A good thing said about a "trigger" scripture

[Elisabeth]

On Sunday morning, an elder at the church was preaching, because the pastor was on vacation. The first scripture he read was, to me, a "trigger" scripture: If anyone does not hate his father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, or even his own life, he is not worthy of me. (I probably did not quote that word for word, nor am I positive of the reference, only that it's in Luke somewhere.) The reason why it's a "trigger" scripture is because, although I can not remember if that scripture itself was used to undermine my marriage and other relationships, I know that scriptures like that were. But when Brian was preaching, after he read that, he made it clear it was about singleminded devotion to Jesus! Then not very much further in the sermon he was talking about how important sexual morality was. And I realized that particular scripture, as well as other "trigger" scriptures were triggers not because of what the scriptures themselves say, but because of the awful interpretations I have been given. Maybe with that knowledge, I can read my bible more, and when I am triggered, just look into why and what the scripture that triggers me really says. :)

[Reg]

Elisabeth,

Yes, that's one that they use and get it wrong.

The implication here is not hate but the meaning is "love less" by comparison to one's parents & family.

We are admonished to love our Mother, Father and spouses by God's word.

Luke 14:26
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

Here is a commentary on this verse:

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Luke 14:26

If any man come to me?
Not in a corporeal, but in a spiritual way; nor barely to hear him preach; but so come, as that he
believes in him, applies to him for grace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation; professes to
be his, submits to his ordinances, and desires to be a disciple of his;

and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple:

not that proper hatred of any, or all of these, is enjoined by Christ; for this would be contrary to
the laws of God, to the first principles of nature, to all humanity, to the light of nature, to reason
and divine revelation: but that these are not to be preferred to Christ, or loved more than he,
as it is explained in (Matthew 10:37) yea, these are to be neglected and forsaken, and turned from
with indignation and resentment, when they stand in the way of the honour and interest of Christ,
and dissuade from his service: such who would be accounted the disciples of Christ, should be
ready to part with their dearest relations and friends, with the greatest enjoyment of life, and with
life itself, when Christ calls for it; or otherwise they are not worthy to be called his disciples. The
Ethiopic version inserts, "his house", into the account.

[ex-shep]

Reg, Next latte on me!! That was scripture which was twisted in the Community as justification to sever connections with those not in the group because they were not spiritual. There were cases of irrepairable estrangement between college students and their parents. My data is extremely old and anecdotal at best. I do remember cases where funerals, weddings, and graduations were missed for the greater good of the group.

The group, to its credit, did make a statement of apology. Family relationships were more open in the Nineties.

It does give credence to the complaint of the lack of seminary training. It would also explain where there were a rash of exit counseling or professional interventions to take members out of the group. That scripture twist caused a lot of damage.

[Ladybug]

Elizabeth,

This is "good" that you are starting to let the trigger scriptures speak to you from the Bible and not from the misinterpretations you'd heard or have had used against you. It's not easy to let go, but you'll feel better spiritually. God will enable the Holy Spirit to teach you as you begin this process. I'll be holding you up in prayer. I'm sorry this has been used wrong within your life and caused pain.

To "me" this passage says that I'm to have a heart attitude of letting go of family to serve the Lord. To me, it's not a negative verse, because if a child has been brought up by parents who love the Lord, then the Lord enables the parents and the child/adult to let go and to further their relationship with the Lord, because you want the best for that person as far as growing in their walk with the Lord. I'm only using this as an "example," please don't take it personally.

Yet, I have heard it used in a negative way that probably produce false guilt and probably harmed instead of helping relationships. God does want us to love one another in the various relationships we have. So that's why I'm incline to believe it's an attitude of the heart.

Sexual morality is important, but as long as we live in a sinful world, this is why God extends His grace and forgiveness. What about a person who has been assaulted? Are they no longer able to serve the Lord? No! God can take that which "is evil and use it for good." This is around Genesis 17, referring to Joseph and his brothers.

So hope this helps and thanks for letting "me" share.

[Willow]

For me... i read over a scripture reference very shallowly first before my heart engages. That way I can shut my mind before anything can trigger me too badly. sometimes it works.

[ex-shep]

For me... i read over a scripture reference very shallowly first before my heart engages. That way I can shut my mind before anything can trigger me too badly. sometimes it works.


I have been there. I can relate.

