ONTD Original: Great Scandals of The Evangelical Church

[ladyjj]

Happy end of the year! Don't fear, I am still plodding away on research on some requests but I though this might be a good spot to slide in what a denomination actually IS as we move forward. Granted this is a very down and dirty explanation, because I am not really a theologian, I am just a poor history buff who reads hard-copy encyclopedias and

Comments

[ty]

Let me just fire up my Keurig and I am settling in to this post. Thank you OP

[ladyjj]

I hope you enjoy!

[curlycutie016]

[ladyjj]

Aw thank you!

[barbarbarian]

yay, you're back!!! <3

I never made the connection between non-denominational churches and Christian extremism until this very post, which is wild because, of course! It makes complete sense. Now going through my memories of relatives and friends lost to these churches (most especially to the mega-church flavor) and how cult-like their fervor for involvement/devotion and outreach was. There's one church I have in mind that really seemed to prey on the Latine community in Texas when I lived there (maybe it still does, idk): Outcry in the Barrio/Metanoya Church. I distinctly recall a relative having to clean the pastor's house on the weekends as "penance" for her "sins". Just vile.

[ladyjj]

Believe it or not, doing this series has helped to solidify those connections and has really started my actual deconstruction from all this bullshit. I had to let myself remember how my NMom got from where she was when I was very little to the fundie-Bible-pounding maniac she's become...and it was as we moved from denomination to denomination - I was baby-baptized Episcopalian (makes sense, Mom was raised in a British colony, Dad was out of the RCC by the time he married mom); we were holiday only people until I was about 8 or 9 when we went to the Southern Baptists, then Assembly of God and then full on non-denom at Full Gospel. At one point 'church' was held in my study in the basement with shady ass people she meet via other people affiliated with Family Radio sermons and whatnot. Therapy's helped me sort of be able to wade through those memories to a point, but THIS helped me put those connections together. I'm not kidding when I say y'all are helping me unfuck my brain by allowing me to do this

[barbarbarian]

The basement ministry, oooooofff, the memories are RUSHING back in. We always belonged officially to the Catholic church, but somehow these N-D churches always managed to weasel their way in. I mean, the very name "non-denominational" conjures up the feeling of something passive and non-threatening, right? Like they're open and welcoming to anyone, no matter who you are. What could be the harm? The catholic church ain't shit either, just throwing that out there lol

Therapy's helped me sort of be able to wade through those memories to a point, but THIS helped me put those connections together. I'm not kidding when I say y'all are helping me unfuck my brain by allowing me to do this.

That's honestly incredible, and I'm happy for you. Cheers, friend!

[ladyjj]

I felt that ooooooofffff all the way here, iykYK.

That's how they suck you in, really. It seems so non-judgmental and accepting--when they are the worst kind of judgmental, bigoted, inflexible sort of people ever.

[readmymiind]

growing up it was quite difficult saying you were christian because pretty much everyone is, it's just divides on denominations and what not. i understood that when i was older lol. but i went to baptist churches when i was younger.

[ladyjj]

The Baptist church I went to when I was little...it really wasn't that bad or extreme, to be honest. Pastor Haire was the head guy, he was actually quite sweet. I don't remember why we left, but I remember being sad about it.

[readmymiind]

yeah the one I used to go was very traditional, and some stuff was very, very traditional and I wasn't on board on many things, but they're less "up in your face" as other denominations.

[lurkurheartout]

“Yeah but what kind?” Always follows when you say Christian.

[notoriousreign]

You're allowed to challenge it. As a matter of fact, it's your duty to.

Well-said!

[ladyjj]

THANK YOU. One of the few lessons I took from someone tasked with teaching me Scripture that was worth a damn.