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

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Michlow, what you are experiencing is totally normal!

When you are released from extremism, folks tend to pull away like a pendulum and it usually doesn't stop in the middle.

My prayer for you is that you find peace with God in one way or another!

Perhaps you are right, for I have found that I haven't just left the UPC, but I have left fundamentalist Christianity completely.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Perhaps you are right, for I have found that I haven't just left the UPC, but I have left fundamentalist Christianity completely.

and turned to what ???

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Michlow, what you are experiencing is totally normal!

When you are released from extremism, folks tend to pull away like a pendulum and it usually doesn't stop in the middle.

My prayer for you is that you find peace with God in one way or another!

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Excellent insight and advice!

I agree, in my experience, I was very disallusioned with the church and the ministry (and I will point out it was really just one person who reduced me to this state), and I didn't want anything to do with it, and I did have a lot of peace when I first left. But eventually I knew that I needed more, and luckily at that point I had been back around really loving, truly Christian people, and I found my way back into relationship with God.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Michlow

No, in my case, I have simply openly embraced the fact that I have no desire to ever attend church or have anything to do with anything that borders on religious. Nor will I ever allow anyone to have any real or perceived spiritual authority over me again.

I can understand you here. We started going to church during my teens and most "formative" years. I HATED school with a passion that few understand and looked forward to the weekend and being able to be by myself... except we were in Church ALL day Sunday and had "revival" services two out of three weeks (it seemed to me). I thought suicidal thoughts constantly as I simply could not deal with it anymore -that and the list of rules.

Now, 20 plus years later, I STILL have NAM-like flashbacks to those days, especially when certain songs are played and never actually "enjoyed" going to Church on Sunday morning again.

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

This is something I do NOT understand does headquarters have no authority, and if not what use are they. I know that when we had our terrible separation, we went to the district presbyter and there was nothing he could do either. The first family that finally was brave enough to go to him, he didn't believe it could be true...but after several more complaints he finally decided there was something to it...not that he could change anything, which makes me laugh...what does the organization do really, except have a main place to send money and have a big conference each year!

I was under the impression that the presbyter could have done something but chose not to.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

I agree, in my experience, I was very disallusioned with the church and the ministry (and I will point out it was really just one person who reduced me to this state), and I didn't want anything to do with it, and I did have a lot of peace when I first left. But eventually I knew that I needed more, and luckily at that point I had been back around really loving, truly Christian people, and I found my way back into relationship with God.

Dizzy, Did you read the post by Sis Beezer??

look on this page- I "bumped" it up

give me a comment on it

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Thad

Dizzy, Did you read the post by Sis Beezer??

look on this page- I "bumped" it up

give me a comment on it

Well, I know that you and I both have seen some pretty unbelievable stuff, but this is the most extreme case I have ever heard of.

I really would like more information, like when did this occur, is the Pastor still in that church, does she know if these things are still happening? I cannot imagine anyone getting away with this stuff in this day and age.

If it is still going on, somebody needs to get the police involved. Extreme standards are one thing, but this is criminal activity!

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

It is a hard thing to get over...but you can...it will never go away but it does get better with time...I can even go out in my town now and not be afraid of running into anyone from that church...for a long time it made me nervous now I know they think I am backslid and living in sin so I don't care, because I know, the Lord knows and the people I love and care about know...so that is all that matters to me!

What is fun is to be so sweet and nice and act like nothing is wrong...... even though they think I am in the depths of sin. I know I am not.
It was weird the other day I saw a lady who attends my mom and dad's church and she was wearing pants, and she was trying to hide from me so I would not see she had pants on. I thought that was odd because she knows I do not care what she wears.

Originally Posted by Sister Truth Seeker

OH Mich what you have said sacres me more than anything else...please don't turn your back on the Lord...nothing has been said about Jesus...I love Him evn more now....because I am free to have an open relationship with Him and be the woman he created....

As to church I do understand, it is hard to go to any church after this, but I won't give up, I just will be very careful about who I listen to and what they say....

What Mich said is so sad but because of the teaching I have many friends who believe the way she does or believe what they were taught when they were young and think there is no way in the world they will make it to heaven if they have to follow all of these rules so they just decided to live as bad as they want!

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Oh, I'm not afraid of anything like that. The bad churches are 900 miles away and so there is no chance that I will run into anyone from them.

No, in my case, I have simply openly embraced the fact that I have no desire to ever attend church or have anything to do with anything that borders on religious. Nor will I ever allow anyone to have any real or perceived spiritual authority over me again.

To be honest, these days I'm not even so sure about Jesus. If he's anything like they have made him out to be, I don't want anything to do with him either.

Your problem Michlow is you got your eyes off of Jesus and put it on man. Man will always fail you, Jesus will not!

If you would begin again to worship Him He will heal you.