[abbey]

On Sunday morning, an elder at the church was preaching, because the pastor was on vacation. The first scripture he read was, to me, a "trigger" scripture: If anyone does not hate his father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, or even his own life, he is not worthy of me. (I probably did not quote that word for word, nor am I positive of the reference, only that it's in Luke somewhere.) The reason why it's a "trigger" scripture is because, although I can not remember if that scripture itself was used to undermine my marriage and other relationships, I know that scriptures like that were. But when Brian was preaching, after he read that, he made it clear it was about singleminded devotion to Jesus! Then not very much further in the sermon he was talking about how important sexual morality was. And I realized that particular scripture, as well as other "trigger" scriptures were triggers not because of what the scriptures themselves say, but because of the awful interpretations I have been given. Maybe with that knowledge, I can read my bible more, and when I am triggered, just look into why and what the scripture that triggers me really says. :)


Thats a BIGGIE TRIGGER scripture for me to E! My pastor seperated me from my family, friends and even my own 13 year old son. As i stated before, calling the need and desire for a mother to be with their only child idolatry.

I still have mucho trouble with that scripture. I love Jeus, but He is spirit...

My family is flesh, and I can see their expressions, their hearts etc. God I cannot see. Loving a spirit is not that easy!

[Jerry]

On Sunday morning, an elder at the church was preaching, because the pastor was on vacation. The first scripture he read was, to me, a "trigger" scripture: If anyone does not hate his father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, or even his own life, he is not worthy of me. (I probably did not quote that word for word, nor am I positive of the reference, only that it's in Luke somewhere.) The reason why it's a "trigger" scripture is because, although I can not remember if that scripture itself was used to undermine my marriage and other relationships, I know that scriptures like that were. But when Brian was preaching, after he read that, he made it clear it was about singleminded devotion to Jesus! Then not very much further in the sermon he was talking about how important sexual morality was. And I realized that particular scripture, as well as other "trigger" scriptures were triggers not because of what the scriptures themselves say, but because of the awful interpretations I have been given. Maybe with that knowledge, I can read my bible more, and when I am triggered, just look into why and what the scripture that triggers me really says. :)

Dear Elisabeth,,,,,
"Hate" is a horrible mistranslation by the English translators.Christ is referring here to spiritual as opposed to worldly love,and is not suggesting that we not love family.A more accurate translation for "Hate" read "Love Less"
Love Jerry

[Elisabeth]

Thats a BIGGIE TRIGGER scripture for me to E! My pastor seperated me from my family, friends and even my own 13 year old son. As i stated before, calling the need and desire for a mother to be with their only child idolatry.



To say that pastor had rocks in his head doesn't even begin to cover it ... :eek::eek::eek:

[Hope 98]

I'm of the mind that ALL of our "trigger scripture" is due to the way that the verses were twisted and used against us.

There was a very long stretch of time where I couldn't pick up a Bible. Every one I opened seemed to just fall open to a verse that just shredded me. Same verse - every time.

There came a time when God broke through and changed me, and I was compelled to read the Bible - especially those parts that were like battery acid to my soul. I sat and read those parts with the prayer that God would reveal to me what HE meant. It took time, but it worked.

It was in God's timing and by His Spirit, so I don't have a step by step "how-to". I just wanted to share the experience and hope.

[abbey]

I'm of the mind that ALL of our "trigger scripture" is due to the way that the verses were twisted and used against us.

There was a very long stretch of time where I couldn't pick up a Bible. Every one I opened seemed to just fall open to a verse that just shredded me. Same verse - every time.

There came a time when God broke through and changed me, and I was compelled to read the Bible - especially those parts that were like battery acid to my soul. I sat and read those parts with the prayer that God would reveal to me what HE meant. It took time, but it worked.

It was in God's timing and by His Spirit, so I don't have a step by step "how-to". I just wanted to share the experience and hope.


Hope , thats inspiring because im still having great trouble reading the word. It is getting a little easier. But some of the scriptures that my cult twisted for me was indeed like battery acid! Thanks for the hope, lady!

[abbey]

To say that pastor had rocks in his head doesn't even begin to cover it ... :eek::eek::eek:

Hi E! When my group told me this, I just about had a heart attack! I have felt Jesus love (i have been a recipient of being filled with the Holy Spirit, twice in very powerful ways) And just feeling His love is enough for me to realize that God is not the obsessed King that demands all our love and we cant dish it out to others! Thats what the group was trying to say to me. Yes we are called to love Christ first, but to not love others? Especially gifts. My son is a gift from God to me!

I feel sorry sort of for my ex pastor---because hes got it wrong.

Rocks in the head? High 5 and an AMEN on that! They were crazy....

