The Bomb Sermon...may trigger.

[SpinningHead]

Just wondering...

Has anyone ever gotten up and walked out on a service before b/c you completely disagreed with what was being said?

Our last two sermons were both ones that we just sat there in the pew & fumed..."Is he serious? Is he actually saying that???". I think we didn't walk out only b/c we were curious as to where it was leading or what else he was going to say. But after the services our faces were like :eek: for hours.

One of the sermons was two-fold...in that part of the sermon was lecturing church leaders about in-fighting & how it just <<sob>> breaks a leader's heart to have the people he needs to count on for unity to be fights. (Apparently there was infighting among the music people.) The second part was him just "honoring" those folks who have always stood beside him no matter what happened and what a <<sniff>> blessing it has been to him and is still a <<sniff, sniff>> blessing to be able to count on those few individuals...(now, why don't we have a smiley face w/ a tear as part of our choices??) A couple of NT verses were thrown in for effect and to prove his points... I figured part II was b/c he knew the big project was just about out of $$ and sure enough, not long after he sent out a letter saying our big project was "bust" & they needed another $50 to button it up...we can support that, can't we folks?? Pretty Please???

All I could think of was the song...I'd like to buy the world a coke...I'm tellin' ya, my brain can get me into trouble sometimes. I can really amuse me sometimes :D . Anyhoo's....

Anyone else have that experience? or something like it?? I'm just curious if this is common or not. I've always thought it to be the most rude action a person can do to walk out on a speaker...but girlfriend! did I want to be rude!

[truth]

Hi - there were so many times I didn't but wanted to walk out...

a couple brought a gay woman friend to church and that night the Pastor screams angrily from the pulpit - "HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD!!!!"
(needless to say - she won't be back - we're perfect without sin right and can yell about everyone else...)

He seemed to always single out people who were childhood victims of incest (I was one) and then of course he would say he knew how hurt we were but, you know there comes point to get over it and then he talked about those horrid psychologists who were encouraging those "innocent" times that people had as children to accuse their parent of molestation....(I was very close then)

Then there was just the good 'ole finger pointing and yelling the words "shame on you!" at us...

then they would always say, "when we pray - go outside if you're not in agreement with us"

then there was "Don't get up and go to the bathroom right now - you might block someoone who was about to come to the altar - it would be your fault!"

Then my all-time personal favorite - "Touch not God's annointed - because Brother (so and so) went in and yelled and screamed one day at Pastor (so and so) and then 10 days later dropped dead of a heart attack!

every week - bring someone tochurch bring someone to church bring someone to church.....

then another favorite he screamed once "You people - couples before you waste my time again in counseling - why don't you go to the Word first and see what it says about your problem - before you waste MY time!"

another one - "HE"S IN THE HOUSE TODAY and if you don't sense HIS PRESENCE ___ IT'S YOOOOOUR FAULT!!!!!!"

then we brought our friend who had a teenage daughter and that was the day he yelled "Parents, church comes before your kid's sporting events - you just tell that school to reschedule those events around church!!! they need to be here not at a sports event!!) the little girl went out of the church crying and never came back.

Was that enough? I'm only getting started!!!!

Truth

[butterfly]

I never walked out but one time I didn"t stand up and clap.
Some of the people who left the church were I was a member left and started to go the another church in the area. Our kids would go to this church for youth group.
Well one time they had a speaker come. My friend and I liked him so we went to hear him speak. After he spoke there was a christian rock band from the youth group that played. We were sitting in the second row from the front. Oh we wanted to leave so bad but we couldn"t we were stuck there. When they were done we were so glad!! :D Then the former Pastor was asked to stand up with his wife # 2. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Well most everyone stood up and clapped and was so glad to see them.
No way was I standing up and clapping for him like he was God.
He was having an affair with wife #2 while being a pastor at this church. His first wife was battling breast cancer at this time!!!! :( :( She is such a nice woman. He was a good preacher at times. I can say that for him. During his affair time he was preaching against adulertry.YUCK!!!
My friend and I said if we ever went back we would sit in the back!!! So we could leave. butterfly

[Janice]

I've walked out of many a service and will continue to do so if need be!

