Can't get away

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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[Differentstrokes]

So recently I've been like no matter what happens I can't get away from "the church". I posted a joke about wishing Donald trump was never born, and two separate people commented about how we need to keep our posts about him more Christian, and we should be wishing away sin from all people and all that.... ITS A f***ing JOKE. Not everything has to be all about Jesus and "saving" people. God I'm so frustrated

[swampwitch]

Hi, DS! I don't post here much, but I do check in sometimes. I saw your message this morning and had to respond. I was surprised when I found this site to see that so many had remained in the Christian faith. This means that a majority of threads here are biblically based. I know I am considered "lost", as the closest I can come to describing my spiritual orientation as pantheistic. For me, watching Neil DeGrasse Tyson's " Cosmos" series, which was more homage to Carl Satan's influence, was an awe-inspiring spiritual experience. So I'm somewhat out of place here, but have truly been treated with love and kindness.

About the Trumpster. He and Cruz are two of the most frightening figures in our politics since maybe Joe McCarthy. I do what is called a lovingkindness meditation for people I find threatening, like Trump, Cruz, and my brother who drunk dials and yells at me. But it also makes me feel better to joke about them, and not the kinds of jokes I could make on this site. Hop over to a site called "Wonkette" -- snark mob/mommyblog is what it is. If I'm going to read bad news, I find it goes down better with humor-induced endorphins.

I don't know if this makes you feel any better, which was my aim. This is a lonely, frightening, and frustrating world. Do a lovingkindness meditation, tell a joke, pray, or whatever. I do these meditations not to make requests, or because it is a rule of some sort, but to be more at peace with whatever gets spewed out of a troubled, troubling world.

As I said, I hope this is helpful. And I hope you have a beautiful, untroubled, and hopeful day.

[Differentstrokes]

Hi! Thanks for your reply, it did make me feel a little better I still call myself christian, but it is REALLY hard to separate "Christian" from the life consuming great commission Christian.... Their lives are entirely controlled and consumed by the church, EVERYTHING BECOMES AN "EVANGILISM OPPORRUNITY", everything is a chance to preach.... It's crazy and awful

[Hope]

Hi! Thanks for your reply, it did make me feel a little better I still call myself christian, but it is REALLY hard to separate "Christian" from the life consuming great commission Christian.... Their lives are entirely controlled and consumed by the church, EVERYTHING BECOMES AN "EVANGILISM OPPORRUNITY", everything is a chance to preach.... It's crazy and awful

I have learned not to care what anyone thinks. It is hard to get away, though it is worth thinking for yourself and not what others want you to think. If I was you, I would delete their comments. 

[Ned_Flanders]

Hi! Thanks for your reply, it did make me feel a little better I still call myself christian, but it is REALLY hard to separate "Christian" from the life consuming great commission Christian.... Their lives are entirely controlled and consumed by the church, EVERYTHING BECOMES AN "EVANGILISM OPPORRUNITY", everything is a chance to preach.... It's crazy and awful

Somehow, I don't think they felt the same way about Obama.

[Differentstrokes]

I'm sorry I don't understand your reply?

[FeministRebel]

Yeah. Except, yeah. They were very vitriolic about Obama, and when I unfriended a bunch of them, I did it because they were saying racist things about him, or how he was a closet Muslim, and other attacks. Things that go against my morals and my ideas of treating others with human dignity. Even if the man was a Muslim, so what? Would he still not be a being worthy of respect, and still qualified to be president? Those things bother me... Attack his platform, and political ideas -- not his race, upbringing, where he was born, and his personal religion. Of course, Trump isn't exactly the most moral example -- but they won't criticize any of that! It's all a giant hypocritical act. Everything has to favor their agenda... and never just loving people on its own merits.

Now, the Walnut Creek Church in DSM is hosting Sen. Chuck Grassley, for some kind of lecture... and I really wish the IRS would take away their entire tax exemptions. Enough is enough.

[margaret]

Our elder inferred that Obama was the antichrist in '08.

[Differentstrokes]

I just don't see how that fits with the nature of this discussion at all

[FeministRebel]

So you posted a joke about Trump -- and they got offended because "...we need to keep our posts about him more Christian, and we should be wishing away sin from all people and all that..." but if it had been a joke about Obama, they would not have gotten offended, nor said the same thing to you.

There is a double standard right now, because when that election campaign (for Obama) was going on, GCx people were saying all kinds of awful, vitriolic, racist, and despicable things.

That's how it related. That they can't live what they preach, except when it's about someone who they already feel biased towards. It's irony. They don't do what they preach.

[Differentstrokes]

Oh gosh i see sorry, I miss things some times!

[ScottChase]

Among many reasons, perhaps the straw that broke the camels back for me leaving was the pervasive attitude that I should vote how the church sees fit. They limit their views to a narrow set of issues that they take particular issue with and throw out the rest. IMO the long term damage that this attitude produces is far more dangerous than a candidate that disagrees with you on one divisive issue but is agreeable in all other areas. For instance voting for someone just because they are pro life and ignoring the hateful vitriol they spout about everything else is far more harmful than voting for someone else that may differ in this one area. As a result of this I understand your frustrations and have experienced them myself. I still am "friends" with many GCM members on facebook and have had to block several for saying things that are not only disgusting (offends me) but also non Christian as well (atheist here so doesn't personally bother me but should bother Christians). Many of these people I still like and wish that I could find some way they could be a part of my life but sadly I doubt that will ever happen.

[Ned_Flanders]

I'm sorry I don't understand your reply?

Hi Differentstrokes,

I know this was a while back but now I understand why you were confused by a reply I made to a message of yours.  My Obama comment was from your first message in this thread, where you said some people basically came to his defense.  I think your confusion came because I hit "reply" to the wrong message.  That's all.

Anyway, I also read what you wrote about still being a Christian but wanting so much to separate yourself from the GCx model.  I understand that completely.  The problem was their narrow understanding of Christ, His Church and people... all kinds of people. 

Christ is wonderful and beautiful and big enough to deal with us.  Don't let GCx take your faith.  God bless. 

[Janet Easson Martin]

Well said, Ned.

[Differentstrokes]

I'm sorry I don't understand your reply?

Hi Differentstrokes,

I know this was a while back but now I understand why you were confused by a reply I made to a message of yours.  My Obama comment was from your first message in this thread, where you said some people basically came to his defense.  I think your confusion came because I hit "reply" to the wrong message.  That's all.

Anyway, I also read what you wrote about still being a Christian but wanting so much to separate yourself from the GCx model.  I understand that completely.  The problem was their narrow understanding of Christ, His Church and people... all kinds of people. 

Christ is wonderful and beautiful and big enough to deal with us.  Don't let GCx take your faith.  God bless. 

Hi! Totally fine! I was just confused, you know how people on the Internet can some times just drag race or politics into anything, even if it doesn't make sense so I throughly maybe that's what you were doing, lol. I get it now though!!

[Ned_Flanders]

Hi Differentstrokes,
 I just sent you a PM.  Hope to hear back from you. 

Ned