Pastor's School

[JustExhaled]

was going to listen to Pastors School but now you have to pay...thinking I am not going to spend the $20.00

Above is a status posted by one of my facebook friends this morning, complete with frowny face. I bit my tongue so hard that it bled. I always liked this person, very sweet and hardworking. Anyone ever read FB status from your fundy friends and feel the urge to sit them down and give them a "good talking to?"

[pastor's wife]

Well, it wasn't facebook, but a former member called us "brainwashed" under a youtube video our church posted. I'd say the one brainwashed is the one who fled our church in fear to another IFB church because they were scared of being "missional" even though my husband carefully showed everyone his reasoning from Scripture as to why we were seeking to go into our community and influence them for Christ. All the deacons and Sunday School teachers and youth workers and eventually 75% of the church left, but WE'RE the one's who are brainwashed? I never replied, but it bugged me!

[JustExhaled]

I should probably explain that she was disppointed when she posted because she is HAC grad and was looking foward to listening to the messages. I just don't understand how anyone cannot see through Jack Schaap.

Pastors Wife: We left an IFB church and pulled our kids out of their Christian day school. We recently joined a Presbyterian church and, while our older children are in the public school, the younger kids are attending a Lutheran school. Our only regret is that we waited so long to make the move. We love that both churches and the school are active in the community, serving the less fortunate and just being a blessing. I can already see how this "missional" approach is not only much more effective, but is Christ like in that the less fortunate's basic needs are being met. I can never remember a time when our exIFB church provided groceries for a hurting family, paid the gas bill for seniors or built a ramp for a wheelchair bound member of the community. I have seen this and more in just a few short months from the Presby and Lutheran churches. Hope this is an encouragement to you.

[pastor's wife]

(03-22-2011 01:54 PM)JustExhaled Wrote:  We recently joined a Presbyterian church and, while our older children are in the public school, the younger kids are attending a Lutheran school. . . We love that both churches and the school are active in the community, serving the less fortunate and just being a blessing. I can already see how this "missional" approach is not only much more effective, but is Christ like in that the less fortunate's basic needs are being met. I can never remember a time when our exIFB church provided groceries for a hurting family, paid the gas bill for seniors or built a ramp for a wheelchair bound member of the community. I have seen this and more in just a few short months from the Presby and Lutheran churches. Hope this is an encouragement to you.

That's one of the reasons the IFB doesn't want to do it. "If Presbies and Lutherans - those baby-baptizers - are doing works of charity, we CAN'T!!!" (This is the same reasoning they use to condemn people raising hands in worship, because charismatic churches do.) I don't care who else is or is not doing it; I care what God's Word says, and it seems to pretty clearly say that we are to help those in need.

My husband was amazed when he asked some IFB pastors what obligation they had to their community, and they said, "None at all." They'd help people in their own church, but no one else. This doesn't fit with Scripture.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's hard to start all over again, but as long as we're doing what God wants, it doesn't matter if our family and former church members despise what we're doing.

BTW, I don't understand how people can't see through Jack Schaap either!

[JessB]

One of my FB friends (and relative) posted this yesterday:

Attending Pastor's School 2011 - First Baptist Church Hammond

I so very badly wanted to reply, "Is this #1 on the 101 things NOT to do list?"

[Phatchick]

I'm not sure there's anything we can do. Sadly, until we were ready to leave, there wasn't much anybody could've done with us. Me, I just keep lines of communication as open as I can and when one of them asks my opinion, I give it to them straight. As much as I hate to see them as fundies, I know when the time is right and they've reached to point of no return on the cognitive dissonance and intellectual dishonesty, they'll be gone and when that happens, I'll be there to offer whatever help and advice I can.

[FormerFundy]

(03-22-2011 05:04 PM)JessB Wrote:  One of my FB friends (and relative) posted this yesterday:

Attending Pastor's School 2011 - First Baptist Church Hammond

I so very badly wanted to reply, "Is this #1 on the 101 things NOT to do list?"

Yep...I got a few FB friends that are posting updates about Pastor's School...trying very hard not to post "whaddya stoopid?" comments.

[TomK]

(03-22-2011 12:58 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  All the deacons and Sunday School teachers and youth workers and eventually 75% of the church left, but WE'RE the one's who are brainwashed?

Your husband must be a courageous man. I know well the fear of changing an established church. I stand with you guys.

[EmilyKing]

I had quite a few friends post that they'd gone. But what can I say? That used to be me.

[pastor's wife]

@TomK, thank you! We're now experiencing truly living by faith! It's both exciting and terrifying!