back off
Submitted by Splash! on July 29 2001 22:46:42
In reply to Thanks for your reply submitted by Nate on July 29 2001 00:03:17
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Yep, my church told me the same. They said that the men's ministry should be helping her and not me. But the men's ministry never called her. In fact, no one from that church did. She had been a member for more than 10 years. Her kids grew up in that church. But it was another church who stepped in and gave her food for her children. The church telling me to back off would be like them telling me to turn my back on my mother or sister. That family was very close to me and had been for a few years. What kind of friend would I be if I just stood there and watched them fall? I couldn't. But her church did. They let her go completely, and she felt betrayed by them. There is another unforgivable sin in the church and it's called divorce. Her husband was a very good friend of mine. We sat together in church and studied the Bible. We did other things together outside the church. The problem was that he was living a double-life. He did drugs, had extramarital affairs, stole money from his job, and was involved in some other things. When his wife told me, I couldn't believe it, but the proof was there. I met some of his other friends and I heard some of the phone calls. He was living a double-life. When the church heard why his wife wanted to divorce him, he told them that she was lying. He made up the story that I was having an affair with his wife and she was leaving him for me. He told this to other people as well. That's where the rumours started, but no one (not even the church board) checked to see if the rumours were true. They made their decision to ostracize his wife and take away my membership and ministries. Anyway, I say all that to say this: It's very damaging for churches to make quick decisions (as they did with you) without getting all the facts first, or at least trying to come to a better understanding of the situation. In the end (three years after I left the church), I wrote a very long letter to the pastor detailing all the events. I stated that I need to forgive him and the church and also ask forgivesness. He never replied. But it's all behind me now. I'm going to a new church and no longer have any involvement with the above-mentioned family. I'm starting to get involved in ministry again and am excited about the things God has planned for me. He's got plans for you also, Nate. I know you know this. Don't let the enemy steal away your divine appointments. Splash |
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