Update on the Second Rape Allegation Regarding Trinity Baptist, NH

[SonofaFundyPreacher]

Pastor's wife you are so right! People make a mess, dealing with people is messy. The preacher in my not so fundy Church last Sunday was talking about Moses 40 years with the sheep. What did he learn, he learned that sheep eat and make a mess. That was good traning because he would spend the next 40 years with the Children of Israel, and what did they do? Complane about what they were eating and make a mess. Think is we can't even clean up the mess because all we do is get the mess on ourselves. He have to let God clean the mess. To many fundys think that God got then saved but they have to clean themselves up. They are so busy cleaning themselves up that they can't be bothered with those diry little kids down the street. Except for when they can bus them in to bring their sunday school numbers up.

[captain_solo]

(06-11-2011 07:57 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  A couple thoughts on being "tidy": I think one underlying reason that fundies like isolating themselves from the world and often fail to be involved in their community is because doing so IS messy. When you deal with people, you have to deal with all the ugly consequences of sin - and it's uncomfortable and challenging and complicated. It's not easy and it doesn't look pretty. There aren't easy answers, people often fall back into sin, true change often takes YEARS, and problems aren't solved with a simple "read your Bible and pray."

You take a group of teens on an activity and they act wild or use bad language, and onlookers say, "Hmph. I KNEW church kids are no good!" never realizing that they're NOT "church kids." Most of them don't have parents who go to church, many don't even profess to be Christians, those who say they are often aren't reading the Bible or even attempting any type of personal relationship with Christ, and yet, suddenly they're supposed to be representing the church. But many IFB churches are so worried about appearances that they'd rather not get unchurched teens involved in community activities (real-life activities where unsaved kids can see by EXAMPLE Christians living in love) so they avoid the scenarios that I described. Fear of "looking bad" stifles outreach so often. Pride of "keeping up a perfect appearance" inhibits the actual demonstration of the Gospel in the lives of hurting people. And lack of faith in the power of God keeps people thinking that ONLY a perfect facade will attract people to Jesus instead of the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

Even worse is when parents or leaders get really bent out of shape when your kids invite friends who don't fit the mold with their dress or talk. They are more concerned that their little johnny will be stained by meeting a public school kid, then that kid might actually be influenced by the truly godly kids in the group. (just for the record little johnny with those parents is most likely the worst reprobate in the bunch - they are the only ones who don't know it yet)

[elfdream]

Another point also is if you get out into the community you will find other Christians out there doing similar good works and your young people might see someone living an authentic Christian life without the trappings of excess standards. I remember when that happened to me. So and so is so spiritual but...she goes to movies! I saw genuine love and compassion in the lives of some of those 'compromisers' and apostates.

I honestly do think that is what some rank and file fundies want. They want Christ to shine through in their lives but to quote my son...'You're doing it wrong!"

[Dude]

Anybody else got any ideas why Cheryl didn't rate a stay in the Prophet's Chamber, like Tina did. I mean Cheryl was experiencing in-home sexual abuse. Tina was not, her abuse was occurring out-of-home, and yet was brought into Phelps own home. Of the two, Cheryl would be the one you bring into your safe home. Unless... You were trying to hide Tina from the authorities and not Cheryl...

Disregard this post. I figured it out.