[ex-shep]

Hope , thats inspiring because im still having great trouble reading the word. It is getting a little easier. But some of the scriptures that my cult twisted for me was indeed like battery acid! Thanks for the hope, lady!

I prefer cyanide myself. I have a friend who was in the Community. He is solid evangelical today. Nevertheless he had to put his bible away for six months to allow the old tapes to fade.

There was a feeling of not wanting to go through that again. I would recoil at hearing even the most healthy and inspiring of scriptures. I walked out of my groups in 1984. It was not until 2002 that I was able to read, pray, and worship without going into disassociative orbit. With good counseling, I am sure I would have been back in the loop much sooner.

I did find the Bible Answerman to be helpful. I could listen in context. It was low key. I think if there were a reference book to undue to the tapes, it would help. [Of course apologies to anyone triggered. Just one poster's journey]

[Crisol]

Hi every one....

I was in a church who used the Bible to teach the word of God but at the some time to condemn people. But, what I learned, that I did not have to read the bible if I am not feel confortable with. A friend of mine, a very good friend told me abour prayer. Prayer is the answers when we feel lonely and discouraged. A few month later I started to read the bible in a diferent way. I did not want to receive any kind of teach until I was ready to received from others so I asked God to give me enough discernement to receive the good teaching and forget the wrongs ones . . I said God, teach me, I want you to teach me, not the church, not a preacher, not a friend, I want you to teach me what you want, not what they want. So, everything changes and I now can listen tapes, I can sing again a new song and the best, I can read the Bible and I can see Jesus there.

I said to Jesus, I need to feel in love with you and I need to Know you more and more. I started to reading the Gospol of John and I discovered that I went for 8 years to the church but I did not know Jesus at all. I did not have a personal relationship with him.

I did have troubles with those scriptures as well. Now I understand that Jesus loves my family more than me...and He is a caring and loving God. He does not wants me to be separate from the people I love, but He want me to trust him with them and put Him first in my heart.

Jerry said:

"Hate" is a horrible mistranslation by the English translators. That is very discourage translation.

In Spanish Bible said: if I love my mother and my father more than me....

I hope you can find the real meaning of the Bible. God want to teach us beautiful things, more than you never expected from anyone. I tell you the true...I am learning to live again with Jesus, with the real Jesus, not that Jesus some body else said to me. I would like to Know Him more and the only way is trough prayer and reading the bible myself.

That is the reason I would like to share with you all, some of the scripture God has giving me in the time of trouble. I hope with all my heart you can read it and let them to seal in your heart. I am hope as well not misunderstand what I try to say with this post. Remember, English is my second language but I love it :)


God bless you all

[Jerry]

I am hope as well not misunderstand what I try to say with this post. Remember, English is my second language but I love it :)


God bless you all[/B][/COLOR]

Well said sweetie,,,,,,,,,,,,;) :D

[hornblower]

I think we forget Jesus saying in His Word that for one thing preachers can tie up heavey loads and put them on our backs and never even touch one part of our load to help releave it...............thats scripture...........or beware of the wolves in sheeps clothing............thats scripture..............or Put no one before Him because He is the real TEACHER no one else is......that is scripture................or John telling us that Jesus IS THE WORD! That is scripture so just knowing and talking to Him and being with Him is being in the word.................Jesus is the word of God. The word is the communication of God to us thats all it is written by men who were listening just like we do. We can always learn more because its God talking but...........beware of the wolves, they come into the sheep fold for only one reason, to get gain..........they gain from using us and abusing us they are power hungry wolves who scatter the sheep............what are we? We are the scattered sheep! We are coming together and telling the truth.............what is the truth? Said Ceasar? What is the truth and the truth was standing right in fron of him right there fixing to be crucified for the sins of this world. Jesus is the truth and when we tell the truth and stay in the truthg we are worshipping Him because His true worshippers seek the truth and Him........that is scripture!
Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed...........pray for on another ...............love each other...........be kind to one another........if you sin you have an advocate with the Father ask so that you will reseave forgiveness and cleansing.
If you ask your heavenly Father for bread will he being good give you a stone?
Yep there are lots of things I dont get yet...........like turn your cheek when someone hits you on one side turn to him the other also.
I cant do that so well.
But the one I can do is give to Him my body as a living sacrifice. Jesus I give you my lowlife self. Im sorry for what I am. Im not much but I know You have better things in mind for me so please Lord please just take me mind body and spirit and make what You will.
Nobody else has the message of eternal life who else can I turn too???????????? I with Peter say scripture loud and clear!