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Trapped · 11-30-2018, 10:15 PM

There have been times when I have gotten with other adult "church kids" who are struggling and are very stunted in their human growth. In conversation I could see so plainly how much they were still wrestling to keep or throw off all the things that, from my view had seemed so real to them as kids, but what I found out later was largely an act throughout their childhood. Oftentimes as the oldest person in those gatherings, I've felt pretty acutely the burden of responsibility to have some sort of answer, helpful insight, or explanation for them, but always came up shamefully short.

I think a lot about what to say to the church kids my age, who are struggling as adults to make sense of what they grew up in and who are trying to live normal adult lives under that weight, whenever I see them next. Sometimes as I'm driving I "practice explain" to them (to myself alone in the car) some realizations I've had so hopefully it comes out more smoothly when I do have the chance to talk to them in person.

I was fumbling around recently, trying to verbalize to myself what is so different about what I have been hearing through various non-LC messages recently, and what came out of my mouth was, "It's like.....it's like......they're talking about a different Jesus than what we were taught growing up."

Growing up in the LC produced for me these kinds of concepts about God:
1. He is not for me; He is against me
2. He doesn't want me to enjoy anything in life
3. He is going to force me to marry someone I don't want to marry (why would God ever want me to be happily married?)
4. He just wants to crush me
5. Don't enjoy anything or get excited about anything or He will take it away from you
6. If you backslide or don't pursue Him He may send a mack truck through a red light to t-bone you to get your attention
7. He is happy when I suffer or am sad because that breaks me

No joke. I am not the only one who grew up like this.

Fast forward to the non-LC messages I am hearing.....and the Jesus they are talking about is a person who:
1. Cares for my physical needs
2. Really cares about even the small things in my life
3. Wants to heal me
4. Wants to release me from what is oppressing me
5. Takes the time to leave the crowds and tend to me
6. Is for me; not against me
7. Washes His disciples' feet just hours before going to the cross to die for the sins of MANKIND and commands them and us to do the same to others; to love one another
8. Is meek
9. Wants blessing and happiness for me (not monetarily or in physical belongings, but in contentment through obeying His commandments)

etc....

I mean, hearing about THAT guy growing up in the LC's would have meant a completely different life, path, outlook, mental state, life trajectory, everything for me.

I know this is anecdotal, but it is, much to my utter depression, absolutely my experience in the local church. This is from "growing up in God's best", and being "in the center of God's move on the earth". I was cheated out of years and years of a happier life, and moreover I was cheated out of years of a positive relationship with the Lord.

I know there are ministry quotes you can point to that may contradict the negative concepts I grew up with, but just because the words are in print in a book somewhere doesn't mean that's what is being taught, communicated, and presented to the bright-eyed impressionable young people that don't know any better, whose eyes get duller and duller as they are wrung dry.

So my conclusion, just based on my experience, is yes, the local churches (or at least some) do teach a different Jesus.

11-30-2018, 10:15 PM	#88
Trapped Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 1,523	Re: Does The Local Church Teach/Preach Another Gospel and Another Jesus? There have been times when I have gotten with other adult "church kids" who are struggling and are very stunted in their human growth. In conversation I could see so plainly how much they were still wrestling to keep or throw off all the things that, from my view had seemed so real to them as kids, but what I found out later was largely an act throughout their childhood. Oftentimes as the oldest person in those gatherings, I've felt pretty acutely the burden of responsibility to have some sort of answer, helpful insight, or explanation for them, but always came up shamefully short. I think a lot about what to say to the church kids my age, who are struggling as adults to make sense of what they grew up in and who are trying to live normal adult lives under that weight, whenever I see them next. Sometimes as I'm driving I "practice explain" to them (to myself alone in the car) some realizations I've had so hopefully it comes out more smoothly when I do have the chance to talk to them in person. I was fumbling around recently, trying to verbalize to myself what is so different about what I have been hearing through various non-LC messages recently, and what came out of my mouth was, "It's like.....it's like......they're talking about a different Jesus than what we were taught growing up." Growing up in the LC produced for me these kinds of concepts about God: 1. He is not for me; He is against me 2. He doesn't want me to enjoy anything in life 3. He is going to force me to marry someone I don't want to marry (why would God ever want me to be happily married?) 4. He just wants to crush me 5. Don't enjoy anything or get excited about anything or He will take it away from you 6. If you backslide or don't pursue Him He may send a mack truck through a red light to t-bone you to get your attention 7. He is happy when I suffer or am sad because that breaks me No joke. I am not the only one who grew up like this. Fast forward to the non-LC messages I am hearing.....and the Jesus they are talking about is a person who: 1. Cares for my physical needs 2. Really cares about even the small things in my life 3. Wants to heal me 4. Wants to release me from what is oppressing me 5. Takes the time to leave the crowds and tend to me 6. Is for me; not against me 7. Washes His disciples' feet just hours before going to the cross to die for the sins of MANKIND and commands them and us to do the same to others; to love one another 8. Is meek 9. Wants blessing and happiness for me (not monetarily or in physical belongings, but in contentment through obeying His commandments) etc.... I mean, hearing about THAT guy growing up in the LC's would have meant a completely different life, path, outlook, mental state, life trajectory, everything for me. I know this is anecdotal, but it is, much to my utter depression, absolutely my experience in the local church. This is from "growing up in God's best", and being "in the center of God's move on the earth". I was cheated out of years and years of a happier life, and moreover I was cheated out of years of a positive relationship with the Lord. I know there are ministry quotes you can point to that may contradict the negative concepts I grew up with, but just because the words are in print in a book somewhere doesn't mean that's what is being taught, communicated, and presented to the bright-eyed impressionable young people that don't know any better, whose eyes get duller and duller as they are wrung dry. So my conclusion, just based on my experience, is yes, the local churches (or at least some) do teach a different Jesus.