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Changed4me
Invisable,
I kept silent for so long because I was done with organized religion. That true heartfelt non-judgemental acceptance I had experiened early on in The Walk was no longer existant towards anyone like myself that didn't need the affirmation of the "authorities" to exist. At the time in 1997 when I was told I was not welcome, I was devistated because I felt that 25 years of my life just ended abruptly. Here were human beings whom I had counseled, shepherded, took their children into my home when mom and dad were struggling with their relationship, the list goes on. These people I had loved and prayed for refused to speak to me or answer a phone call or answer a letter..... because they were told to cut it off. I hate the fear these people live under.... the fear of being rejected....
Changed4Me,
It is a most difficult thing to experience a complete rejection and to be locked out of a fellowship that you have been in for 25 years of your life. You said this happened to you in 1997.
Going back to the late 1980's - do you or does any one, remember this event ? - A couple of men who had served as apostolic ministries in the church - who were regarded with esteem by the church for their many years of service. They were set out of the church both as members and as ministries?
At a main church service , all the people were told - that these two ministries had been set out of the body because they would not obey M. and be submissive to her - she was requiring that both of these men individually - be submissive to and to obey their own wife , in their relationship with one another - as husband and wife.
At this time, these two men in protest -were said by the leadership to have voiced that the early church was taught by the apostles, that wives were to submissive to their husbands in the Lord and they spoke that what was being required of them by M. - was perverse and against the Word of The Lord.
In refusing to be submissive to M. The leader of the church told the congregation that these men were being rebellious against God.
These men were told they could not come back to the church , unless they humbled themselves to M, repented to M. and would willingly be submissive to obey M..
The first question that comes to my mind is - were these men speaking the truth. when they said that what was being required of them was both perverse and against the Word of the Lord?
I do not remember there being any support for these men by other men who were also ministries in the church.- when these men were being put out of the church, because they were refusing to submit to something they believed to be against the will of God.
Immediately that same day, they were treated by the majority of all the ministry and the members of the church as outsiders.
And these men tried to tell some of those who they thought would surely understand them -and be a support for them against what was taking place against them and what they believed to be the Will of the Lord and they also spoke about and likened what was happening to them - as being like what happened to Christ - likening their experience to what Christ suffered when He was rejected - being put out of the city - and they referenced these Scriptures at this time,
Hebrews 13: 12-14 Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. So let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured . For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come