With the past week’s events, I wondered if the pastor of our former church would mention something in his sermon. I thought it might be in his message, but not blunt. Worse case scenerio in my mind was him mentioning us as spreading rumors and mentioning us by name. I listened to the sermon online, and most of the sermon was about Nehemiah, his enemies, and rumors they were spreading to try to destroy his efforts. He got almost finished, and he then mentioned our situation. He mentioned a couple was spreading rumors that the church is emergent. He told the church people if they hear it they are to confront it, and tell the person they are telling lies. They are to tell them basically what they are spreading was “from the pit of hell.” Yep. So, without naming us, (cannot believe we were spared that), we were called liars and our words from hell. I still don’t think we said the church is emergent, but had influences and leaning to that effect. He did mention how the dots were “connected” from one quoted person in sermons to another.
We are officially set free. If someone asks why we left, we’ll tell them what we think, and let it go. What do we have to loose now? If we made a mistake, then why couldn’t we have been dealt with differently? Now we have to NOT retaliate though we feel hurt and angry. We need to pray for this church, the pastors, it’s flock. I really do not know what else we can do at this point.
If we’re so wrong, how come so many people have already left?
I am a C...I am a CH...I am a CHRISTIAN 
Dearest D,
These days your heart must be full of anguish. I’m so sorry to see you hurting this way. Still, I do hope this situation is strengthening your relationship with the Lord and that it is bringing you and your husband closer as you help each other through these trying times.
This pastor is not wrestling with you, no matter how he names you indirectly or even directly, but he is wrestling with God, himself. So let him wrestle. His pride is clearly his own worst enemy for him to have felt compelled to do what he did. Don’t be angry, but be sad. He had a choice and he chose the road “most traveled”.
I pray you remain in God’s will that you might have peace as He continues to work things out with this pastor and the flock entrusted to him.
The holidays are at hand. I know you have a wonderful family to tend to. Let those little ones love you into a joyous holiday season. You need to rest a bit from all of this. Let God minister to you for a while.
:::Hugs:::
Thank you.
Just spent time on the phone with an elder from the former church who is still a friend but doesn’t agree with us…who didn’ t like the pulpit call out. He also thinks we need to come back together one day and get this settled which boils down to us admitting the church actually has Christ as it’s center focus. Uhmmm, okay, not gonna happen. Learning not to speak of this to that friend either anymore. He was nice about it but still. Ugh. Then spent valuable sleeping time discussing this with my husband yet again. We are going to let this go. It must go. We are not going to say our letter was not right (it was reviewed by a pastor on their staff before we mailed it cripes sakes doo da). If what we said wasn’t what we meant, and what he understood the issues to be, then why did he say, “go ahead.”
I agree, the Christmas season is upon us. I want to have a tree with fun decorations, and have snowball fights. I want to wrap gifts and take pictures. I want to make pastry for my neighbors, and maybe connect with people living closer to us. I want to read the Christmas story and light advent candles.
Now we have to speak with pastors of new churches, get a feel for where they stand. I want my children to know that the Lord is God, and that Christ died for their sins…and all the rest of the gospel…and to hear it clearly preached in church.
Thank you for the hugs.