| Author | Message | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1018 Registered: 3-2009 |
I know that from time to time this topic comes up. I guess they all do, so I'm not apologizing for bringing it up again. I need some input and I'm asking you all. I don't want to start a fight about true church or anything like that. So, please understand. You know that I've been trying to get a church to attend. There are two churches in my area that I keep looking at. I look a many churches and somehow I always come back to these two. One is a Calvary Chapel the other is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, with headquarters in Missouri. For a former SDA, which one do you think would profit me better? In which one would I feel more comfortable? Which one would teach the gospel closer to the Bible? And what else? Please give me some feedback. Hec | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 2414 Registered: 8-2004  |
Both those options are 'congregational' in style - so they each set their own patterns a bit. Both can be great, and can be 'off'. Perhaps you could visit both and 'test the waters'? | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6204 Registered: 9-2006  |
Hec, I belong to the Assemblies of God, they are missions oriented, so if you are interested in supporting missionaries, it might be an option. As far as the Assemblies go, these individual churches are pretty much self governing, and also support themselves financially. So it is like going to an individual church, in other words, you might not like one, and up the road a piece, you may like it just fine. I don't know enough about the Calvary Chapels to comment. I really fit in my last church, which was an Assembly, while I tried another one a mile away from my house that was all out of whack, but as I say, they are very individual churches. I attended the last one a year, before I got a job transferr and I really miss it. I aim to try the Calvary Chapel, as there is no close Assemblies here except for a Russian one, and I don't understand Russian. As Mary said, just go, dive in and test the waters, I think thats good advice. If I start one, I make it a rule to go regularly for at least a month. River | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 474 Registered: 1-2006  |
Hec I'm not a member of any church since leaving adventism. I prayed a LOT about it, and was blessed to attend Trinity in Redlands (where many FAF friends attend) and now we attend a very small (30 member) Baptist Church quite near our house. We just needed the Lord to lead us to a safe place where we could rest for awhile spiritually. Bob | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11211 Registered: 12-2003  |
Hec, I agree with Mary. Visit both and ask God to give you His wisdom. Traditionally, Calvary Chapels are committed to preaching through books of the Bible, and there are many really good ones. But sometimes Calvary Chapels can be "off", as Mary said. Ditto for Assemblies... Visit and see! Colleen | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 723 Registered: 12-2007 |
Bob:"We just needed the Lord to lead us to a safe place where we could rest for awhile spiritually. " Thats pretty much how I feel right now... after all the inner turmoil of leaving SDA,,, the sadness, anger, frustration,along with also a great sense of relief at finally being able to see the errors and coming to grips with it and the thankfulness to God for leading me out of that false system, and yet there is still sadness knowing some family members are still there and refusing stubbornly to remove that veil even a bit to look at the possibility that they could be wrong.... Rest..... resting in Jesus and His word.. that is where I am right now and may be for a while. and thats ok :-) | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 475 Registered: 1-2006 |
Skeeter I often think of the 23 Psalm: The Lord is my Shepherd. . . still waters . . restores my soul . . . goodness and mercy all the days of my life . . . and will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It's late now. May God keep you, too. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1056 Registered: 10-2008 |
Praying for you, Hec, as you seek a body to worship in, be supported by, and wisdom to discern between the two churches in your area. Keri | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2009 |
I agree with visiting the churches, "testing the waters" also. We visited several churches, Baptist and non denominational, over the past year. We didn't find one that "felt just right" until Easter Sunday this year. Right now we are attending a Baptist church where we heard our first Easter sermon, they get into the Word, preach from the Bible only. Like BobJ said, we just needed the Lord to lead us to a safe place where we could rest for awhile spiritually. And we have found that safe place for now. This Baptist church is studying Revelation on Wednesday nights and we have been attending then too. It's a real eye opener studying Revelation from the Christian perspective. | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 647 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't belong to a church. I belong to Jesus Christ. Church is where I gather with other believers to worship Him, minister to other believers, and be ministered to by other believers. I could never sign my name to another human-developed religious organization. This is a concept Adventism will never understand. There are 5 or 6 assorted churches within an hour's drive that my family feels welcome and able to participate fully. So on any given Sunday we go to church where the Spirit moves us to go. | ||
| Paulineprimacy Registered user Username: Paulineprimacy Post Number: 11 Registered: 4-2010 |
