Going back to Church

[imsomebody]

I'm a newbee to this site, I visited the Library section and came across the article "When You are Ready to try again. Going back to church." I thought I was all alone, or the cause of current actions. This article hit all I have gone through and all I feel on the head. If you haven't had the chance to read this article yet I would suggest it. Thank you for the site and thank you for the encouragement.

[Hope 98]

Going back to church is a really tough decision among us who have been abused.

I think most of us here are not fully connected with any one church. Some of us keep trying to find a church we feel safe in. Some of us just stay away.

I've been fortunate enough to find a church I can attend and feel very safe in, but I'm still a bit gun-shy about actually joining the church. I have shared what I've been through and I believe I've had some influence. The last time the church received new members, the pastor made a point of letting the congregation know that people sometimes feel called elsewhere and they are allowed to leave.

Anyway - being part of a church isn't a requirement to be here, or get to heaven for that matter. Same goes for NOT being a part of a church.

Hope you are healing and that being a part of this forum contributes to that.

[Jerry]

I'm a newbee to this site, I visited the Library section and came across the article "When You are Ready to try again. Going back to church." I thought I was all alone, or the cause of current actions. This article hit all I have gone through and all I feel on the head. If you haven't had the chance to read this article yet I would suggest it. Thank you for the site and thank you for the encouragement.

Dear Imsombody,,,
I think that sometimes we get wrapped up in this site...In reality there are quite a few good Churches out there.I am sure they cover the full spectrum from "Just Not Perfect" all the way to "Hell Holes of Abuse".The important thing to remember is not to check our "Brain" at the door ;) Thats one mistake I won't make twice.............
Love Jerry

[JaniceB]

Wow! I just read that article and it makes great sense. It contradicts almost everything I grew up knowing about God and the church but it makes sense. I'm sure glad you turned me on to this and I'm going to try to find that book "Trusting."

I go to a church that has been pretty much grace-full. It's always had a few problems but the people welcomed me and even seemed to appreciate my openess and shall we say "surprising" comments that I'm prone to make after years of therapy.

But recently a wealthier than average person has run the pastor off and we have a very good interim pastor. This guy wanted a more "conservative" pastor but that's not what he's got yet, thank God. The wounds caused by the secretive conflict make it really hard to show up on Sunday morning.

My husband and I are going to try for a while longer to help the congregation heal--that is if we can deal with our own anger and hurt to arrive on Sunday morning. There are some really special people in the church that have been good for us. If it seems to be a lost cause we'll have to dump it. I'm not sure what we'll do next.

It still amazes me how hurtful these issues can be.

JaniceB.

[christian sister]

Thanks for mentioning it, it sounds like I need to read it.