And there was a reponse!

[Anonymous]

David – I think that would make a great cartoon. You could draw a person with both ears and both eyes on the same side of their head and none on the other side. Eyes to see and ears to hear…solely their own distorted beliefs.

[Chris MParticipant]

@Jeff   Did this liberal pastor you speak of eventually become The Naked Pastor? 

[JeffPrideauxParticipant]

@Chris,

LOL.  No, there was a line my old pastor was not willing to cross…  But maybe one day…

[Anonymous]

Wow. Just, wow. Guilt tripping, condescension, self-importance, and a complete lack of understanding wrapped up in a façade of “concern.” I wouldn’t know how to begin to respond. Part (okay, most) of me is thinking that you shouldn’t respond at all; he strikes me as the type who, even if you spelled it out in no uncertain terms, would take a long time to sink in exactly where you are in your journey and how you got there, and once he did get it you’d probably become a pet project of his, someone who he feels he must bring back into the fold.

On the other hand, I don’t think he’s going to go away if you chose not to respond, either.

I feel for you, man, but I have no advice.

[Anonymous]

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Wade – I was reading through a Word file I keep favorite quotes in and ran across this one by our very own “Off the Map” TLSer. It is from a post she did a long time ago, but in regard to your current situation, she nailed it. Since she already posted it once on TLS, I’m assuming (I know, I know – never assume!), she won’t mind if I re-post her brilliant insight! Here it is…

“When the true agenda of a conversation is to prevent intimacy we run into the sort of abusive manipulation that is dictatorial. It is not about you, it is about the fear the other person is managing. You get to be the target since they desperately want to divert attention from the target they have in their own hearts. We can all be guilty of this.     –  “Off the Map” (TLSer)

[Anonymous]

Sorry – I guess my computer was speaking in tongues – ha!

[Chris MParticipant]

Haha Jo White.   Makes as much sense

[AngParticipant]

Hey Jo!  That sounds familiar.  Some of them spoke in tongues at the church I left…….

[WadeParticipant]

I am preparing a response to my friend, taking care to be civil and not give him more ammunition than necessary. I haven’t decided if I shall mention my castles analogy or list the resources I mentioned at the top.

But I’m not rushing this reply. Partly this is because I don’t want to completely burn this bridge. Secondly, today is Full Moon and I have other spiritual things to think about. And lastly because I don’t want it upsetting my weekend away in a few days!

Wade.

 

[starfielderParticipant]

Hey! OTM is my sister. Thanks for quoting her @Jo White!

[Anonymous]

Starfielder – Yes, I know she’s your sister! And you’re welcome!

Wade – Sounds like a good decision to wait so you don’t mess up your weekend.

[Author]

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