Of couse as far as the pastors are concerned, I am "rebellious, have demons in me, and need to be freed from this prison I'm in"!

[Billie]

I often wish I could go back so I could stand up and just walk out and say SA you are a clown :D, SA called me 2 years after we left and told me not to try and convice those loved ones still there to leave, told me he heard my youngest son called them a cult. He had me crying, but I did get to tell him how he hurt me and the things he did hurt others, he didn't care but it felt good to speak up. Billie

[Jerry]

The absolute worst time for me,,,,I stood up in the middle of a sermon on tiething,,,,,,,,,,,,and said loud enough for everyone to hear,,,,"You people are Fools if you follow the teachings of this idiot !!!!" and walked out. For some time after that I was pretty proud of myself for standing up for what is right.I was relating the experience to a lifelong friend and he asked..."I bet that made some changes ???"I replied,,,,,,"I don't know ,,I never went back",,,,to which he said,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oh,,, so what you really did was run" :o Yup,wisdom is justified by all her children ;)
Love Jerry

[Voyager]

I have walked out during sermons several times since I left my abusive church seven years ago. This happened at a few new churches that we were trying out. The last one was a few years back at a local AOG church that was supposedly in revival. The pastor said that anyone who has a need could come up for prayer. But then he said that if you were a regular member and you hadn't been to every service in the last month you couldn't come up.

I haven't been back to a church ever since. That was four years ago.

:cool:

[jane]

:mad: :mad: :mad:

I responded to this thread and the computer froze! Took me a long time to think and write it too! :mad:

I had to shut down my computer to come back on.

Will someone PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM!

Jane

[Voyager]

Took me a long time to think and write it too!
I hate it when that happens Jane. It hasn't happened to me on this forum, but there have been times when my Internet connection took a dive just when I posted and then a "page not available" screen comes up and I lost the post. For this very reason, many times I will save a large post in Word before I hit the post button. That way if something happens you can open the Word document and re-post it. This can also serve as a sort of journal that someday you can look back on to see your progress. I save them all in a special folder.

Hope this helps. I'd sure love to hear what you had to say.

:cool:

[j elohim]

remember ananias and saphira, the two who died because they lied?

does anyone know a fellowship anywhere in the usa that is

abiding with G-d so humbly, closely and gloriously ?

instead, in most if not all 'churches', lying is acceptable, adultery is acceptable,

greed is acceptable, covetousness is acceptable

"...and those who participate in such things are approved and patted on the
back.." !!! Scripture hits it on the head - "the people WORSHIP ME with their
lips, but their heart is FAR FROM ME."

G-d never never never said to accept sin as ok nor allowable;

G-d DID give a Way, had a Plan, His Name is Yeshua - GLRIOUS SAVIOUR!!!

for sinners to return to HIM.

G-d's Plan, not man's - G-d's Way, - NOT THE CHURCHES!

so G-d says: "are you tired and worn out by religion? are you exhausted and
past your wits end about what to do? I, G-d, Who have created you and
know your inner being, I, G-d, Who created all things for MY Pleasure,
I, G-d, Who DELIGHT IN YOU IF YOU DELIGHT IN ME -
I say to you, come unto Me, and I will give you rest. You will not be disappointed.

In churches you will be disappointed; in man you will be disappointed;
in mankind you will be disappointed;


but in G-d,
you will never never ever be disappointed - HIS PROMISE IN HIS WORD

[SpinningHead]

Dear J...

That's the whole point...G-d hasn't let us down, but some of us so-called "followers" in positions of leadership have. And some of those "let downs" are serious wounds that didn't happen overnight...and therefore healing won't either....it takes time for us mere' folks to accept that healing.

