|
|
Post by stillfocused on Nov 14, 2007 12:11:38 GMT -5
We have had this discussion before..yet, this something I believe that needs to be revisited. What the purpose of silencing someone to the point where they are not allowed to talk anyone within a congregation in some instances in church and others or outside. Having discussed this with others..there is no biblical reference or guidelines for this practice that occurs in the body of Christ. Some make see it as form of discipline..others may see it as a way to bring one to a place of humility..another may see as a way to bring about a way to bring about change in the spiritual atomsphere in a congregation. Others may use this method of discipline as a way to how submissive someone is. I hear of it happening..and I really just don't understand the purpose for this practice. And I am sure..I am not the only..I understand what it..but, I really understand how this fulfills the purposes of God in the earth.
|
|
|
|
Post by stillfocused on Nov 14, 2007 14:11:43 GMT -5
I know someone on this board has the answer to this..and I am looking for answers until the body of Christ discusses the things that are done in the name of Jesus with one another..they will not be able to offer the "world" a legitimate answer as to why they do the things that are done.
|
|
|
|
Post by auneeqsol on Nov 14, 2007 14:17:32 GMT -5
Now I know the account of when Paul told the congregation not to fellowship with one who would indulge in sin and still come to church as if everything was alright I believe it was the corinthian church....I would have to come back with the scripture, but it was in a sense of hoping the person would be restored back into the fold, surrendering their will and denying themselves coming back under the authority of the word...
Because you can't make a person do right. But Paul was saying to use this method versus fellowshipping and all with them and not trying to point them in the direction of truth to cause them to see where they erred.
So many people use this method "disfellowshipping" out of context. I belive every situation that arises in the church should not be handled the same way. This is where wisdom would have to be applied as leadership and a church body.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beulah5 on Nov 15, 2007 11:25:13 GMT -5
witchcraft
|
|
|
|
Post by Rachel2 on Nov 15, 2007 16:08:17 GMT -5
Witchcraft
|
|
|
|
Post by stillfocused on Nov 15, 2007 16:27:48 GMT -5
Beulah and Rachel2..can you please expound on this ?? I know it isn't right..
|
|
|
|
Post by anointedtoteach on Nov 16, 2007 0:10:57 GMT -5
Spiritual and emotional abuse, along with witchcraft
|
|
|
|
Post by Beulah5 on Nov 16, 2007 9:46:35 GMT -5
Even worse are those who allow themselves to be subjected to this. A female pastor once did not absolutely like me and she went to all lengths to make sure no one accepted me in the church to the point we are talking about.
You know what? I was really relieved and happy since it was God separating me unto Himself.
Most instances of this happening i have noticed that it is God allowing that to happen to mature and call out the individual from whatever cesspool of a church they may be sitting in or because He has a different ministry for them.
A lot of people who get rejected from places sometimes God hasbeen telling them to move on and they out stay and so things come crashing down.
|
|
|
|
Post by auneeqsol on Nov 16, 2007 14:05:46 GMT -5
You are hittin on somethin there......They better recognize....it happened me as well. The whole thing came crashing down!!!! I hightailed it and obeyed God then and didnt wanna look back!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by stillfocused on Nov 16, 2007 14:17:57 GMT -5
I have heard of it being done as temper and humble a person. To me it seems like spiritual manipulation.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beulah5 on Nov 16, 2007 14:41:41 GMT -5
You are hittin on somethin there......They better recognize....it happened me as well. The whole thing came crashing down!!!! I hightailed it and obeyed God then and didnt wanna look back!!!! ROFL!! I feel ya sis!! Stillfocused yes i agree that most times it is manipulation and all that but manipulative shepherds are not going to go away. God Himself deals with them in His own time. It happened to a friend of mine by the same pastor as well -she and her husband and family were ostracized and were told not to be spoken to by the church because the pastor was a friend of a hairdresser whom she had fallen out with  . That was horrible but today they give God thanks while that church has lost most of its membership. Pastors would not be able to do this if they did not have willing congregants who allowed themselves to be led in this way. Today my friend is blessed as she is in a church where Jesus is everything and no one including the pastor has time for this kind of nonsense and she and her husband are being truly blessed. There is no greater good that God can do us than relieving us from heavy shepherding. PTL! |
|
|
|
Post by Rachel2 on Nov 16, 2007 14:50:50 GMT -5
I concur with B5....in my case it was a male pastor and his wife treating me like I was invisible because I would not quit going to a secular college where God had sent me in order to go to a so-called bible college that the pastor has created in the church. We had gotten along just fine up to this point. BTW, I had already gone to an accredited bible college before I came to his church and he knew this. I even had a dream where the pastor's wife chased me out of the church and threatened me never to come back. Now most people would say that was just a dream, however, the dream lined up with how they were treating me in reality. It got to the point where they would be standing less than 1 foot away from me and when I would speak to them they acted like I was invisible. And one Sunday the pastor was looking at me from the pulpit with such fury in his eyes until it frightened me. After the dream, I left the church and never looked back. This is why I call these silent treatment tactics witchcraft and manipulation. There was nothing "humbling" about the way they were treating me. It was sheer anger because they could not control me. I also learned from that experience that when some pastors tell you to seek God and do what He tells you....what they really mean is it's okay to do what God tells you to do as long as it lines up with what they want you to do. If it doesn't then you have a problem with the pastor. |
|
|
|
Post by stillfocused on Nov 16, 2007 15:53:24 GMT -5
Interesting..I had happen to me and I really didn't understand the purpose. Now someone mentioned control as well. I just had this conversation with someone and I just could not understand the purpose of crushing someone's spirit.
