Does anyone know what it is???.?

Question

Heres a short but sweet explanation. My Mother was shunned and told she could not teach in the Assembly of God church because of her divorce. My parents were married 21 yrs, and separated 2.5 yrs before they divoced. They tried..they really did. I have an immense problem with some of the answers.
I have been married twice. My first husband beat the crap out of Me, and by some of the answers I was supposed to stick around and deal with it. Oh btw..I was pregnant at the time. My second husband beat, neglected and molested My children, and My daughter, is still in counciling. Heh, I was stupid back then, but I have learned alot. I have grown. How can My divorces be wrong?
There is a definate differance between God, and the church, and religion. Does anyone know what it is???.

Answer 1

I don't care what anyone tells you. GOD would not have a Christian man or woman beat on, and expect to stay around. Any simple minded idiot that would believe that, has got a real problem. If it is wrong, I will take it up with God on judgment day.

God is not about being beat on and sticking it out. hahhahahaha

NOOOOOOOOOOO. Dream on people.

Answer 2

What has happened is unfortunate and sad. But there are several Biblical principles that govern family life. The essence of it all is unconditional love towards each other. Unfortunately, marriage has been reduced to a contract of convenience and God's principles are thrown in the wind. We live for our own self gratification and fulfillment of our lust. This is the sin that has been gnawing at the root of the familial structure. You can correct it only one person/family at a time. When we neglect God's principles we suffer. Then everything else we put our hands on goes haywire. We need to come back to God and there is no other short cut to this. When the Word of God says a Christian believer should not marry an unbeliever, we should not fool around with it. The scripture uses an illustrative phrase to elaborate this. In 2Corinthians 6:14-18 it commands a Christian "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers". The picture of two animals tied to a yoke, either pulling a cart or plowing the field in the typical middle eastern situation. Unless both the animals pull in the same direction there will be 'war'. So we need to make sure we do the right thing before we take the plunge.

Teaching in the church is also to be done in accordance with the Biblical guidelines. It is God's house and God's rules are in operation there. We have problems when we bring in man's ideas and rules into God's house. We need to be aware of this and alert that we do what God wants us to do.

I do pray that God will lead you to Godly conclusions.

Answer 3

First of all, your divorces were not wrong, don't let anyone who hasn't walked a mile in your shoes discriminate against you. To me the difference between God, religion and the church is this. To carry within you an idea of a God is to admit that you believe that there is something bigger out there than us. Which is more or less the basis of most religions. Religion takes it the one step further and usually personifies their god so that the people can now relate to this being and understand it's needs from us now we have something concievable to worship. The Church is someplace that people go to worship and be supported in their belief, by people who are on the same level spirtually, it's been my experience with the church that it can grow a life of its own, the congregation can grow needs of their own and it can go from being a safe haven for believers to a very charged enviroment, very exclusive and anti tolerant. Usually by the time that you are actually shunned by the church you realize that the church has lost sight of the spiritual aspect of their organization and is focusing on the social aspect more and more.
My mom got shunned by our church for reading a Shirley McLaine novel, so please do not let it get to you, you have made the best decisions for you children, The Creator would not have given a mother that instinct if he/she didn't want her to use them.

Answer 4

Ok... While the Bible does discourage divorce, I think your personal experiences are an exclusion (ok everybody, hold on... hear me out).

The Bible calls for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. It is not outside the realm of possibility to assume that despite the fact you went through the ceremony, this abusive genius wasn't really being a husband to you...

And incidentally... Jesus doesn't turn his back on people who have been married more than once... Check out John 4:18.

As to your parents' situation, I cannot speak because I don't konw the circumstances leading to the divorce. The Bible does set certain marriage restrictions on two offices of the church: bishops and deacons. Each one is to have been the husband of one wife. Beyond that, I don't believe the Bible has said anything specifically about the marital status of anyone doing work in the church.

Answer 5

The church should work on these people, full time if possible.

Churches, however, are entitled to set their own rules.

Some churches have let their ministers continue preaching even after divorces, others do not.

There are many faiths and many creeds, you and your mother have to decided if you want to stick with this church and their belief system or find another, more liberal church.

Jesus gave credibility to the concept of no divorce except for adultery.