The point of this thread is to speak about a time when you figured out that a "pastor" who was speaking from the pulpit did not speak the Word of G-d but spoke his own twisted agenda. And in that epiphany...you walked out (or at least recognized the sermon for what it was).

The question is to you...have you ever encountered a pastor or spiritual leader professing to preach the Word of G-d, but figured out he/she was really speaking their own agenda?

Thanks for posting. :)

BTW...why are we spelling "G-d"?

[Voyager]

remember ananias and saphira, the two who died because they lied?.....

G-d DID give a Way, had a Plan, His Name is Yeshua - GLRIOUS SAVIOUR!!!

for sinners to return to HIM.
J Elohim,

I'm not interested in your plans. I am not a sinner who needs to repent, and I am not headed for hell like Ananias and Saphira. Why did you come here? Have you been spiritually abused? Are you looking for support and encouragement? If not, then you came to the wrong place. This is not a place for drive-by soapbox preachers to setup a pulpit on the corner and get sinners to repent by scaring them with burning brimstone. I've had more than my fill of that, thank you.

If you need help, stick around. If you came here to preach and give counsel, then please go find another flock of pigeons who are interested. We've already had enough John The Baptists come here trying to save the forum from hellfire. Save yourself and all of us a lot of grief and get off your soapbox. We've all got Bibles that we can read if we want to hear The Word.

That's my opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the views of everyone here.

:cool:

[Jerry]

What does G-d mean ???? Does it mean God is that what G-d means ???
Jerry

[Voyager]

What does G-d mean ???? Does it mean God is that what G-d means ???
Jerry
I think it means goddamnit. That's what I have always heard G-D meant.

:confused:

[Voyager]

Sorry if I sounded kind of blunt with J Elohim. I've just seen way too many drive-by preachers come here to drop a bomb like that and stir up a lot of controversy. They come in thinking they are going to save the forum from "bitterness and unforgiveness" and they just cause trouble. Most people who come here with sincere intentions don't start preaching a sermon at everyone using Ananias and Saphira threats. They come in looking for support and asking questions about spiritual abuse as opposed to acting like a spiritual authority figure.

If J Elohim has been hurt by spiritual abuse and that is his/her way of an introduction post, then I apologize for jumping to conclusions. It just looked like a drive-by sermon dropoff to me.

:cool:

[jjc9497]

I've been the victim of the "bomb" sermon. Our old "pasturd" preached a sermon that I KNEW was directed at me. Our worship team always picked the music. For one special outreach series, the pastor decided to "help". When the worship leader (my friend) questioned him in front of the worship team--after he had dropped a bomb on her in front of us all, he started yelling about how he was in charge and we needed to treat him with respect. I'm sure he thought I had corrupted her and caused her to question his decision (which was actually probably true :D ) The very next Sunday, he preached a sermon about the man who refused to help David and then the wife went to David and groveled and begged for mercy. The point of his sermon was that we need to respect our leaders. Interesting take on the passage! Of course, when I asked him about the sermon, he gave me the old "I just preach what God tells me to say". It was funny, because there were several women who had been victims of domestic violence, and they ALL thought he was justifying the men's behavior by this sermon and that if the wives had just been more respectful of their husbands, they would still be married and everything would be all right. But, of course, God TOLD him to preach that sermon!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[mstar]

I have seen this "G-D" deal used on other sites. It is usually used by a "hard liner" so I just thought they thought they were not worthy to speak "His Name" or something. I guess, if so, kinda sad.

[Voyager]

I just realized that somebody dropped a drive-by bomb sermon in a thread named "Bomb Sermon" - LOL! What are the chances of that happening? How ironic!

