If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

Godtrumpsall

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #60 on: April 05, 2018, 07:53:44 pm »

Quote from: Rebel in a Good Way on April 05, 2018, 06:02:48 pm

GTA, not sure you can say you have never attacked anyone. You are rebuking people for stating their opinions as facts after you wrote this "factual" statement about me. I have never written such a judgmental thing about another person's heart on here. You read one of my comments (that I later acknowledged was unnecessarily snarky) and came up with this assessment. I have never read one comment by a person and said such horrible things about them.

note: I posted this first on the wrong thread and moved it here in response, just in case anyone saw that.

Quote from: Godtrumpsall on February 21, 2018, 12:10:58 am

...you are so incredibly rude and full of knowledge and spite, and your words take so much credibility away from this forum (which is a good thing in my eyes). The "fruit" you exhibit is vile, hate, anger, spite.\

I don't remember what you wrote exactly, did you remove the post? But you were rude to me, and you were exhibiting anger, and hate, etc. Your words were evidence of this. But I do apologize for such harsh wording. A few people here have been quite condescending and rude to me (I don't remember exactly who, but I don't have the time to go looking old messages and posts). But I am sure that plays into my frustrations. And yes, I am rebuking people because I think what is going on here is wrong. I would be okay with rebuke, but rudeness, and mocking, not so much.


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UffDa

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #61 on: April 06, 2018, 12:43:40 am »

Quote from: GodisFaithful on April 03, 2018, 11:04:16 am
"I really want to keep this thread positive, as I feel that there is a lot at stake." -GTA

GTA,

It is not up to you to say whether this thread stays "positive" (according to your definition whatever that is). You seem to believe that everything about GCx is positive, no spiritual abuse there, no twisting of scripture, no big flaws. You have gone on and on and on defending GCx and all it's pastors. While the whole reason for this forum is for people who have been affected negatively by one or more aspects of GCx. You have said in past posts that we are not justified in this forum, that we are gossips, angry, hate filled, and other negative stuff.

There are quite a few people on this forum who are having a very difficult time with trust in a church or in Christianity or in a pastor/pastors. It is taking time to get beyond their/our experience. You seem to have indicated that all of us, except maybe Going Clear, left GCx because we were the problem.

And then you come on this thread and you seem to feel responsible to keep it "positive", as if you are in charge of the tone, and telling all of us what is positive and what is not. You are not the moderator of this forum, even though might like to have that job.

Quoting the right verse is not going to help a lot of people here. Your attitude here, on the whole, I would say is adversarial and holier-than-thou. So it is very hard for me to stomach you quoting verses at people, like that is going to help. We have been steeped in verses thrown at us.

Believe it or not, you cannot take credit even for your own faith. If a person has faith in Jesus, it is a work of the Holy Spirit. Pure and simple.

I am positive that I have not appreciated the tone of many of your posts, and if you are here to convert people or get us to stop or change this forum, you will be sorely disappointed in the results of your efforts.

Of course my posts are adversarial because I don't agree with what is mostly written here...but not holier than thou....I am sharing bible verses appropriate to the situation. What God says matters!

Actually I am solely concerned with wanting people to understand the gospel on this thread...that is all. There are people on this thread, who seem to have completely given up on God, this should concern any Christian. Why I also said trying to keep things positive on this particular thread. But now it has been turned into blaming GCx. Sure blame the church, but offer no healing, no spiritual truths??

I absolutely do not take credit for my own faith ( I am not sure where you got this notion). I do take credit in choosing to accept Christ, and taking that step of faith. I accepted, that is all I take credit for, but I realize that God choose me, and God brought me to that place. The rest was God, and is God and continues to be God. If you knew my story, and who I am as a person, you might treat me differently.

I have been mocked, spoken rudely to (you have been one of the most rude to me), and mocked some more on this forum. Many have been downright insulting to my self and others. Anger and vitriol. I made one harsh post about this forum in the beginning, and I apologized for my harshness (it revolved around my belief that there is bitterness driving this forum...which I still believe, but I said it in a harsh way). But none of this bothers me as it will decrease this forum's credibility for those that come visit and read. I don't foresee me changing anyone's mind on this forum, but that is not why I am posting.

I continue to hold to the fact that there are only one sided stories on this forum. How can one know the whole truth, and make a judgement when there is only one side to hear. Just as in court, there is a judge who listens to both sides of the issue, with facts brought forth by both parties to make a fair judgement. I am not saying it is my job to judge, but I am attempting to give you an idea of the situation at hand. Just as in divorce, in 99% of cases, both parties have issues that led to their demise. But if I just heard the story from one side, I would be missing the whole picture, and it sure is easy to believe the story, and feel empathy when just hearing one side. Am I saying that the church, or leaders never made mistakes? No. Even in my own life, I can look back at situations, and see how my own issues and failings led to undesirable situations and outcomes.

I have been so heavy hearted this past week by the words I see on the forum, the way people are treating others. Christians (I realize that not everyone here is a Christian) but brothers and sisters in Christ, who are part of the same body of Christ, are speaking so poorly to each other, and about each other, there is no love, there is no forgiveness, there is no grace. We are not supposed to be like this. Satan wins. And then people are on this thread battling between life and death (life in Christ, death without) and no one cares???

I have started a new thread called “Opportunity to Apologize” where I hope we can address harsh or hurtful words, mocking, name calling, etc.


« Last Edit: April 06, 2018, 12:48:20 am by UffDa »	Logged

GodisFaithful

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #62 on: April 06, 2018, 05:12:36 am »

Uffda, thank you for pointing this out to me.

GTA, I have been harsh and cutting to you in some of my posts. I apologize. Please forgive me.

When this thread was started I thought it was so interesting to see where people were going to church, or where people were coming from in their beliefs.

