Need Advice!!

[Ruby]

Remember too, there are other places of social interaction besides church. I belong to some artisan guilds, we are really supportive of our members during illness and all that. Plus, I do volunteer work, and that makes a lot of contacts for me. I must say it would be nice if there were a skeptic organization around, but I live too far in the boonies. That's why I like JREF it gives me a feeling of belonging, without the fear of being judged for my beliefs or lack thereof.

I shall have to check into artisan guilds around here. I will surprised if there are any! I am way too social phobic to do too much. Volunteer work is out of the question.

JREF is the safest place for me now. I just got connected to Paltalk too....and I'm hoping there will be a room opened soon for all of us on JREF. That will be cool!!

 

[LCBOY]

Ruby,

If you wish, I'll be you'll friend!!

 

[Yahzi]

Yep, it freaked me out when my Pastor said for us not to look on him as a man. He also said he is "sin-free", which is just the same as saying "I can do no wrong". I found it disturbing and strange.

He declared himself sin-free?

Good grief, Ruby, avoid these people now. This guy is on the short path to severe psychosis, quite possibly including violence.

Nothing in the Bible justifies such a statement. Your Pastor has gone completely insane. I imagine we will be reading about his cult and their death at the hands of fire/poison/federal agents in a few months or so.

 

[LCBOY]

He declared himself sin-free?

Good grief, Ruby, avoid these people now. This guy is on the short path to severe psychosis, quite possibly including violence.

Nothing in the Bible justifies such a statement. Your Pastor has gone completely insane. I imagine we will be reading about his cult and their death at the hands of fire/poison/federal agents in a few months or so.

Ruby,

I agree with Yahzi. Your former church is delving into the kingdom of the cults...

 

[Sundog]

Ruby,

I agree with Yahzi. You former church is delving into the kingdom of the cults...

I didn't read all the way through this; what denomination are we talking about here? One of the strengths of the more "established" churches is the idea of doctrine. Stray too far from the doctrine, and you will hear about it from the church's higher-ups. Makes it harder for people to indulge in their more, er, "unique" religious beliefs.

 

[hgc]

Yep, it freaked me out when my Pastor said for us not to look on him as a man. He also said he is "sin-free", which is just the same as saying "I can do no wrong". I found it disturbing and strange.

Ruby,

I predict that in the future, you will hear stories from other people in your former church about sexual interaction between this Pastor and some members (inappropriately and in violation of trust - I'm not talking about legitimate relationships here). I also predict that some members, upon hearing about it, will find a way to disbelieve or rationalize this transgression.

Like the self-elevation to divine status (sin-free), this is a very common attribute of cult leaders and their followers.

Please keep us informed when the really salacious stuff starts to come out.

 

[ntech]

Besides the fact that he told everyone that god speaks to him. He is either a liar or psychotic.

 

[Ruby]

Ruby,

If you wish, I'll be you'll friend!!

Thanks!! You already are my friend!!

 

[Ruby]

He declared himself sin-free?

Good grief, Ruby, avoid these people now. This guy is on the short path to severe psychosis, quite possibly including violence.

Nothing in the Bible justifies such a statement. Your Pastor has gone completely insane. I imagine we will be reading about his cult and their death at the hands of fire/poison/federal agents in a few months or so.

Yeah, it blew me mind....especially the way he said it. He emphasized it and laughed directing it at those who are going to object.

 

[Ruby]

Ruby,

I agree with Yahzi. Your former church is delving into the kingdom of the cults...

It sure does seem so, but those who are still there will not see it. I have already had a lay-minister send me an angry letter demanding to know who the people are who have said the Pastor has a secret group of elders. I did not reveal the names!!

 

[Ruby]

I didn't read all the way through this; what denomination are we talking about here? One of the strengths of the more "established" churches is the idea of doctrine. Stray too far from the doctrine, and you will hear about it from the church's higher-ups. Makes it harder for people to indulge in their more, er, "unique" religious beliefs.

This is a non-denominational church!! That's bad news. The church is run by the Pastor. He has no one over him. He only has elders to do duties within the church and to kiss his ass. He won't let anyone know who these elders are.

 

[Ruby]

Ruby,

I predict that in the future, you will hear stories from other people in your former church about sexual interaction between this Pastor and some members (inappropriately and in violation of trust - I'm not talking about legitimate relationships here). I also predict that some members, upon hearing about it, will find a way to disbelieve or rationalize this transgression.

Like the self-elevation to divine status (sin-free), this is a very common attribute of cult leaders and their followers.

Please keep us informed when the really salacious stuff starts to come out.

Will do!

 

[Ruby]

Besides the fact that he told everyone that god speaks to him. He is either a liar or psychotic.

I think it's a mental issue. It would be nuts at times because he'd study all week for the coming Sunday's sermon, and then get up give it on the Sunday, and suddenly say that God has told him to preach something else. So, he'd put aside this well studied lesson and proceed to ramble on about stuff that never really made sense...and sometimes was just an attack on people......which is what happened the last Sunday we were there. He had a message all ready, but said God wanted him to talk about something different. That something different was blasting us from the pulpit and revealing things from a private conversation he had with my hubby a few days before. He tore us to shreds and ran and on about how terrible it is for people to miss church because they are sick. I wanted to slap him. I was so mad. My hubby came very very close to getting up out of his seat and chewing out our Pastor right there in church, but he restrained himself.

Anyhow, it does not make sense that God would have him studying hard all week for a sermon only to inform him at the last minute that he was to get up and talk about dribble and ramlbe for an hour or more.

 

[Sundog]

This is a non-denominational church!! That's bad news. The church is run by the Pastor. He has no one over him. He only has elders to do duties within the church and to kiss his ass. He won't let anyone know who these elders are.

A recipe for abuse, just waiting to happen. That's the whole idea behind the concept of Doctrine.

I used to rebel at the idea: Who's going to tell ME what to believe? Now I understand that it's ESSENTIAL for the preservation of the institution.

 

[kittynh]

Sounds like this guy is a total nutcase. Right now he's on a power trip. Hey, God tells him what to say....and he gets to behave in a very unChristian way on Sundays, cause he's God's spokesman. Soon God will be telling him how to act, and you may be sure it won't be in a Christian way (look out if you are a cute member of the congregation).

 

[Christian]

Ruby wrote:
I AM SO F%%KING sick of fundamental Christians!!!!!

Do you have the same level of tolerance for atheists?

 

[Jet Grind]

Ruby wrote:
I AM SO F%%KING sick of fundamental Christians!!!!!

Do you have the same level of tolerance for atheists?

Why should she? What have we done?

 

[ntech]

Ruby wrote:
I AM SO F%%KING sick of fundamental Christians!!!!!

Do you have the same level of tolerance for atheists?

We're just hanging, minding our own business. It's the CFs that pry into everyones affairs, calls us names and end up doing all the f***ed up stuff.

 

[Roadtoad]

Do you have the same level of tolerance for atheists?

It might be possible for Atheists to tolerate us, if we would quit shouting them down, if we would quit making false accusations against them, if we would quit berating them. But, when you have clowns like Billiefan running around here, trying to impress the "good" people in his church, I'd say atheists have been far more tolerant of us than we deserve.

 

[BillyJoe]

.....when you have clowns like Billiefan running around here, trying to impress the "good" people in his church....

Pretty sure Billiefan is female (but I could be wrong).