:D :D :D

[Janice]

I agree 100% Voyager! :mad:

[Jerry]

The absolute worst time for me,,,,I stood up in the middle of a sermon on tiething,,,,,,,,,,,,and said loud enough for everyone to hear,,,,"You people are Fools if you follow the teachings of this idiot !!!!" and walked out. For some time after that I was pretty proud of myself for standing up for what is right.I was relating the experience to a lifelong friend and he asked..."I bet that made some changes ???"I replied,,,,,,"I don't know ,,I never went back",,,,to which he said,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oh,,, so what you really did was run" :o Yup,wisdom is justified by all her children ;)
Love Jerry
Dear Joe,,,,
I read your post "In Confidence" I believe,,,,,,,Here is what I posted in the bomb serman thread,,,,,,,,,,,We are both guilty ;) Lessons learned better late than never eh ???? :D Joe,,,,,your a good egg :D
Love Jerry

[Carmen]

Some Jews also use G-d, they feel that it is disrespectful to speak or write his name directly. Although I did get the impression that it was a drive-by sermon. Hope I am not Saphira, or worse, Ananias ;) :p :rolleyes:

[mstar]

"Hope I am not Saphira, or worse, Ananias"

I always thought, since it was said by, I think, Peter, "that Satan had filled their hearts", that they were not saved, not true believers. . .maybe the first example of "not everyone who says they are a Christian is a Christian".

If they had been given elite leadership status as some false brethren are today on the basis of what all they say they give, they would be. . .thats right, topics of our discussions concerning false leadership and Spiritual Abuse.

Of course, I think "I have been turned over to Satan" by my church. Maybe that is why we have had hurricanes, injuries, and surgeries. . .

Well, knew "getting turned over to Satan" would get a little dicey.

greetings from "the edge".

[Autumn]

Great topic, and I thank you all~
I walked out during communion when we were told don't take it if you are not worthy.

I wondered at a funeral service when the pastor~yep~ ....asked why did god allow this and then go off in a different direction, I remember telling a friend next to me, he just lost them all, and she agreed. the man who died had been eloctrocuted on a power pole. His poor little daughter had watched the entire thing. It is sick and sadistic I think now...everything was sweep it under the rug, we did the best we could.

Or the really great one, it is bad to burn incense by the eldor who accused me of causing miscarriages to people.

Oy vey, Well I think, i'm still better off with jesus out in the streets, being an outcast no matter what the in crowd happens to believe. I'd rather be an outcast, because there is way more freedom with nothing left to lose. I have time on my hands tonight so I am using it to say how I really feel. it is an honor to spend this time with you good folks. Blessings to all, Autumn

[j elohim]

i just ran into this forum the other day googling and searching for truth,(and
encouragement/support/healing/understanding)

the gist of what i wanted to say was don't trust churches, DO TRUST G-D! (hyphen out of respect and identification with jews who according to Scripture G-d entrusted
with Scripture and through whom He brought salvation to the gentiles(the rest of us) in and by and through Yeshua (Jesus)
as well;

i've been hurt far worse by churches than by homeless people or strangers;
and finally, after decades searching, gave up on 'churches'.
and i've walked out of churches, some before even getting inside, because of
very ungodly music, some because of deceptive sermon(s), amd some
because no one would
even say 'hi' with any kindness (not to me, and not even to each other; just cold
shoulders and blank stares or fake smiles all around).

a few hours ago i and another little one who trusts G-d had church at walmart -
best and unexpected oneness and fellowship i've shared in weeks or months, just
as Scripture, I believe, says would happen.

i don't know what help to expect or share or is expected here; so i'll learn as
i go along if there's time. this is just my second visit and i might have missed
something but won't worry about that if you don't.

till next time, Grace permitting,
shalom

[Jerry]

Thats better,,,,,,,,your first post was easily misunderstood.
Jerry

[Leslie]

You wrote, "some because of deceptive sermon(s), amd some
because no one would
even say 'hi' with any kindness (not to me, and not even to each other; just cold
shoulders and blank stares or fake smiles all around)."

