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Spiritual Abuse Titles Spiritual abuse is the mistreatment of a person who is in need of help, support or greater spiritual empowerment, with the result of weakening, undermining or decreasing that person's spiritual empowerment.

 
 
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Old 08-31-2008, 01:45 PM   #11
Thankful Jane
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Location: Georgetown, Texas
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Originally Posted by Toledo View Post
Yup, that's about what I've been doing -- read and not post so much. I'm not looking to score any points for one side or another. I'm tired of so many "sides".

I came to the churches because that was where I found so many who knew and loved the Lord. The main stream denominations that I knew about didn't have much to offer in terms of experience or doctrine.

I got a lot of help from the experiential teachings of WL and Titus (though I pretty much held to the systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary).

I am disappointed (but not altogether surprised) that things have turned out so poorly. I am still struggling with baby and bathwater questions:

What to keep?
What to throw out? and
How to go on from here?
Hi Toledo,

When I read your post, these verses came to mind. Paul knew there were some very good things in his past (the Law, Jehovah God, the priesthood, the temple, etc.) but he said:

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

With God, it is safe for us to throw everything out except our faith in Him. He is the God of resurrection with whom we can trust everything, even our very lives. Whatever things are of Him will come back in resurrection, in His time. When they do they will be new.

Paul had the best religious experience and instruction possible but he let all of that go, along with his position and prestige, in order to obey the call to follow Jesus. He didn't try to sort it all out. In time God gave Paul a new understanding about all the things in the law and the prophets, one which was out of the shadows and in the full light of day.

It's hard to let go of things we think are of God, but sometimes God asks us to do this. Abraham faced this with Isaac. Isaac was definitely something of God--the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham. But, at one point God asked him to give up Isaac (throwing out the baby and the bathwater!). Because we know that God gave him back, we might fail to grasp the agonizing reality of what Abraham was asked to do. Ultimately, knowing that he had been called to trust God and obey Him, even if it cost him everything, Abraham laid Isaac on that altar. We know the rest of the story.

Actually, Abraham had no idea how many of us would one day read about what he did and learn from it, and be encouraged to imitate his faith. I am thankful he didn't count the cost and gave us all opportunity to see God's amazing faithfulness (not only that, he gave God the way to have an Old Testament figure of Christ.)

May He be the one who persuades you in all things as you follow Him,

Jane
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