Greetings WaterlooInspector,
WOW... I recognize that you were generalizing, but just have to hop in and say that I have participated in small town churches - "spirit filled" type, Bible believing (one for 8 years, one for about 5). The church bodies, the people in them, were mostly hugely loving, never perfect (no one is perfect - churches, cities, everything is filled with imperfect people.) The pastors were warm, caring, giving and open to discussion, even to debate if one felt they had a "bone to pick" type of discussion to pursue (i.e. "Pastor, I kinda have an issue about something you said, can we discuss?) In no way, in either of these churches was there a "cult" type leading by the pastor or a "shunning" type of behavior (although if there were huge problems, there are things we have to deal with as family -- i.e. if my son were an addict and reaking havoc, I might tell him "Son, you can't come here until you get sorted" and the similar thing can happen in a church body/family with a member). The pastors wives were wonderful, they were real people, they were not perfect, even as their husbands and members of the body were not perfect -- but the hearts of all the people, for the most part, were open and lovely, and willing to move to the goal (from pastor to member). Remembering, people join churches often because they feel a conviction that there is a better way and they need to get on it -- they all recognize that they are imperfect. People can start from some very bad places when they first come on board, and along the way, temptation and "the flesh" can really get in the way of every and anyone -- walking the walk is a challenge.
Mind you, we are on the left coast, so things may be far different in "our parts" than elsewhere, but oh my goodness, if the pastor had even tried to play demigod -- there would have been a huge problem in either of these churches. People would have said, "Pastor, we need to discuss...", or they would have lovingly gone to board members to discuss (and with the pastor), and/or if they felt the problem was really big, they would have called in the church leadership that was over the particular church (i.e. the pastors had pastors.)
Needless to say, I have not experienced what you mention -- good thing, I wouldn't have tolerated it, nor would my husband. On the other hand, we are not in a church body to try to push our pastor around, nor are we there for him to push us around, we are all there working for one purpose -- looking for truth, walking in its way.
You wrote:
>>I am going to go a bit further here. What is the view of Grace Church toward women in general?<<
This was something I listened for in the several online voice messages by RC. He seemed to honor his wife as someone who was "help mate" and respected (i.e. she had qualities that were valuable, she was someone he could learn from). In fact, he even "lifted her up" so to speak, for something she did which I also thought was commendable. I did not think he diminished her, on the contrary, and I didn't think he "exalted her" in any other way but that which I thought was "right and healthy" and although I felt that there was some err in his messages, I didn't hear a disrespect of his wife or women. Of course, I only listened to 2 sermons.
Just some thoughts along the lines of the discussion. I cannot even imagine what you said here:
>>They are probably very fearful of what could happen in retribution.....and I do not mean just shunning.<<
Can you tell me what you mean above? I have never experienced anything like this. Do you have some actual experiences that you can share?
