I don't really know how to write this, but your series on narcissism in the church has really given me a case of the "feels".
First, I want to say thanks for resurrecting the the Door. It is a needed voice to keep the church in line!
Second, I am a conservative-ish Evangelical. But, I am not a hayseed anti-intellectual. I have two Masters Degrees and a Doctorate from accredited Universities and a Seminary. (Does mentioning this make me a Narcissist?) I was a public School teacher for 21 years and planted a church 16 years ago. Anyhow, I just want to say that I, and most of those I associate with, are just doing our best to try and lead our churches. I am so sorry about your bad experiences with church. I'm not sure about any specifics, but your experiences are oozing out of your words as you write. I can assure you that I love God and love people and my objective as a pastor is to build His kingdom without really giving a flying rip about my own notoriety.
So, here is my point. As you are talking about gaslighting, I am feeling attacked by you. Now me even responding to you feels like I am trying to gaslight you, you know, saying you are just making this all up. That is not what I am saying. I'm just saying that we are on the same team, and we just have slightly different interpretations of things. You can be a satirist, while still affirming the positive things that exist in church. Keep up the fight. Just remember who your enemy really is. Don't become a mirror image of those things you hate.
You're not gaslighting me. But I (and many other I know) have been gaslight in the name of God. It's definitely not WWJD? IMO, this is a major issue impacting the church as evidenced by the hordes of research and survivors' stories on this topic. The church is a human institution - and just as Martin Luther and others have stood up to critique those instances when the church misses it's mark, the resurrection of the Door reminds me I'm called to do likewise.
If you feel I am speaking to you directly, it might help to think a bit about how you're conveying the message of the Gospel. I am friends with a number of folks from all spiritual corners who can agree to disagree without engaging in demeaning practices such as gaslighting.
It's kind of funny how I took this so personally. Must have struck a nerve, eh? I know it was not your intention. I'll keep myself, like Focault said, "Present to God and present to people!" Been hurt by narcissists in the church, too. Also, I think the church is more than just a human institution, but people have sure jacked it up over the years. Thanks for your good work. RW
Jesus is beyond the church ... the institutional church as we know it was birthed by Constantine and has been tied to empire ever since. Some individual churches to walk the walk but the institutional appears damaged beyond repair.
Hi Becky,
I don't really know how to write this, but your series on narcissism in the church has really given me a case of the "feels".
First, I want to say thanks for resurrecting the the Door. It is a needed voice to keep the church in line!
Second, I am a conservative-ish Evangelical. But, I am not a hayseed anti-intellectual. I have two Masters Degrees and a Doctorate from accredited Universities and a Seminary. (Does mentioning this make me a Narcissist?) I was a public School teacher for 21 years and planted a church 16 years ago. Anyhow, I just want to say that I, and most of those I associate with, are just doing our best to try and lead our churches. I am so sorry about your bad experiences with church. I'm not sure about any specifics, but your experiences are oozing out of your words as you write. I can assure you that I love God and love people and my objective as a pastor is to build His kingdom without really giving a flying rip about my own notoriety.
So, here is my point. As you are talking about gaslighting, I am feeling attacked by you. Now me even responding to you feels like I am trying to gaslight you, you know, saying you are just making this all up. That is not what I am saying. I'm just saying that we are on the same team, and we just have slightly different interpretations of things. You can be a satirist, while still affirming the positive things that exist in church. Keep up the fight. Just remember who your enemy really is. Don't become a mirror image of those things you hate.
Love to you all,
Ron
You're not gaslighting me. But I (and many other I know) have been gaslight in the name of God. It's definitely not WWJD? IMO, this is a major issue impacting the church as evidenced by the hordes of research and survivors' stories on this topic. The church is a human institution - and just as Martin Luther and others have stood up to critique those instances when the church misses it's mark, the resurrection of the Door reminds me I'm called to do likewise.
If you feel I am speaking to you directly, it might help to think a bit about how you're conveying the message of the Gospel. I am friends with a number of folks from all spiritual corners who can agree to disagree without engaging in demeaning practices such as gaslighting.
It's kind of funny how I took this so personally. Must have struck a nerve, eh? I know it was not your intention. I'll keep myself, like Focault said, "Present to God and present to people!" Been hurt by narcissists in the church, too. Also, I think the church is more than just a human institution, but people have sure jacked it up over the years. Thanks for your good work. RW
Jesus is beyond the church ... the institutional church as we know it was birthed by Constantine and has been tied to empire ever since. Some individual churches to walk the walk but the institutional appears damaged beyond repair.