Yes, what an indictment on the church that it is often so unfriendly!

Some reasons are more sympathetic than others:
Some people are justifiably needy, hurting, introspective
Some are new-ish, too
Bad day
In a big church, people may not know who is new, who is regular, not that friendliness should distinguish.
Some are unwelcoming because they haven't tasted true community. They may long for it but not know how to do it.
Welcoming may not be actively encouraged by the leaders. It should be, since many's default drive is to retreat to comfort
For some, newcomers may threaten their security, which says bad things about the basis for their security.
Western isolationism
Exclusivism
Prejudice

It's probably good to consider that cliquishness often stems from insecurity and isn't likely meant to be rude.

I'm glad you felt free to share!

Blessings,
Leslie

[Voyager]

Hey, we've all used religious verbiage that was misunderstood at one time or another. Sorry if I mistook you for a drive-by preacher. It does happen here.

:cool:

[Carmen]

I always thought, since it was said by, I think, Peter, "that Satan had filled their hearts", that they were not saved, not true believers. . .maybe the first example of "not everyone who says they are a Christian is a Christian".
My personal opinion is that it happened because they were believers, otherwise God would have ignored their behavior, as he does with the false pastors (that hack around on us) these days. They will be the ones that say, "But did we not prophesy in your name..." and Jesus will say, "I never knew you." He did know Ananias and Saphira, I think he stopped them by using physical death not necessarily to punish them but to save their souls from spiritual death, if they had continued in that line of behavior. As far as any modern sudden deaths or accidents, I never make such a judgment. We cannot always know why these things happen.

Of course, I think "I have been turned over to Satan" by my church. Maybe that is why we have had hurricanes, injuries, and surgeries. . .

Well, knew "getting turned over to Satan" would get a little dicey.
What a joke! :) I think that these catastrophes and illnesses are a result of sin, but not the sin of anyone or any region in particular. Nothing would go wrong on this earth if there had not been sin. When Jesus comes again those things will disappear. I look forward to the day when he will dry all our tears and then there will never be a reason for them any more.

That "turning over to Satan" thing is misused today on people like us. The way they do it is more related to voo-doo than anything else. They only wish those well that believe just like themselves, and curse the others. This is in part a result of the Word-of-Faith doctine that is so popular, name it and claim it. If you take it to its bitter end and think that your words have godly (gnosis- like a god) power then you start cursing people and actually expect them to suffer harm! How barbaric and heathen, not to mention unloving and un-Christlike. In some cases where the person is deathly afraid of such a curse, it can cause self-fulfilling prophecy. They are so nervous that they themselves cause accidents and have mishaps. If anyone wants me to break my neck, I just won't give him the satisfation. :D

[SpinningHead]

Of course, I think "I have been turned over to Satan" by my church. Maybe that is why we have had hurricanes, injuries, and surgeries. . .


I've heard this preached a time or two before but it's never been used in my presence the way y'all are writing about it.

I think my reaction to someone who said that would be, "Like you have any authority or power to turn anybody over to someone else! Pull-leeeze! You're diluding yourself!"

Think about the absurdity of that statement (taken out of it's context) and who's saying it to who over what! I'd seriously have to laugh in someone's face and be amused by their little attempt at overpowering the situation. "oooooh! :eek: I'd better do X or Y before he/she "turns me over to Satan"!"

I dunno...people are lame. :(

[Jerry]

Turn someone over to Satan,,,,,,,Sorry,,,,,no one on Earth has the authority or the power to do that,not even the Pope,,,,although the Pope might think he does :rolleyes:
Love Jerry

[mstar]

Guys, I was joking about the "bad times" being a result of "being turned over to Satan".

We have survied the "bad times', grew from them, learned compassion from the experiences, patience, learn a little more about how to decern His direction by "reason of use", and that we live in mortal bodies that sometimes work better when you rest and theat them right. Mortal bodies do grow more frail by the day. I had found the idea of a "false leader" thinking he had to authority to turn over a child of Christ to Satan kinda crazy. I think Paul said he did not even judge himself.

