What Is It With These Guys?

I'm told it's the OSAS doctrine (Once Saved Always Saved) but it just seems like there is more to it than that. Maybe it's the profile of the average IFB man: domineering, arrogant, controlling, etc.

Another Piece of Scum From The IFB


Another Life Affected By A Sick Pervert


The Hyles Legacy: Sickness and Sex


Black Collar Crime
and: ChristianMingle Rapist

Active Christianity Vs. Mommy Guilt

I'm trying not to become jaded but I fear it's too late.
Seeing what I have seen, the hypocrites in the churchianity community, the pedophiles in the pulpit...
What can I possibly do to keep within the positive?

Sometimes I feel guilty that I don't go to 'church' because I look at my kids and think that they need to develop a spiritual life.
I  think dragging them to a Sunday school where they get treats or can be a part of a Bible verse contest is just a superficial spirituality.

If my kids have learned anything from churchianity, it's that in our case, it was phoney and the congregants were full of lust and the need to be controlling.
So, in many ways I am grateful to not have to battle with that fake life anymore.

If children truly learn more from modeling their parents and others close to them, then I can only pray that they see I have a good relationship with Jesus Christ without the pews, without an altar made by a furniture company and without the sickness that was so pervasive in our IFB church.

I see the power of prayer working on a daily basis and I share that with them. They see me searching the scriptures daily, they hear me discuss the things of God. Isn't that Christianity? To be a follower of Christ? Not a follower of a dogma, a denomination or an individual?

The More You Look At The Issue, The More You Realize You Are NOT Alone

Predator Pastors: Be careful who you trust....: My ex-pastor is a dangerous man.  I cannot say his name.   I've almost been afraid to say it, type it, or acknowledge that the man exis...


Jason Kidd and His Daughter

Clergy That Celebrate and Promote Abuses

An Interview About Secondary Victims

Of Preachers and Teachers

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
(1Corinth. 2:12-14)

Though I have been spiritually abused, I did not blame God for the lack I had suffered. After all, it was a man, his followers and my acceptance of the doctrine pushed upon me and my children that caused the upheavals in my life. 

Somewhere along the line, I gave up my right of free thought and clung to the opinions of a man who was thoroughly taken by his own intellect. A narcissistic personality who loved to control other's lives and be the center of attention.

So, excuse me if I do not listen to the ideas of other men (or women) who 'preach the truth.'

Don't be offended if I do not embrace the ideas and opinions of another who is revered by others. I simply have had enough of that behavior and I wish to read and study and come to my own conclusions of what the Bible says. 

I chose the above scriptures because I believe that God's Spirit can show me what is right and good. I don't need to have anyone tell me what to believe. If Christ is in me, if I am one of His, I should be able, through prayer and study, to come to the conclusions that the holy Spirit of truth will guide me to...should I not? Makes sense to me!

I have no quarrel with those who would like to listen to a 'message' from the pulpit. Live and let live I say. What I am telling you is that it is not something that I feel I need to do. 

If you have preachers that you like to listen to on the radio, internet or other medium, go for it. My relationship with Christ doesn't change because I don't feel the need to partake in that.

I am trying not to be bitter but I am rather suspicious of most preachers nowadays. I also know and believe that if each Christian is allotted a portion of the Spirit and it's gifts, I need not worry about how much I have. That is between the Lord and myself. He gives, the Spirit guides, and I am then enlightened to God's wisdom .

There may be a time when hearing preaching from a pulpit will be something I will do. Right now, it's not and may not be for a while.

The thought of joining a congregation and sitting in a pew with hymns sung, the shaking of hands to welcome my family, the shouts of AMEN! and the invitation to 'fellowship' is at this time, not a welcoming thought. 

Once-bitten, twice shy as the saying goes. When the bleeding stops and the wound starts to heal, it is sensitive and needs time to mend. So it is with my wound. 

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 

(Proverbs 18:14)

So Sad and Sick


Hyles Cover-Ups

Navigation by WebRing.

Thoughts On My Relationship With God

You know...I feel as if the wolves in Pastor's clothing, have done a spectacular job turning people away from God. I go to a lot of websites to research the latest complaints. I also check out the latest information about recovery for people like myself: those who have been hurt and victimized by cults and their leaders.  I feel saddened when I hear of those who have decided to give up on God because of their pain. It's as if the wolves have won.

Ok-so you were vulnerable. You believed the man instead of hanging on to the faith that once drew you. I know what that feels like. Instead of thinking critically for yourself, you allowed someone to tell you what to think, what to believe. Now, you're angry and bitter and want to do away with the very idea of a 'god' because you feel so extraordinarily let-down that you feel ill in the pit of your stomach when the subject enters your mind.

Some of us had that happen right away....some of us deal with those feelings as the days pass. Either way, the whole idea of worship service, hymns and especially the preaching from the pulpit, hits you like a stone to the head and you just want to run the other way.

