The social settings can be the hardest and saddest. For a group that speak of "loyalty" they clearly are only "loyal" if you are part of "them", which, of course, isn't loyalty at all.
For a group that speak of "loyalty" they clearly are only "loyal" if you are part of "them", which, of course, isn't loyalty at all.
Yeah.
I cried out finally--couple years after leaving. Between silence, the "I'll listen but God has placed me here to stake my stand and die", "give me a break and throw us a bone", and "ignoring that you just said you would never ask anything of me but that you wanted to talk to me about God, [bla bla bla noble-ish excuse] we'll never talk again", I actually read "Job" now and my heart drops with envy for how good his friends actually were.
Maybe they darkened sight with words without knowledge, but in his distress they actually came. They would have had to keep track/know, after all, his condition. Look into traveling, burden themselves to go out of their way somewhat...
I had been pulling away for a while before leaving the town the church was in, but a couple months after I last saw anyone from the church near campus, I was in another one being quizzed by a Christian on background and what was up with me. I was heavily anesthetized to suppress something like hell's urticaria and after answering his questions, he replied, "hmmm...it's like Job."
Then the pastor began to preach and, as it turns out, the sermon was on Job.
"See, it's for you!" He said.
Though I just *wish* I could have the faith of Job.
Don't worry about the social settings though--anyone visiting: I've found pagans and atheists to be more friendly than the "virtues" and social dynamics [re]produced [reliably] throughout GC*: after all, you're a person (quite often) to those unbelievers, rather than a number counted in the love-amoeba'ing[1] of people who use fake love to get you "saved" so they no longer have to care and can move on in being "important" doing "God's" work building "God's" kingdom.
I've even got to see the comparison of treatment, loyalty, and relationship of "brothers and sisters" between pagans and atheists--now on a couple different contexts--whether literal flesh and blood, or where for some other shared background/status they apply those terms to one another: GC* membership falls almost as short as they come unless you are directly in front of them and begging for help.
In fact...er...
backstory: I got into some trouble due the treatments I had to take for urticaria were slowly--very incrementally--wiping-out my capacity to think, act, or really be functional, all without even knowing it (before too late). I've seen the same but far worse kind of thing happen to people on meds long-term from docs until they're damaged and finally have to be put into care.
But the whole time I'd "disappared", nadie venga from the church--no one called, one tried to text message at one point (who had also been frequently pulling away and ultimately who also had to leave)...I'm sure they thought I was out following the devil or something, but in reality I had become ensconced in a stupor (which to escape I'd have to stop taking what allowed me not to go into shock daily, or feel like burning every moment).
But old friends, who are about as opposite as faithful Christians, who I had always had an uneasy relationship with/thoughts on due to not knowing quite how to socialize/mesh due to the many, significant differences (I was just immature) apparently tried calling and calling, one showed at the door, then they got my father (who had really never in his life volunteered to be the first party to establish communications/relationship--still doesn't since he's so socially anxious) to come-up and get me.
So folks: just. don't. be. tricked by those who cultivate and practice false love. Don't be sentimental about it--don't pine for a return. You're a flesh-and-blood being, and part of that is your brain forms strong associations and feelings for those whom you spend much time--particularly that you find meaningful--with, regardless whether it is good for you.
So powerful, in fact, you're sharing here--probably with total strangers, and probably longing for those lost relationships and people whom were beloved to you...but they are not. That's all you need to really know about them: they're likely busy "for Jesus" (i.e. probably themselves--or their false masters) if not themselves burned into the ground.
I am reminded that in their theological ignorance, that I really do look like a "slanderous and divisive sister" (and I have that in writing from a GC elder).
Yeah, poor souls. Just don't forget that they're captivating people with the desires of their hearts--it's out of them that they are enticed and so typically they're eagerly eating-up this stuff and actively harming people, it's not a passive/mere-ignorance-so-forgiven type of deal.
The proper response is "wolf in sheep's clothing" to that "Elder" given he is likely (my jaw dropped at having this kind of thing "explained" to me) unaware how "elder" contains a sense of "older, aged." I mean, it's only the meaning of the damn word (in English and in ancient Greek--also explained in any standard reference to that Greek), and not a mere title applied to anyone elected/appointed or "chosen" for "leadership": the only other group I know which operates like this with "elders" is the Jehovah's Witnesses. O.O
I love when people say they're praying for them and all but...well, EverAStudent and a litany of others, full of Biblical commitment and faith to properly handling the word, in their ranks and patiently for many years, actually demonstrated the truth to these men and their disciples and were run roughshod over and cast out of their synagogues, into the way, and some even trampled upon by these men.
[1] Confession: I thought of this term in a bio class one day and thought it clever and cool only a few hours before a DT leaderette brought it up as an idea and objective for her so...well yeah, God changes people and makes them repent. I mention this solely because that same person might encounter this at some point, and I don't want that person thinking this is a jab, slight, bitter statement, etc. (all which would not be fair).
