Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

Ivy wrote:Upon being asked why they don't try to evangelize a multiple times divorced and re-married sweet woman who often visited the church with family:

"Why honey, she never would get her marital situation straightened out".

That's one of the saddest, and most angering thing I heard in all my years.

..."

I lurv you Ivy, but really...now you are upset because the CofC didn't convert that nice lady? I thought that would make you happy.
Look for the silver lining, stay on the sunny side, and think about the positive side.

KLP wrote:

Ivy wrote:Upon being asked why they don't try to evangelize a multiple times divorced and re-married sweet woman who often visited the church with family:

"Why honey, she never would get her marital situation straightened out".

That's one of the saddest, and most angering thing I heard in all my years.

..."

I lurv you Ivy, but really...now you are upset because the CofC didn't convert that nice lady? I thought that would make you happy.
Look for the silver lining, stay on the sunny side, and think about the positive side.

Happy for her...KLP!! She was much better off!! Yes, I do see the silver lining. I just thought it was crappy that they devalued
her because of her marital history

I'm amazed they didn't try to convert her anyway. We just had "the sermon" recently about divorce and remarriage. And it was reiterated that if someone joins the church while unscripturally remarried, they need to divorce that person (even if they have kids together), because God hates divorce. Of course, if God hates divorce, don't you think he'd hate the second divorce just as much as the first one? Talk about Pharisaical thinking...

Shrubbery wrote:I'm amazed they didn't try to convert her anyway. We just had "the sermon" recently about divorce and remarriage. And it was reiterated that if someone joins the church while unscripturally remarried, they need to divorce that person (even if they have kids together), because God hates divorce. Of course, if God hates divorce, don't you think he'd hate the second divorce just as much as the first one? Talk about Pharisaical thinking...

The logic of this seems to be that committing the sin of Divorce is okay if it is intended to nullify a previous sin of divorce that wasn't okay. Therefore, Jesus sacrifice wasn't sufficient for ALL sin, just some sin. Taking this logic further. If humans can fix their own sins, then why is Jesus even needed?

Shrubbery wrote:I'm amazed they didn't try to convert her anyway. We just had "the sermon" recently about divorce and remarriage. And it was reiterated that if someone joins the church while unscripturally remarried, they need to divorce that person (even if they have kids together), because God hates divorce. Of course, if God hates divorce, don't you think he'd hate the second divorce just as much as the first one? Talk about Pharisaical thinking...

The hard-line position I was raised with is that the first marriage is the only one you get. It wasn't really the divorce that was the horrible sin.....it was the remarriage. If you remarried after a divorce in the cofc, you had better know for a fact that you were cheated on by your spouse....otherwise you are forever committing adultery with your new marriage partner.

Ivy wrote:

Shrubbery wrote:I'm amazed they didn't try to convert her anyway. We just had "the sermon" recently about divorce and remarriage. And it was reiterated that if someone joins the church while unscripturally remarried, they need to divorce that person (even if they have kids together), because God hates divorce. Of course, if God hates divorce, don't you think he'd hate the second divorce just as much as the first one? Talk about Pharisaical thinking...

The hard-line position I was raised with is that the first marriage is the only one you get. It wasn't really the divorce that was the horrible sin.....it was the remarriage. If you remarried after a divorce in the cofc, you had better know for a fact that you were cheated on by your spouse....otherwise you are forever committing adultery with your new marriage partner.

How about if everybody just gets up in front of the church one at a time and confesses to all the times they have committed adultery in their hearts (each person would be up there for hours)...and I mean everybody....it's just such a freaking waste of time to legalize the hell out of divorce ISTM....you know, if I'm getting the Lord's point: when you lust after someone (think of being with them, how they would look naked, lsten/read about their sex lives gratuitously, etc.,etc., etc.), then you have just become an official member of the Cheating, Adultery, and Divorce Club anyway....

Mankind itself has historically made itself a member of the Cheater's and Adulterer's Club against God...it's all through the OT....it's really not a very pretty picture....

Ivy wrote:"That child needs a good whippin'"

The head elder at one of my Dad's churches advised him to do that to me on a regular basis. Fortunately, that was one of his orders my Dad refused to follow.
That "elder" was a godless, worthless human being.

Struggler wrote:

Ivy wrote:"That child needs a good whippin'"

The head elder at one of my Dad's churches advised him to do that to me on a regular basis. Fortunately, that was one of his orders my Dad refused to follow.
That "elder" was a godless, worthless human being.

Thank goodness your dad had the wisdom not to listen to that elder.

Struggler wrote:

Ivy wrote:"That child needs a good whippin'"

The head elder at one of my Dad's churches advised him to do that to me on a regular basis. Fortunately, that was one of his orders my Dad refused to follow.
That "elder" was a godless, worthless human being.

Gosh, Struggler, just pure abuse ISTM....I remember hearing of a most disgusting abuse at the children's home associated with our congregation....I think it was ultimately stopped....but anyway children who soiled their pants were made to wear their underwear inside out....I'm sorry, but please tell me where this thinking comes from....it is just sick....I would never be convinced that the elders did not know about it....

SolaDude wrote:

Ivy wrote:Upon being asked why they don't try to evangelize a multiple times divorced and re-married sweet woman who often visited the church with family:

"Why honey, she never would get her marital situation straightened out".

That's one of the saddest, and most angering thing I heard in all my years.

Contrast that with something I once heard at a United Pentecostal Church I attended for a while:

"We just cast out the net and bring them in. It's up to Jesus to clean them up."

Never understood where the thoughtlessness came from...but I think as I look back now, that it was simply an outgrowth of their expertise in self-righteousness...it just results in reckless, insulting behavior....I remember when I was young, my Mom was so proud that her first grandchild was a girl adopted by my oldest brother....Well, you know, the guy that did the announcing in church said "(My Mom and Dad) announce the arrival of their first grandchild, a girl...she was adopted but we all know they love her just the same"....I really have nothing but four-letter words coming to my mind as I remember that [derogatory term] saying that....my Mom cried and cried in the car going home after church.....and she nonetheless forgave him....

Some of my own C of C relatives said that to me, more than once. One of 'em, a Bible-worshipping socialist hag, told me adoption isn't God's will and that I really should have been aborted and "need to understand" that.