my past is the past

Putting the past behind you, it was a concept my mom was very good at repeating to me.

I agree there are things once they have been forgiven and worked through they should be put behind you and not constantly distracting you from moving forward.
I also know that my past experiences, relationships, successes, and failures are a part of who I am now and will continue to help propel me in the future.

There are many in my life that know of the conservative, fundamentalists, almost cultlike beginning that I had to my faith walk in Christ. I do not need to get specific as to the churches and ministries that affected and shaped my beginnings, and are now a part of my past.
I do need to say that although I have moved in what I would consider a positive direction away from their myopic ideologies, and bondage of rules I couldn't be here without them.
Okay I do agree it could be here without them, I mean God can move/journey with anyone toward more Christ likeness regardless of where they start. I look back at my past and I do not hold bitterness even though at times it may rail against what those specific churches and ministries continue to do to people and their walk with Christ.

I have seen people who have made attacking their past what their future is all about. They tend to be rather angry and bitter. They often hold up specific people and ridicule them. They will be little and beat up ministries for churches in public ways to try and keep anyone else from repeating what they went through. I know this because I was one of those people. I wanted to see the ministries that held me back from walking freedom, and enjoying a living dialogue with God from ever tying up in bondage anyone ever again. I knew the ins and outs of the way they thought the way they talked and it was only going to be a matter of time before I could expose them and destroy who they are, of course this would all be done In the Name of God.
I am so glad I am not that person anymore.

I believe that God has the ability to judge far better than I can. (I know that should be obvious to most but I really liked helping him out) I believe God can and does give and take away the effectiveness of ministries and churches. I trust that those institutions that shaped my past will not be in existence one day longer than God would want them to be there.
On the flip side
I also trust God to exalt and use ministries in greater ways as He sees fit. I know that there are some that have touched my life more recently that I think God should turn into worldwide outreaches, and then I laugh at myself. For I have become a judge again and try to help God out, to help him know who should be great and who should not be as great. I laugh and then I trust, and the transition is only a matter of moments rather than months.

My past is the past, and it is a part of who I am now. It gives me the opportunity to speak life to those that have been affected by similar ministries and teachings.
My past is the past, and it allows me the ability to be thankful for how far I've come and with God's help will continue to walk the path Alongside Him.
Putting the past behind me, is a good thing because with it behind me I am propelled forward.