Comments on: Take it down a notch..

By: Freedom

Freedom — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:05:34 +0000

I just got back from vacation and I am catching up as well!!!!

By: Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM

Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:49:58 +0000

OK, have been without power for 40 plus hours, but back on now–hooray. Now I have to read up with what is happening in and out of SGland. Mmmmm, didn’t miss much.

By: Protestant Knight

Protestant Knight — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:40:27 +0000

Bethany and Gracie:

I felt nemo’s post was grace-filled, and yours was as well. There is nothing wrong with us in the flock for believing in and praying for the best in our churches while exercising caution coupled with wisdom to look out for wolves.

Thanks to all three of you for being peaceful warriors (if I can use that term without sounding too PC or patronizing, because it is not intended that way).

~pk

By: Gracie

Gracie — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:45:29 +0000

Hi Nemo,
I’m in Georgia too, however my SGM experiences were in another state. Don’t know anything about the Georgia church (or churches). It is good to hear of a more balanced approach, a more grace-filled approach from a SGM church as you describe. But I would tend to agree with Bethany. It would be wise to be on the lookout.

Welcome to the site. Glad to have you here.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:58:39 +0000

Nemo welcome!

I am glad to hear that your experience has been a good one

I do believe that there are many whose intentions are good, both leaders and sheep but something has gone wrong. I would have never of thought that I would have to leave my former church. I have grown up with the leaders and know them to be godly men. These men who I still dearly love, got sucked up into all that SGM had to offer, and it has changed them and this church hasn’t been part of SGM for more than five or six years.

Though I believe that not all SGM churches are experiencing the same problems on the same level, I think the important thing to notice is the underlying themes that seem to be showing up in these churches. My experience with my former church wasn’t like most of the stories shared here, but the underlying themes of stories shared here are slowly appearing in my former church. I pray that your church wouldn’t experience any degree of what you read here but I also think that it is wise to know what tendencies to be on the lookout for.

By: Protestant Knight

Protestant Knight — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:53:34 +0000

nemo:

Welcome to SGM Refuge!

It is a blessing to hear good things about your SGM experience coupled with the acknowledgement that you don’t use your sole experience as indicative of all of SGM.

Yes, the trainwrecks can happen in churches outside SGM. I am praising the Lord that based on your testimony His grip of grace encircles you through the roughest of storms.

The last line of your comment says a lot about you and your witness, and it is a blessing.

Again, welcome.

~pk

By: nemo

nemo — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:31:14 +0000

I stumbled across this website and began reading everything in it. I have attended a SG church in Georgia for four years and recently became a member about a year ago. Some of the posting I think is helpful, but many parts just seem to be people who have been hurt by SGM returning the favor by bashing those who have not. If you are not one of the one’s doing that, I am not referencing you. Our church would be considered a younger church with a much younger pastoral staff that I do not see a lot of these problems in. I grew up going to all types of churches and have always been taught to evaluate any church I went to in light of the scriptures. I cannot speak for other SGM churches, only mine. I am sure that there have been disagreements and such, but I like to believe those are normal since we are all human. I am a single mother of two (divorced during the time I have been at SG) and have not had anyone tell me I had to spank my kids a certain way (both of our pastors do it a lot less than a lot of older families) nor have I been told I have to follow the Ezzo’s way of dealing with a baby (maybe 20% of our church follows that method). We also have three couples in our church getting married this year who did not do courtship but have dated for many years. I say all of this not convince anyone that ALL of SGM is good, but to say that people experience horrible situations in churches (mine was in a baptist church) but that does not mean everyone associated is horrible. We are “allowed” to read books not in our bookstore, and we do have a choice of snacks In any event, I am not saying I know everything there is to know on any of the above mentioned topics, I’m just saddened by the division that has occured. I honestly pray for the emotional and spiritual healing that many need, and know that the lord is faithful to provide it.

By: Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM

Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:21:08 +0000

Joel checked this out for a reason. I sense him being curious and that he has an initial wonder if something might be a little off in SGland. I remember my first red flag, and me running right through it, not wanting to even consider that things aren’t perfect in the land of SFM. BUT started being sensitive to the ungraceful approach to the real gospel. I remember becoming willing to open my eyes to truth, no matter where that may lead or what pain it may bring. Without that, freedom will NEVER come.

By: canary

canary — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:11:12 +0000

D.B.,

Poor kitty.

By: canary

canary — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:10:09 +0000

P.S. I must add that I exhibited amazing self-control when Joel posted about church going on, life going on…I couldn’t help but think of Noel’s and HappyMom’s daughters. Grrrrrrr…But I meant what I said, that the Lord is helping and they, along with all of us, will be just fine.

The ones still trapped under the old law, well, that is another story. Hopefully, PK’s upcoming post on church polity will open the eyes and ears of those still enslaved to controlling churches. We can pray!

By: DB

DB — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:10:05 +0000

Beware; keep kitty away from her box too long and the ensuing mess is your fault.

By: canary

canary — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:05:23 +0000

er…you mean “outside the cage”. Hee-hee, you’re funny, G.D. I notice Joel stopped posting. Wonder why?

By: Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM

Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:28:32 +0000

Well, maybe an air freshener is in order, but that just masks the smell. Maybe take the kitty to one of the 10am Sunday morning things and let him out of the cage. He may fit right in. Hey just trying to think outside the box here.

By: canary

canary — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:10:36 +0000

G.D.

Yeah, the kitty is smelling like fermented leaven…ooohy.

By: Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM

Gratefully Disillusioned from SGM — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:38:18 +0000

Thanks Canary. The cat is still looking sad though.

By: canary

canary — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:02:27 +0000

happymom,

Hugs back. You are welcome!

By: happymom

happymom — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:58:42 +0000

Canary,

{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thank you!

By: canary

canary — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:48:03 +0000

Just another thought: Life goes on for Noel and her daughter, for HappyMom and her daughter, for Musicman, and Juli, for Stunned and Gratefully Disillusioned…for all those who were so harmed by a controlling church, life goes on. But the Son of God goes on with us, and helps us work through the devastation. We will all be fine, sooner or later.

However, those still enslaved to men’s traditions are walking in chains. They don’t understand that their freedom in Christ has been stolen (or willingly given away). So this blog will go on…

Read it. Or not.

By: canary

canary — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:34:58 +0000

Juli,

Aw well, you tried. Beautifully said. My thoughts – if the blog won’t go away, a new tactic would be to “minimize” it, as Joel has done. De-emphasize it. Treat it as a bit of lint to be absently brushed off the shoulder.

That is how Joel treated you. Sorry, honey. Hugs from your peep.

By: canary

canary — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:31:53 +0000

G.D.,

Oh, well said! I’m clapping. Standing ovation!