if its precieved that you might rebel...I have to tell you that what went on in our church for over 2 years was dreadful, ugly, heart breaking, it divided familys, friends, and almost a marriage....there is so much more I could say!

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I agree. I think it has to be left up to God to overthrow temples! In order to make sure my own heart is right, I think its best to just leave.

Exactly....I know that God is the one in charge, I just had to get away...there was nothing I could do to change it ...for one they have to perceive that there is a problem...and want to change somthing...

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

OH wow... you can not rebel...you will be driven out...even if its precieved that you might rebel...I have to tell you that what went on in our church for over 2 years was dreadful, ugly, heart breaking, it divided familys, friends, and almost a marriage....there is so much more I could say!

There will always be people who think you are rebelling either way...whether you leave the church or object openly while still in the assembly. However, I meant from a personal integrity standpoint...is it ever okay to rebel? Meaning, to really fight against church leadership? I think it just prolongs the agony, probably doesn't do any good, and has more of an emotional toll than keeping your dignity intact and removing yourself completely from the picture.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

There will always be people who think you are rebelling either way...whether you leave the church or object openly while still in the assembly. However, I meant from a personal integrity standpoint...is it ever okay to rebel? Meaning, to really fight against church leadership? I think it just prolongs the agony, probably doesn't do any good, and has more of an emotional toll than keeping your dignity intact and removing yourself completely from the picture.

I always recommend that people read "A Tale of Three Kings" if you haven't read it already. It's the story of Saul, David & Absolom. I've had to go back and reread it many times in my life. It's a little book that can be read in one sitting, but it's powerful!

[JaneEyre]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

The concept of 'spiritual abuse' goes directly against the world view of those who believe in man-made "top down" view of religion. Meaning, pastor and his rules on top and the lay people on the bottom. That is simply "how it is!" to some. The pastor or organization will always be assumed innocent and the lay person will always be assumed guilty.

Well, just as the Catholic Church is dealing with sexual abuse and it's real, I believe that spiritual abuse is just as real. Not many will admit that the body has the problem of spiritual abuse. The thinking is that "if we ignore the problem, it will not go away or if we don't talk about it, it will go away."

Also, I believe that most of the spiritual abuse I have seen has been done through ignorance. It was well-intentioned. This pastor that STS mentioned in her first post probably thought he had to "make the path so straight to line up the folks to keep them on track." His goal may have been to "get them to heaven" his way. Notice the little "h" in his. The path is straight. We're told that in the Bible - but we're not given all of these esoteric rules in the Bible.

People abuse their physical bodies through ignorance - as overeating, not exercising enough, etc. Much of the harm that comes to the body of Christ I believe is through ignorance and not knowing what to do for a healthy Church body.

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

There will always be people who think you are rebelling either way...whether you leave the church or object openly while still in the assembly. However, I meant from a personal integrity standpoint...is it ever okay to rebel? Meaning, to really fight against church leadership? I think it just prolongs the agony, probably doesn't do any good, and has more of an emotional toll than keeping your dignity intact and removing yourself completely from the picture.

Yes I think your right...I did not rebel...we just left...when we did it left a huge hole...we were involved in most everything....we gave and gave of everything we had...we gave 110%...we did as were were told, and didn't stop to think about it for a long time...but when things went really sour we could not take it anymore...

It was after we left that we found out many of the old time church members were a lot of them hypocrites...saying one thing in church, but when they were at home or away they did as they pleased....

I was so very careful about what I read, we didn't watch any TV, when we went to a motel/hotel I would cover the TV...I was careful about what I listened too on the radio, CD's...we gave up a lot, and we did it willingly only to be abused in the end! The rules were only a small part of it all!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I always recommend that people read "A Tale of Three Kings" if you haven't read it already. It's the story of Saul, David & Absolom. I've had to go back and reread it many times in my life. It's a little book that can be read in one sitting, but it's powerful!

I've read that; you're right, its very good.

I started "fading away" when I was 16 and got my first job... then more so in college and the military.

In fact, I went for years with everything bottled up inside and never said a word to anyone, until I found FCF...