Thinking of giving it up...

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[AgathaL'Orange]

I'm considering leaving Great Commission forever by closing my account here and moving on.  Thoughts?

[Linda]

It is so hard to keep taking the "hits" from people who don't understand what is happening and call us "slanderers". The negativity and accusations are overwhelmingly discouraging at times.

I mean, I like to be liked, who doesn't? And, I know that there are people who used to like me who don't like me anymore because I post here and they know my name. Makes me sad. But, friends who have been hurt by GC make me even sadder. And, the control they tried to place over my family (but by the grace of God didn't succeed in doing) frightens me when I think of it.

My involvement with GC was a defining and very negative 10 years of my life and that of my family's. I am grateful for the support I have found on this site from others who immediately understand.

I also know, people who are really hurting, and I mean REALLY HURTING (long term, hard to get over, need professional help kind of hurting), who have found much needed information and encouragement on this site that they are not alone (or crazy). I post for them.

I wish leaving GC was as simple as closing my account here. It rears its ugly head at the most unexpected moments and not always through this site.

[EverAStudent]

Hi Agatha,

1) I would be sad to see you go...you often crack me up and sometimes you provide great insight into GC
2) Fighting GC errors is like trying to stop Nestle's Quick powder from disolving in milk, you can snag out one clump even as you watch another go under--it is just never ending
3) It is not a sin to be on this site, and it is not a sin to leave this site.  It's your choice alone guided by your wisdom and the principles of Scripture--know why you are here and know why you are not.
4) IMHO you'll be back...just guessing.

Blessings.

[BTDT]

Hi, Agatha -- I've thought about doing the very same thing.  So far, I've held off, but I end up coming here much less often than I used to.  I think that's a reflection of the healing process that God has been working in me. 

(And the big healing really started when I started reading this forum  Dear readers, let no one tell you this board is harmful or has no value.)

Maybe that's a road you can explore: keep your account, but take a vacation from it.

Having said that, I'll miss your presence here, too...but only you can decide what is best for where you are right now.

-Ed-

[AlexBlake]

Sometimes we think that it is the end but as a matter of the fact it's just the beginning. I will say or agree on BTDT advice that keep the account but take a break from it. Sometimes we need to fresh start to look straight and clear. Everyone needs a "BREAK". 

[GodisFaithful]

Agatha,

DON'T

[Differentstrokes]

I really hope you stay, agatha. You have been a huge encouragement to me, I would really miss you.

[Digital Lynch Mob]

Of all the people here who have disagreed with me, you Agatha have been the most kind. I think it is a natural outgrowth of your maturity and emotional health that you eventually move on from this forum. Why wouldn't you? Do you visit your lost love's Facebook page on a regular basis? Or camp out on any other negative experience in your past on a regular basis? I doubt it. I would think leaving here would be the goal. Some prefer to stay for their own reasons, but I don't see (or read) much of the healing that is confessed here.

I'd tell you I'll miss you too,  but I will be gone as well as soon as this ugly episode is resolved.

[Linda]

Agatha,

I am so glad you didn't give it up back in 2013 when you posted that.

I remember what was happening at that time and it wasn't pretty and it was very dark.

Glad you stayed.

Many have been helped because of it.

[Digital Lynch Mob]

Ah yes that was a post from 2013. Funny how old posts suddenly pop up. Seems one needs to be careful to check dates. I guess you stayed. Regardless, my comments remain unchanged.

[Wrestling]

Of all the people here who have disagreed with me, you Agatha have been the most kind. I think it is a natural outgrowth of your maturity and emotional health that you eventually move on from this forum. Why wouldn't you? Do you visit your lost love's Facebook page on a regular basis? Or camp out on any other negative experience in your past on a regular basis? I doubt it. I would think leaving here would be the goal. Some prefer to stay for their own reasons, but I don't see (or read) much of the healing that is confessed here.

I'd tell you I'll miss you too,  but I will be gone as well as soon as this ugly episode is resolved.

And as I read your posts you have been nothing but condescending, even to Agatha. Why? Why are you here? How (as in, what specific ways) are you helping "your side"? Please please tell me, I actually want to know, cause all I see from you is so icky, regardless of how you are being treated. How would Jesus respond? Why aren't we all asking ourselves this?

[Digital Lynch Mob]

Of all the people here who have disagreed with me, you Agatha have been the most kind. I think it is a natural outgrowth of your maturity and emotional health that you eventually move on from this forum. Why wouldn't you? Do you visit your lost love's Facebook page on a regular basis? Or camp out on any other negative experience in your past on a regular basis? I doubt it. I would think leaving here would be the goal. Some prefer to stay for their own reasons, but I don't see (or read) much of the healing that is confessed here.

I'd tell you I'll miss you too,  but I will be gone as well as soon as this ugly episode is resolved.

And as I read your posts you have been nothing but condescending, even to Agatha. Why? Why are you here? How (as in, what specific ways) are you helping "your side"? Please please tell me, I actually want to know, cause all I see from you is so icky, regardless of how you are being treated. How would Jesus respond? Why aren't we all asking ourselves this?

In a nutshell, I find it icky when Christians gather on digital forums with the intent of destroying a man's reputation without proof of wrongdoing nor even the slightest nod to the presumption of innocence. I'm not sure how Jesus would respond to this situation, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be on this forum casting stones.

[Linda]

I don't think the goal was to "gather on digital forums with the intent of destroying a man's reputation". I understand that is what you believe.

If these allegations are true, the only person destroying his reputation is the person who did the bad stuff.

I understand that you believe that these women either don't exist, or are somehow delusional, or lying.

But, these are serious charges. These women have nothing to gain and a lot to lose.

Remember, you and your ilk have come on here and called them crazy, liars, suggested they are criminals, gossiped about a divorce, etc. Basically you are dragging their reputations through the mud. What would Jesus think about you doing that? What if they are telling the truth? What if you are wrong?

The only question that matters is: Did Mark abuse women and did the elders cover it up?

An investigation is not a trial. You gather information in an investigation. You don't presume innocence in an investigation. You seek out facts.

If you were in Suzanne's shoes and trying to follow the way the Bible tells us to deal with sin (keep in mind, she went to Mark alone first, and then met with Mark, Mark B., Kathy, John, and a therapist to discuss this) what would you do? How would you follow Matthew 18? How would you tell the Church in the case where you believe the church leaders are part of the problem? Where do you go? In this day and age, I guess you Tweet. You post on Facebook and you comment on a forum. It's all you've got.

What would Jesus do? I think he would care about justice for victims and call sinners to repentance.