Luminous_Rose
CF Ambassador
- Jul 1, 2018
- 2,070
- 2,664
Some of you out there may remember some of the stuff I went through growing up in a Church of Christ. Lots of garbage there plus some, but...
This specific church I attended most of my life is splitting at the seams and no, it's not from growth - it's from bitterness. From some that I know that have told me what's going on, it's ugly...really ugly. Leadership hasn't been on the same boat about some things for quite a few years now, which has caused concerned members and some of the leadership grasping onto resentment.
There were some amazing souls within that church that wanted to go above and beyond the church doors and reach out to the community. These souls have been relentlessly shut down and it's incredibly painful to witness and so sad how they end up caving in to the pressure because they're told they should be ministering inside their home, no where else. There is truly an evil, suppressive spirit that has taken control and sought a power grab over the Church of Christ and so far, it's winning. The members of the church there that have pressed to reach out to the community have been silenced from not only speaking at church at all in front of the congregation, but also social events within their own families. They have picked up and left the Church of Christ. Now, with the ones trying to obey God's calling in their lives gone, corrupt leadership have secured their places and making themselves out to be the heroes while their numbers have dwindled. They've lost about half of their members.
It's evident that denial and suppression of the Holy Spirit has been a thing for years in this Church of Christ. Often times they're so bound by their traditions, they can't fully let the Holy Spirit in. They won't allow themselves to be "spirit led", it hasn't happened. A lot of their doctrine and traditions prevent members and leadership from using their spiritual gifts to the fullest because of how quickly they are shut down and told that it's "inappropriate behavior."
While I don't agree with a lot that has gone on in that church over the years, I have still prayed for them from time to time. Even though I haven't attended in quite some time, I have a few friends within that have tried hanging on while going there.
Years ago, my husband and I saw this coming with the way some of the members and leadership treated guests (most come once and never again, or don't stay for the long-term). Most of the church is related by blood or marriage and anyone outside of that usually finds the exit. Some of the leadership and members truly have a desire to keep their precious building to themselves and push everyone else out. Certain cliques have formed between family/friends within the church and this has done some damage to others along the way.
We've seen this coming and it's a no-brainer. I've seen more than one Church of Christ die off, literally! The members age out, pass away, and there is no youth left because they've all been chased off so the doors are closed for good and all that's left is to sell what remains inside.
But what I haven't expected is how PAINFUL this would be. My younger self wanted to laugh when this day came and longed for it in my anger and resentment towards that church, but now that it is here, I find myself grieving heavily for them. A lot of amazing people have been so emotionally and spiritually hurt as they've been caught in the crossfire. I've had friends crying while trying to relay to me how they're feeling about all of this because of the coldness they've been shown.
I ask you all to pray that the corrupt leadership that went for a power grab will feel convicted by The Holy Spirit and seek to do the right thing. I pray for those that have been silenced and spiritually abused - that God will continue to speak them and that they'll no longer be bound by tradition and will now be free to fulfill their purpose in Christ as He heals them from their emotional and spiritual pain.
Regardless of this, I've seen God move in amazing ways in our community lately and I can only pray that more and more people will keep turning to Christ and be able to seek out welcoming church families.
Thank you.
This specific church I attended most of my life is splitting at the seams and no, it's not from growth - it's from bitterness. From some that I know that have told me what's going on, it's ugly...really ugly. Leadership hasn't been on the same boat about some things for quite a few years now, which has caused concerned members and some of the leadership grasping onto resentment.
There were some amazing souls within that church that wanted to go above and beyond the church doors and reach out to the community. These souls have been relentlessly shut down and it's incredibly painful to witness and so sad how they end up caving in to the pressure because they're told they should be ministering inside their home, no where else. There is truly an evil, suppressive spirit that has taken control and sought a power grab over the Church of Christ and so far, it's winning. The members of the church there that have pressed to reach out to the community have been silenced from not only speaking at church at all in front of the congregation, but also social events within their own families. They have picked up and left the Church of Christ. Now, with the ones trying to obey God's calling in their lives gone, corrupt leadership have secured their places and making themselves out to be the heroes while their numbers have dwindled. They've lost about half of their members.
It's evident that denial and suppression of the Holy Spirit has been a thing for years in this Church of Christ. Often times they're so bound by their traditions, they can't fully let the Holy Spirit in. They won't allow themselves to be "spirit led", it hasn't happened. A lot of their doctrine and traditions prevent members and leadership from using their spiritual gifts to the fullest because of how quickly they are shut down and told that it's "inappropriate behavior."
While I don't agree with a lot that has gone on in that church over the years, I have still prayed for them from time to time. Even though I haven't attended in quite some time, I have a few friends within that have tried hanging on while going there.
Years ago, my husband and I saw this coming with the way some of the members and leadership treated guests (most come once and never again, or don't stay for the long-term). Most of the church is related by blood or marriage and anyone outside of that usually finds the exit. Some of the leadership and members truly have a desire to keep their precious building to themselves and push everyone else out. Certain cliques have formed between family/friends within the church and this has done some damage to others along the way.
We've seen this coming and it's a no-brainer. I've seen more than one Church of Christ die off, literally! The members age out, pass away, and there is no youth left because they've all been chased off so the doors are closed for good and all that's left is to sell what remains inside.
But what I haven't expected is how PAINFUL this would be. My younger self wanted to laugh when this day came and longed for it in my anger and resentment towards that church, but now that it is here, I find myself grieving heavily for them. A lot of amazing people have been so emotionally and spiritually hurt as they've been caught in the crossfire. I've had friends crying while trying to relay to me how they're feeling about all of this because of the coldness they've been shown.
I ask you all to pray that the corrupt leadership that went for a power grab will feel convicted by The Holy Spirit and seek to do the right thing. I pray for those that have been silenced and spiritually abused - that God will continue to speak them and that they'll no longer be bound by tradition and will now be free to fulfill their purpose in Christ as He heals them from their emotional and spiritual pain.
Regardless of this, I've seen God move in amazing ways in our community lately and I can only pray that more and more people will keep turning to Christ and be able to seek out welcoming church families.
Thank you.