Understanding some of the not-so-pretty aspects of how GC churches operate is the reason this forum exists. So there are people here who are really struggling to know where to go to church or what they believe about Jesus and God or even if they believe at all. I understand how that troubles you. It troubles me, also. It's just that when you have already stated that you do not like this forum, yesterday I think you called it "this stupid forum", then I feel your concern for others comes across as grating, I think. It is offensive to me when you say that this forum is stupid and cannot help people to find healing, because this forum has been helpful to me. It feels like when you say this forum is stupid, that you are also calling all of us stupid for the things we bring up on here. It feels like you are name calling.


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Godtrumpsall

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #63 on: April 06, 2018, 05:32:56 am »

Quote from: GodisFaithful on April 06, 2018, 05:12:36 am

I appreciate the apology and of course I forgive you.
I should have clarified I called the forum stupid, under the context that it is a ridiculous place to share, because of the nature of the forum. It was under the context that I cannot share my thoughts but also keep in mind of where others are coming from as to not say offensive hurtful things to them, but because I am on an online anonymous forum this is near impossible to know really where people are coming from or their emotional state. This was also the context of the post where I called the forum stupid. And I also dislike the structure of the forum. Things get buried quite fast. I would go pull up my post, but I am not going to search for it, I don't have time.


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Linda

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #64 on: April 06, 2018, 05:47:36 am »

You can go to members, find your name, click on recent posts, and everything you’ve ever posted will be there. It’s a quick way to find the thread your comment was on.


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araignee19

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #65 on: April 06, 2018, 06:07:23 am »

You are free to dislike this forum format. You could even suggest ways to improve it, since you have become such a regular poster. But I'm genuinely curious how you and a few others justify participating at all on this forum if you hate it? Why haven't you just walked away and let us do something you disagree with? That is precisely what has been asked of us when people say we are bitter and should just move on from GCx instead of using this forum. I'd really like an explanation of how you think your participation here is different than ours.


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Rebel in a Good Way

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #66 on: April 06, 2018, 06:40:30 am »

GTA, I did not remove the post.

UffDa, are the words in your post all yours, or were you quoting someone in parts of it? There seem to be contradictory ideas so I'm just trying to figure out the overall message


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Wrestling

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #67 on: April 06, 2018, 01:47:15 pm »

Quote from: Godtrumpsall on April 06, 2018, 05:32:56 am

Quote from: GodisFaithful on April 06, 2018, 05:12:36 am

You forgive someone else and yet you only make excuses for yourself. This is confusing and sad to me as someone observing both sides.


« Last Edit: April 06, 2018, 01:52:56 pm by Wrestling »	Logged

Godtrumpsall

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #68 on: April 06, 2018, 02:01:31 pm »

Quote from: Wrestling on April 06, 2018, 01:47:15 pm

Quote from: Godtrumpsall on April 06, 2018, 05:32:56 am

Quote from: GodisFaithful on April 06, 2018, 05:12:36 am

You forgive someone else and yet you only make excuses for yourself. This is confusing and sad to me and someone observing both sides.

wasn't making excuses, if you read the post you would be able to see that was the context of my remarks, that you can't possible know someone's heart on some anonymous forum, so I called the forum stupid. It was a comment not directed at anyone, just the nature of an on-line anonymous forum.


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Wrestling

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #69 on: April 06, 2018, 03:34:57 pm »

Quote from: Godtrumpsall on April 06, 2018, 02:01:31 pm

Quote from: Wrestling on April 06, 2018, 01:47:15 pm

Quote from: Godtrumpsall on April 06, 2018, 05:32:56 am

Quote from: GodisFaithful on April 06, 2018, 05:12:36 am

You forgive someone else and yet you only make excuses for yourself. This is confusing and sad to me and someone observing both sides.

OK. Peace to you.


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MidnightRider

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #70 on: April 07, 2018, 06:35:49 pm »

After leaving GCx, I have mostly been Presbyterian. I currently attend a Lutheran church but have not joined.


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UffDa

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #71 on: May 09, 2018, 10:32:21 pm »

How to “Bump” 70s style Grin

KC & The Sunshine Band
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Jm-dIoHrA


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freisetzen

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #72 on: May 10, 2018, 06:42:07 am »

Charasmatic/Evangelical mix. Part of Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. We celebrated a 100 year anniversary a few years ago. Multi generational place. Grey hairs and babies and millennials and middle agers.


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BTDT

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Re: If you’re not at a GCx church, where are you?

« Reply #73 on: May 15, 2018, 07:06:36 pm »

Quote

How to “Bump” 70s style Grin

Can't resist a '70s reference. Grin

Before GC: Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Supposedly as close to Catholic as you can get and still be Protestant. Cheesy

GC church: GCC of Maryland / Valley Brook Community Church
First post-GC church: Valley Brook! The entire Maryland GCC church, once the "national headquarters church", left GC. See some of my posts for some of that story.

After we moved to another state, we really didn't settle into any one church for too long, and we tried several flavors:
Baptist
Non-GCC GCM-affiliated church
CMA
Two Covenant churches started by the same church planter, both of which closed down after he left to, well, plant again
Non-denominational, fully-inclusive church that's kinda-sorta-but-really-not descended from Vineyard

We've never really felt at home and connected at any of them, for various reasons. I think that, for the two of us, the GC damage went deep, far deeper than we expected. We may struggle with church, and basic Christian disciplines, for the rest of our lives, or maybe not. But our faith is fully intact; where else would we turn for true eternal life but Christ?

Speaking for myself, despite changes and churn, I stand firmly on the bedrock of Christianity:

Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, and glory to God alone.
The Apostles' Creed
The Nicene Creed

-Ed-


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