Carmen, I don't know whether Annas and spouse were saved or not. I just have found, from my exprience with the Lord, that He has been faithful to "keep me on course". I sure don't want to be them either. . .so I trust Him to help me not to be.

I just get so weary of these examples being used by false leaders to manipulate church members into their idea of "good livin'", which is their "try harder" adjenda . . .you know the "winning by intimation" trip . . .real Christ like.

[mstar]

the last phase "real Christ like" was sarcasm.

I think I busted my "spell check".

[mstar]

"i don't know what help to expect or share or is expected here; so i'll learn as
i go along if there's time. this is just my second visit and i might have missed
something but won't worry about that if you don't.

till next time, Grace permitting,
shalom"



Hey J elohim, haven't been here long myself, but I think that kind of attitude is all that is needed. Everyone is learning. :)

[mstar]

j elohim,

I would like to ask your forgiveness for assuming you to be a "hardliner" like some I have seen using the "G-d" . Sorry got off to a "bad start".

It is funny (but sad) how we frail humans can end up doing the same things we critize others for. I really "blow it" here.

Anyway . .. welcome!

[Enochwar]

Hi,
This is my first time here...so forgive me if I don't get back to you anytime soon.
I have walked out...actually I got up before he began to speak. I knew what he was going to say. (at least I figured it would not be anything I'd want to hear.)

Lately I've just been going to the prayer room...praying....crying...complaining to God , questioning Him about what's going on.

We had 4 pastors. One was always slipping something in about how much he disliked women preachers. On Mother's Day his entire "sermon" surrounded that subject. From then on if I saw him coming to the pulpit I bolted.

What really got me was that none of the other pastors ever confronted him on it.:confused:

Funny thing is we got a new head/lead pastor (so that made 5 of them.)and although he doesn't speak against "women preachers" he does dislike anything smacking of the spiritual. Like people being lead by the Holy Spirit. He cut the woship time short so he can "preach" longer. :rolleyes: He replaced the prayer meeting with discovery classes.

What really got to me (and made me not trust any of them AT ALL!) was when after reenstating the prayer meeting, (because of complaints) the lead pastor did nto show up (he was at the beach and didn't tell anyone) When the usher tried to get two of the pastors to lead prayer meeting they refused! THEY TOLD THE USHER TO LEAD THE PRAYER MEETING!

A woman (she's gone to be with God now) was teaching young women in the church how to sew. They made at least 15 banners to decorate our bland warehouse of a church. They were beautiful. King of kings and Lord of lords, Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb and many other things were stitched and pictured on the banners. They are all gone now. You know why?! Because they might offend or confuse an unbeliever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a fuming mad smilie anywhere?:eek: :mad: :( :confused: :mad: :mad: :mad:

They even hid the cross behind the screen that shows the words to the songs...
oh and no hymns or spiritual songs...only modern upbeat contemporary Christian songs...that many times boils down to three or four of the same songs sung every Sunday. One has "He gives and takes away.." in it. That is because so many people have left. I'd leave too if my husband wasn't trying to help one of the ministers who is still trying to hang in there for the "sake of unity". :p

I gotta go I've got more... but yeah. I've walked out and I'm not going in there anymore. It has turned generic.

Enochwar

[Carmen]

Sorry about what happened to you Enochwar. It sounds as if another church has been taken over by false doctrine, and you are one of the casualties. My parents had to leave their church for the same reason. Discovery classes sounds like purpose-driven, class 101, class 201, am I right? If so, then I know exactly what doctrine has arrived there; it is a false doctrine in my opinion. Will not mention details here. Am studying it right now to write an article. And talking against women on mother's day was really a hammer. How respectless can a person get? :mad:

Welcome, you are among friends here. :)