Feelings are feelings, but it is how you act upon them that makes a difference.
I have had to separate my dislike for certain church rituals from the message of the Gospel that I try to read on a daily basis.

Now, I'm not putting anyone down for feeling anti-religious. I am not fond of religious institutions. I do though have a love for what I consider to be God's Word (Holy Bible) and I still try to pray and keep a running dialogue with my Lord.

The problem I am having now, is that the more I research the wolves, the more I disdain their acts of abuse, the less I trust any so-called, 'man of God'. Due to my coming out from under the oppressive hand of megalomania, I DO get that sick, cold feeling in the pit of my stomach when I hear a man preach-it doesn't even matter if it's a sermon I would agree with.  The thought of going to a church seems somewhat traumatizing and making 'Christian' friends seems like too much of a gamble for me.

The one thing I can count on is my trusty bible. I can read it, understand it and pray about what it says. I can talk to my Lord and know he hears because he answers so many of my prayers. Sometimes, like Elijah, distraught and exhausted, it's enough to sit by the brook and allow Him to nourish me until I regain my strength to run.


Quicksilver Queen About the Pearls



Characteristics of Abusive Churches



Are You A Victim Of Bullying?

Links To Refresh Our Memories: There IS a Problem Out There.

Punch the Kids


The Pearls Following


IFB Nightmares


FBC Hammond Survivor


Let Us Prey


JeriWho

Every now and then I think it's important to feed some glimpses of other's plight in the IFB movement. Please  check the above links out and if anyone has one to share, please e-mail me and I'll be glad to add the listing.

The Terrorist "Christians"

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 
(Mat 5:43-45)

The one thing I can say about the Baptist cult I belonged to, they were an active bunch!

We had street preaching men and the women who held up signs for the folks in traffic to read; some were gospel messages while others named a specific sin and warned of judgement.

We had our own group of Baptist 'hackers'...people who would go out of their way to browse for 'ungodly' websites so they could interfere in their chat rooms or pick a fight with the authors of the site.

We also would set up tables at local fairs with literature and lay in wait for someone to come by and pick up a tract about our church and then try to close in on a promise to come to our church  next Sunday.

The pastor,( my ex-husband,) berated men who weren't bearded because that showed rebellion against God. Jesus wore a beard, the old testament prophets of Israel were ashamed without one, therefore you were weak if you didn't sport a beard!

Women were rebellious if they dared speak a word against their husband's wishes or cut their hair or didn't like wearing skirts and dresses. If you were cold on a wintry day, tough!...Wear pants under the dress!

Men don't wear shorts, even if they are longer, even if they are home, because the pastor said it was wrong.

The list grows on when we come to dietary rules, whether a child should watch any shows or made by Christians videos. If the pastor asked a man to partake in some sort of ministry and you and your wife discussed it and she was against the idea, then she had turned you into a 'wimp' if you dared not to go.

You are not doing your part for the Lord!

It's quite easy in a patriarch-led cult to allow micro-management and brainwashing to occur. The two work hand-in-hand.  All it takes is a strong leadership type to commandeer from the pulpit and a handful of faithful followers who 'love their pastor' and would do anything for him. You can easily be made to feel like you are less than Christian because you don't want to follow all the rules to a 'T'. Those that do, are praised and exalted, which in turn, reinforces the behavior all the more.

I think the favorite act of these Christian types is the hatred of anyone who disagrees with them. This is why, to me personally, their acts are equated with terrorist behavior. Now understand that when I say 'terrorist', I am not talking about terrorism as in the post 9/11 scheme of things. I'm using the term as a label for someone who bullies, intimidates and butts-in to business that has nothing to do with them personally, all the while calling it a 'ministry' to do so. 

The Baptist-hackers are the worst: 

First, they find someone that disagrees with one of their thoughts on scripture. The hacker then begins to close-in on the kill. They will use one up-man-ship to show off how they can hack into your idea with their biblical expertise. If that doesn't work to make you agree, they will belittle you personally. They then attack your character, even though they don't know you except for you writing your thoughts down where people can read them.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a live radio show online, or a chat room for your group, they will begin to verbally assault you there. They will even contact their on-line buddies so they too can take part in the needling.

I personally believe the Bible, yes. I personally stick to my relationship with Jesus Christ. I also believe firmly that there is good and there is evil. I pray daily that I aspire to the former and stay clear of the latter. If you want to know my feelings on specific topics of faith, I'll be happy to sit down over a cup of coffee and share what I understand. What I will no longer do, is belittle another person's belief system thinking that I am doing God's will by name-calling or bullying them. I might pray for you if we disagree. I might try to send you some information to gently persuade you if you are interested. However, those that are the so-called biblical scholars who attack those deemed un-believers, are not by any means furthering their cause by their hatefulness. This is simply gang mentality-nothing more. Might makes right!

If we who call ourselves Christian, want to set a good example, we need to heed the words of Christ :

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

(Mat 5:5-9)