|
|
|
|
Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 19, 2007 13:34:21 GMT -5
Even worse are those who allow themselves to be subjected to this. A female pastor once did not absolutely like me and she went to all lengths to make sure no one accepted me in the church to the point we are talking about. You know what? I was really relieved and happy since it was God separating me unto Himself. Most instances of this happening i have noticed that it is God allowing that to happen to mature and call out the individual from whatever cesspool of a church they may be sitting in or because He has a different ministry for them. A lot of people who get rejected from places sometimes God hasbeen telling them to move on and they out stay and so things come crashing down. Not only was my old pastor attempting to "silence" me, but he had people watching me to see if I was going to certain people's homes. He had people not talking to me and I was prohibited from going around certain individuals. Most of the singles would go out on Friday nights but I was not invited. Most times people would tell me that I didn't know how to be submissive because - I wouldn't tell the pastor how much I made
- I didn't tell the pastor when I allowed someone to stay with me for a few weeks because she didn't have a place to stay
- I didn't always call him to let him know that I wasn't coming to church
- I didn't label my Christmas Bonus as such on my offering envelope so it could go into his pocket and not the church
- when I needed to get my car fixed because I worked 1 hour away (each way), I couldn't give towards the pastor's offering
- the list goes on and on
This is PART of the reason why I say that I was delivered from C.O.G. I. C. Even though I know it wasn't the entire denomination, it still leaves a "bad taste" in your mouth. When I was teaching Sunday School this pastor would challenge me with question after question in an attempt to prove me wrong on a matter. I would always ask why did he make me a teacher if he always wanted me to be wrong. It became so obvious to the others that I eventually resigned from being a Sunday School Teacher. |
|
|
|
Post by Rachel2 on Nov 19, 2007 15:12:25 GMT -5
ASWSOY...don't even get started on COGIC
I recently became a member of a church that was suppose to be non denominational, according to the Pastor's wife who teaches the new members class, however, they now proudly proclaim to be COGIC.
Needless to say, I feel as if I have been highjacked. I never intended to become COGIC because I have known how they operate for years. Their traditions are nothing but bondage and manipulation....yes, I said it. ;D
I was seriously contemplating leaving the church, but the Lord told me to "stay put". So out of obedience I will see where this takes me. I've been there one year Oct. 8.
But, God also made it clear that their traditions were not His will for my life.
When it comes to the things you were expected to report to the pastor...my favorite phrase is this....
I gave my life to God, not the pastor.[/b]
At my church recenlty we had the church/pastoral anniversary. Both are foreign to me because the church I came out of we never celebrated either. Anyway, we were asked to give $1,000 if you were a married couple or $500 if you were single.
I gave $15.00 which was all I could afford. $500 was never a consideration. Then they made statements like, "we saw who was here and who wasn't"....so what. The people don't belong to the pastor, they belong to God.
Then when the pastor and wife are out of town, they tell the people in charge to let them know who did not show up for service......What? We are grown people, not children and if the people have a heart for God they will come anyway. If not, then it's not the pastor's problem.
Needless to say, I am not fairing well in this environment. So I come to church, pay tithes and offering and mind my own business.
|
|
.
