Dare I post? I've never done this before...here or anywhere in cyberspace (other than email).
I recently left TWI after 28 years. Deep discontent is an apt description but perhaps not intense enough. I journaled many times the past years (especially the past 16 months) about the deep , barren, empty hole in my soul...a longing for honest, sweet, tender, GENUINE fellowship.....something I personally experienced my first 15 years in TWI. (I realize some of you did not have that experience.)
I'm on my 3rd reading of ...Spiritual Abuse. For me, it has been one of the best books I've read that cuts through to the very heart of legalism. That legalism kills joy and the result is a barren soul and/or a tortured soul. Barren from neglect (a very subtle type of abuse because there are no obvious scars), or tortured from outright abuse of power.
Since I recently left & have told my TWI friends, many (who have all been around at least 15 years) have stated that something is missing for them in TWI, but they feel they can't leave. I know some stay for family/friends. Some stay because they believe TWI can still be salvaged. Some stay out of fear of the unknown. Some stay out of "equity rescue."
From my observation, folks who were around in TWI-I and some TWI-II have experienced or are experiencing that deep discontent. TWI-III however, is simply a tortilla shell; there is very little substance. If all a person has known is TWI-III there is nothing to hold him/her or to push him/her away. They have nothing to compare what was with what is, so there is not necessarily/obviously anything missing. There may be no substance, but still the IIIers have lost nothing. And some Iers, IIers, and IIIers are not discontented; they have good leadership that provides an atmosphere of growth in the local fellowship.
Well, I think I deserve a congratulations for posting. Maybe I'll post again sometime.
Deep Discontent
in About The Way
Posted
I recently left TWI after 28 years. Deep discontent is an apt description but perhaps not intense enough. I journaled many times the past years (especially the past 16 months) about the deep , barren, empty hole in my soul...a longing for honest, sweet, tender, GENUINE fellowship.....something I personally experienced my first 15 years in TWI. (I realize some of you did not have that experience.)
I'm on my 3rd reading of ...Spiritual Abuse. For me, it has been one of the best books I've read that cuts through to the very heart of legalism. That legalism kills joy and the result is a barren soul and/or a tortured soul. Barren from neglect (a very subtle type of abuse because there are no obvious scars), or tortured from outright abuse of power.
Since I recently left & have told my TWI friends, many (who have all been around at least 15 years) have stated that something is missing for them in TWI, but they feel they can't leave. I know some stay for family/friends. Some stay because they believe TWI can still be salvaged. Some stay out of fear of the unknown. Some stay out of "equity rescue."
From my observation, folks who were around in TWI-I and some TWI-II have experienced or are experiencing that deep discontent. TWI-III however, is simply a tortilla shell; there is very little substance. If all a person has known is TWI-III there is nothing to hold him/her or to push him/her away. They have nothing to compare what was with what is, so there is not necessarily/obviously anything missing. There may be no substance, but still the IIIers have lost nothing. And some Iers, IIers, and IIIers are not discontented; they have good leadership that provides an atmosphere of growth in the local fellowship.
Well, I think I deserve a congratulations for posting. Maybe I'll post again sometime.