Whisper
Seminary Student
Posts: 452
|
Post by Whisper on Jan 18, 2022 10:15:23 GMT
No missions to speak of. The PRCA just churches the already churched to be “Reformed”. Still using old English bibles. Claiming to be church closest to truth yet clearly not. Jesus is Truth and they are not like Him. God said his people are like the sand on the seashore and stars in the sky, innumerable. They are 7-8000 and not connecting with other Christians except in tiny “Reformed” pockets of the world. Shunning those not like themselves. And on and on and on. Wow. 100 years old and stagnant.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andatlastiseethelight on Jan 19, 2022 3:26:29 GMT
No missions to speak of. The PRCA just churches the already churched to be “Reformed”. Still using old English bibles. Claiming to be church closest to truth yet clearly not. Jesus is Truth and they are not like Him. God said his people are like the sand on the seashore and stars in the sky, innumerable. They are 7-8000 and not connecting with other Christians except in tiny “Reformed” pockets of the world. Shunning those not like themselves. And on and on and on. Wow. 100 years old and stagnant. Oh there’s something to show for it—immense pride, and complete lack of relational ability. (Emotionally stunted.) I was often too ashamed of the denomination to ever be open about our church. Too many rules. In the world, but not “of” it—completely clueless about what works is out there. A general fear of other people/other ideas. Since it’s the other, it’s scary and wrong. |
|
|
|
Post by churchcoffee on Jan 19, 2022 16:56:18 GMT
No missions to speak of. The PRCA just churches the already churched to be “Reformed”. Still using old English bibles. Claiming to be church closest to truth yet clearly not. Jesus is Truth and they are not like Him. God said his people are like the sand on the seashore and stars in the sky, innumerable. They are 7-8000 and not connecting with other Christians except in tiny “Reformed” pockets of the world. Shunning those not like themselves. And on and on and on. Wow. 100 years old and stagnant. Oh there’s something to show for it—immense pride, and complete lack of relational ability. (Emotionally stunted.) I was often too ashamed of the denomination to ever be open about our church. Too many rules. In the world, but not “of” it—completely clueless about what works is out there. A general fear of other people/other ideas. Since it’s the other, it’s scary and wrong. "Emotionally stunted" is right. It wasn't until college that I finally learned how to listen to and entertain other people's ideas, beliefs, perspectives, etc. Up until then, I'd just get really defensive and angry if my beliefs were challenged in even the smallest ways. I honestly didn't know how to have an open discussion about theology, politics, anything without trying to defend my own beliefs and/or convince the other person I was right. It was so refreshing when I realized how to simply listen to the other person and explore their perspective without getting combative or trying to "trap" them. And it also wasn't until college/my first serious relationship with a non-PR that I learned how to understand, articulate, and work through my own emotions. Before that, I'd just avoid and ignore the conflict until the emotions were suppressed enough where I could just forget about it and move on. |
|
|
|
Post by Andatlastiseethelight on Jan 19, 2022 20:37:58 GMT
Oh there’s something to show for it—immense pride, and complete lack of relational ability. (Emotionally stunted.) I was often too ashamed of the denomination to ever be open about our church. Too many rules. In the world, but not “of” it—completely clueless about what works is out there. A general fear of other people/other ideas. Since it’s the other, it’s scary and wrong. "Emotionally stunted" is right. It wasn't until college that I finally learned how to listen to and entertain other people's ideas, beliefs, perspectives, etc. Up until then, I'd just get really defensive and angry if my beliefs were challenged in even the smallest ways. I honestly didn't know how to have an open discussion about theology, politics, anything without trying to defend my own beliefs and/or convince the other person I was right. It was so refreshing when I realized how to simply listen to the other person and explore their perspective without getting combative or trying to "trap" them. And it also wasn't until college/my first serious relationship with a non-PR that I learned how to understand, articulate, and work through my own emotions. Before that, I'd just avoid and ignore the conflict until the emotions were suppressed enough where I could just forget about it and move on. Isn’t it amazing what important skills you learn, and develop when you aren’t on the “defense” all the time, and you learn how to generally care for other people. I think it is something that runs deep (within Dutch culture), and cults —so the mix of the two is a toxic mix. Your religion DOES NOT need to be your ENTIRE identity (incapable of learning from other people/and appreciating the beauty of diversity). 🙌🏼🙌🏼. Loved your post, Churchcoffee. |
|
