New member

[ireneiv]

Hello everyone, my name is Ivanova.
I've been a christian for eight years since my early days of college. I joined the forum out of my desire to start over on finding and building a community of faith.
I've had significant problems with christians I met personally at different churches in my local area, all these things have created significant church hurt.
I can't say I'm totally over it as I'm still avoiding churches all together and I think I have some degree of PTSD from it all as I even have nightmares about them.
I don't want to continue to isolate myself from christians out of a desire to protect myself as I know how fellowship and community are vital part of faith as loving our neighbors is loving God and forgiveness is a core value in christianity.

We all know as more mature and experienced christians there are real important issues in churches that sometimes go unadressed or are just outright unknown by the leadership and end up pushing people away as it has happened to me. Some people with status (like chorus singers or ministry leaders) are protected by learders from the consequences of abuse or sin just to keep up a front for the community and the hurt persons is just never acknowledge or just ouright pushed away as it happened several times to me througout the years.

Also sometimes struggles are regarded by bad prosperity churches and extremely charismatic movements as "lack of faith" or "signs of hidden sin" and more nonsense which also pushed me away as the people I confided in my struggles showed no empathy or mercy, but chose to start gossiping and destroying my public persona with false claims. I now regard myself as non-denominational and mostly read and listen to baptist preachers.

In spite of this, I come here as forums offer a degree of anonimity that makes me feel more safe, to express myself and try to start a fellowship with christians again. As I've said I want to heal from these experiences as I know we are in the last days and the enemy has attacked me through many so called "christians" in attempts to destroy my faith altogether. I would appreciate if anyone can share some advice on how they have faced these sort of challenges and healed from the pain and trauma they entail.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hello Sister, @ireneiv
Welcome to Talk Jesus an online community of Jesus Christ believers.
I hope you will find fellowship, and growth in God's Word while you are here.
With your soon to be married, husband it might be helpful in the church interaction as a couple, verses being a single woman. Not always easy depending on the denomination/church you happen to go to. Part of it is also expectation against what you see as what is unchristian like behavior to others. All the while ignoring the obvious sin, at least from where we're sitting, that goes unattended.

The problem with that type of perception is that as one who is part of the congregation and not part of the ministry team, one does not get to see what is going on behind the scenes. Sometimes it gets addressed, though it doesn't make for an immediate change in the situation in question. The current church I now attend, I did not become a member of, until I had been there for over 2 years. I believe that it was the teaching of the Bible, and how it was being interpreted and the willingness to talk about it, if you disagreed with the theology, was what kept me going, and eventually had me and my family become a members. There is no need to rush things, if you see they do attend to the Bible, if not necessarily in the manner you think it should be attended to. If they are willing to answer your questions, and support it with Scripture, you'll be fine, but if they blow you off, and use phrases like "trust me, you'll come around", I'd start looking for another church!

Anyway, welcome to Talk Jesus, and I hope for your happiness in Christ Jesus, and so to be wife!!! Congratulations!!!

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
\o/
<><

 

[ireneiv]

Hello Sister, @ireneiv
Welcome to Talk Jesus an online community of Jesus Christ believers.
I hope you will find fellowship, and growth in God's Word while you are here.
With your soon to be married, husband it might be helpful in the church interaction as a couple, verses being a single woman. Not always easy depending on the denomination/church you happen to go to. Part of it is also expectation against what you see as what is unchristian like behavior to others. All the while ignoring the obvious sin, at least from where we're sitting, that goes unattended.

The problem with that type of perception is that as one who is part of the congregation and not part of the ministry team, one does not get to see what is going on behind the scenes. Sometimes it gets addressed, though it doesn't make for an immediate change in the situation in question. The current church I now attend, I did not become a member of, until I had been there for over 2 years. I believe that it was the teaching of the Bible, and how it was being interpreted and the willingness to talk about it, if you disagreed with the theology, was what kept me going, and eventually had me and my family become a members. There is no need to rush things, if you see they do attend to the Bible, if not necessarily in the manner you think it should be attended to. If they are willing to answer your questions, and support it with Scripture, you'll be fine, but if they blow you off, and use phrases like "trust me, you'll come around", I'd start looking for another church!

Anyway, welcome to Talk Jesus, and I hope for your happiness in Christ Jesus, and so to be wife!!! Congratulations!!!

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
\o/
<><

Thank you very much for the warm welcome Yes, I’m actually waiting for my fiance to move near my area so he can go with me and hopefully start again in a healthier environment. I used to go alone because I'm the only christian in my family and I think some ill-intended people target me because of my loneliness. I'm positive that if I don't go alone things can be nicer. God bless you!