REPLIES & RESPONSES to “A Great Wounding of God’s People in GCx Churches

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[Janet Easson Martin]

This is a new thread for any who are interested in responding to “A Great Wounding of God’s People in GCx Churches. Your genuine input and experiences are important and valuable to those reading here and to the mission of this Forum Site.

[jordan1984]

Having difficulty praying and reading the Bible resonates with me. Doing these things can really trigger us back into our experiences of church abuse and manipulation. These things were even used against us. The very thing (God’s Word) that is supposed to bring us comfort and healing has been weaponized against us. Even the Christian worldview is triggering.

I’ve seen a few posts on here of people still within the movement that want to reach out and help. I think for the most part, spiritual healing is not going to come from within GCx. While efforts are likely genuine, people don’t believe what happened to us because they can’t relate directly. It’s painful to lose everything, everyone and confusing on how to fit these experiences into our life story. We are grieving the losses of the people we were closest to who turned vicious. We are relearning how to have a sense of control over our own lives. We are fighting to take our story back from those that stole it from us. Our experiences have been minimized and we were told that we are to blame.

Thankful to all who keep this forum going.

[Janet Easson Martin]

Our experiences have been minimized and we were told that we are to blame.

-jordan1984

As I was reading your important summary above, Jordan1984, it made me think of gaslighting. No wonder it leaves SO many confused. GCx did practice gaslighting and shift the blame from the organization and its leadership onto those who have identified abuse in their midst.

I can certainly relate to cringing at certain scriptures because GCx used those verses to manipulate and control us. Too many were twisted out of context to suit their own ambitions. Years journaling honestly with God has lessened the occurrence of those triggers, but some still do happen. He often speaks acceptance and compassion to my heart ever so graciously when I pour mine out to Him.

I commend your respectfulness on here considering what you have been through in GCx. Glad you are also seeing more clearly that you truly were spiritually bullied and abused.

[Huldah]

Having difficulty praying and reading the Bible resonates with me. Doing these things can really trigger us back into our experiences of church abuse and manipulation. These things were even used against us. The very thing (God’s Word) that is supposed to bring us comfort and healing has been weaponized against us. Even the Christian worldview is triggering.

So many of us have experienced this. I found that leaving the movement physically was just the start. I had internalized a lot of the damaging beliefs, and those were much harder to uproot. It took a long time, the same way that healing from a serious physical injury takes time.

Not to offer a quick or easy solution--because there is no such solution--but you might eventually find this article helpful: How to Enjoy the Bible Again (when you're ready) after Spiritual Abuse (without feeling guilty or getting triggered out of your mind). The download link is https://sendfox.com/heresthejoy.