[Nell]

Frustrated Mother,

Those of us who post on this website have also said “ENOUGH”!

If there is another way to stop the abusive behavior being perpetrated on God’s people at the hands of the Local Church, please let us know. If there is another way to counter the overbearing ministry, the unscriptural teachings, controlling and flat out rude behavior, please let us know.We all have a story with problems too long to list

It seems your message to us is “everybody has problems” so “sit down and shut up”...we’ve heard that before. We’ve even tried to do it. The more we sat down and shut up, the worse it became. We could no longer offend our conscience. We couldn’t sing “I’m so happy in this lovely place” anymore. We had ENOUGH.

We turned to our spirit (like we were told). We called “Oh Lord Jesus” over and over and over. We said all the “amen’s” we could possibly say. We prayed as you suggested. We pray read...oh my...did we ever pray read... . We tried all the prayers, the turn the other cheeks, the just suck it up sermons from those who defended the abuse as you seem to be doing. We got in trouble anyway. Finally we said “ENOUGH”. “Stop already!”

We’ve been lectured by the best.

We could no longer tolerate the meanspirited words toward us (negative, opposers, etc.). We were disgusted. I suppose I could be considered an “opposer”. I did oppose the way I was treated by the elders. Many of us reached the end of our road and discovered that God did not require us to suffer at the hands of our brothers and sisters. God did not require us to suck it up. God did not require us to sit down and shut up. So we walked away. We had had ENOUGH.

Further, we have found this website a refuge from those of you who speak so poorly about those of us who have had ENOUGH. You’re not the first. I’m sure you won’t be the last. Our problem is, “ENOUGH is ENOUGH”. We can’t hear you all any more. We can’t hear you and you can’t hear us. You don’t even want to hear what we have to say. Your minister teaches you not to listen. What we hear from you is “we didn’t do anything wrong...it’s all your fault...why don’t you just shut up and turn to your spirit?” Until your behavior changes toward Christians who don’t agree with you, we can’t hear you.

This website is full of testimonies of heartbreak, anger, frustration and so much pain, from so many who could not believe they deserved to be treated so poorly, and that this is not the God we love and serve. Many need help and this website provides help to so many.

You should read what you wrote to us—your original post, read it to Ron Kangas. Read it to Benson Phillips. Heck, read it to yourself. All of you are as accountable as all of us. So let’s level the playing field. Let’s stop the finger pointing. Let’s sit down together and LISTEN to one another. Can we do that? After we listen to one another, we should listen to Him. I realize you’re taught not to listen to anything you can possibly perceive as “negative”. As long as you hold to that unscriptural standard, we remain at an empasse. And whose fault is that? The devil.

Nell