The only way to believe otherwise, is to believe the disciples lied or otherwise misrepresented, in which case the New Testiment is to be taken as possibly being unreliable, which most religions don't accept!

Jews allow for divorce, some protestant religions allow for divorce, but some don't!

Peter, who had some harsh views, as well as Paul and to a degree John all conspired in these views and help to found what is the Catholic Church, which firmly does not beleive in divorce!

The church, or so it would seem, should intercede to a major degree. Even if it means sleeping on your sofa to make sure you husband follows the edicts of the Bible.

From the church's point of view, however, if you have fallen from grace by whatever means, it means you are not fit to tend to the flock.

Do you want liberal people who says it's "cool" to have lots of sex and experimentation outside of marriage to teach Bible School to young kids?

GEt the point.

Now, if they don't draw the line with their minister in such a situation, then they are two faced and hipocritical.

If they allow someone who contributes vast sums of money to the church to teach, even though they are divorced or otherwise morally iffy, then they are two faced!

Church's are faced with lots of issues. In their ranks are certainly "fornicators" -- those who have casual sex outside of marraige. You may have done that even. Fooled around prior to getting married.

Homosexuals. Churches have issues with them. Some allow them to preach and even be elders, other churches say they are loathsome and should burn in hell's fire!

These are hot topics and each church has their own right to view them as they see fit.

God is the ultiamte judge.

You, yourself, seem to have a slight problem with the concept of "forgive and forget."

YOu are obssed by this situation. Yu are intolerant. Just as bad as the Church is!

If you can no longer live with THAT church, leave it! Find another!

Answer 6

Of course there is a difference between God and the church and religion. God is beyond anything created - unknowable in His essence - yet closer to us than even we are to ourselves. The Church is His body, the gathering of those who worship and follow and love Him; and the Church on earth is known as the Church Militant, which means it is comprised of people who are in a process of spiritual healing. Some are already perfected and sanctified - others are early in their journey and still dealing with much sin. So the Church here on earth can still be full of sin, yet still be a gathering of God's people. Religion may be something that has little to do with the true worship of God, if it becomes self-centered instead of God-centered.

But as for the wider context of your question, I repeat my answer to your original question: maybe it's time for you to look around a little and explore another Church, and look for the true Church of Christ. I know it's not politically correct to say it, but not all "churches" are created equal. There is One Church - one true Church - and the other denominations and fractures and sects and splinter groups are not necessarily part of it.

I would recommend reading a book by Timothy Ware called "The Orthodox Church". It's a little long, and in some parts a little academic, but it gives a good overview and understanding of the historical true Church of Christ, which is the Orthodox Church. Many of your questions might be answered if you look in the right place...

Answer 7

the difference is that your own personal spirituality is not the church or god, but just your spirit. The love that lives inside you, that is your spirirt. By leaving bad situations you helped your spirirt which is the best thing u could do. While the church is well meaning and can be helpful, it does not rule u , u rule u. Many church laws were created to control women, which is why they don't fit in with todays society, b/c our society is tired of controling women. The best thing for u to do is listen to your heart, and maybe find a new church, try the ucc, united church of christ, they are 'open and affirming' this means they let women be ministers, and they allow gays to join, too.
you may have to really open your mind to find your answers.

Answer 8

Beleive it or not...... no releigion allows divorce except Islam. U dont beleive it? Go read ur bible. Find me a single verse where u r allowed divorce? U R allowed in Islam though. Most people say that only man can give a woman divorce but thats wrong. A woman can always ask for a divorce. In extreme cases, ( such as urs) u can go to court and get a divorce and be free.

Answer 9

Religion--any religion--is meant for the purpose of acceptance and loving. A church that shuns a person for being divorced, a spinster, a homosexual, a woman, handicapped, et cetera does not deserve your time or money. You should be allowed to teach or enter so long as you believe in that specific faith. If someone tells you you cannot enter otherwise, maybe it's time to go to someone else.

Answer 10

You and your family need to find a new church. And I do not think the catholic church would be a good choice because of their laws and views. Find a church who will accept you for who you are. You have come along way. Maybe you need to step back and take a break from religion and pray in your home and be thankful for how far you have come.