There are good reasons to commit to regular fellowship with a local church. Strong relationships with other believers and accountability are an improtant part of life in Christ. Even when I was an SDA it seems that I was always aware of the culture of different denominations. While I was raised going to the Adventist church with our Mom, our Dad was determined to maintain his Southern Baptist upbringing, so he always attended his own church. As an ex-SDA, besides seeking a biblical church fellowship where the gospel is clearly presented, culture was an important consideration to me. Church culture is unavoidable, and as we formers know can become a substitute for true discipleship, even if we know the Lord. My first choice for post-SDA attendance was a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. This denomination was formed from what originated as a missionary sending organization that operated in several different denominations. I reasoned that this background would give them less of a denominational culture identity. It actually was just one I had little familiarity with. My family has been members at very non-traditional S. Baptist churches for the past 14 years. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6213 Registered: 9-2006 |
Me, I could care less about culture, and I've never had personal relationships at church accept with a couple of people, namely my Pastors, but I do think there are good reasons to commit to a local church, if one can feel justified in its efforts to reach the community around. Having a community gives one a sense of belonging and purpose. Actually and very truthfully, I've had more personal relationships with people on this forum than at any time ever in my life, I have committed to love them, support them in whatever way I can and not only have I let myself get close to them, but let them get close to me. Believe me, those are inroads that have never been traveled in my whole life. It feels strange and very uncomfortable at times, so I guess you could say the people on this forum has been the nearest thing to what Pauline is talking about. I guess it has been the nearest thing to a church I've ever experienced, and I ain't no short timer to Christianity. | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 476 Registered: 1-2006 |
River I've also appreciated the online friendships even though I've never physically met some here whom I regard as good friends. I used to think that I had so much in common with my fellow adventists, but our common bonds here, our spiritual journeys, our stories of pain and joy and slogging on when loved ones reject and threaten us, really draw us together. I have FAR more in common with former adventists than any other group of people. We are as close to a spiritual support group, informal church--call it whatever--as I've ever experienced, too. I suppose soldiers who have fought side by side and looked out for each other and risked their lives to help their buddies also form enduring ties. I was never in the military, but some of us on this forum have been through a war or two to get here, if you know what I mean. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8160 Registered: 3-2004  |
My former adventist friends I have gotten to know here and on facebook are more family to me then my blood family. I have shared things with them I have not shared with anyone except the friends I have from my church, in my CR program. I am glad I am where God wants me. I Thank Him every day for Who He is and What He has done for me. He is always awesome. Diana L | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 402 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes, thank-you, God for the dear people on this forum!! | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6215 Registered: 9-2006 |
Yes, if I said anything else, I would get drippy. | ||
| Sunshinemama Registered user Username: Sunshinemama Post Number: 162 Registered: 3-2009 |
I have not read all of the responses but I just wanted to say that I attend a Calvary Chapel and I love it, teaching straight from the Bible, verse by verse each week. | ||
| Yenc Registered user Username: Yenc Post Number: 48 Registered: 6-2008 |
For me, choice of which church to attend regularly (as a former SDA) depends on many things. 1. Of course, of primary concern, is the respect for Scriptural authority evident in sermons and classes. 2. I like an emphasis on evangelism. 3. I prefer a smaller- to medium-sized church where I can get to know people more easily. 4. I like opportunities to use my talents in a way that benefits the church. 5. I like a mix of races, ages, singles and families. 6. I like a church to be within easy driving distance--gas is too expensive for frequent long trips! 7. I like a church where casual dress is acceptable, not short shorts, of course, but where people feel comfortable not being dressed in haute couture. 8. I like a mix of old-fashioned hymns and modern "praise singing," not all one or the other. There is a church out there that you will like, but you may have to visit a few before you find a good fit. Pray about it, and God will lead you to the congregation that you are meant to be a part of! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8196 Registered: 3-2004 |
When I left adventism I visited many churches. I also prayed about where God wanted me. Looking back on this I see that I did not know what to look for except they had to use only the Bible and preach Jesus. And there should be no legalism. None of the churches felt comfortable. I was doing home health at the time. I always talked, and still do, to God when I am alone in my car. It was the week after Mother's Day 2004 when I was talking to God about where He wanted me. I knew there was a text in the Bible that said do not neglect to gather together. This time I was telling God where I had been and ended up saying, Where do you want me to go?? It was a rhetorical question. BUT as soon as those words were out of my mouth I heard a voice in my car tell me, "go to the BIG church on Russell Rd off 95". I knew that big church so I said "that big church" and the answer came back, "That big church". I have told this before so for those who are new I am repeating it. The reason I asked that big church is because every Saturday as I drove to and from the sda church I attended I passed this place. There were always cars in the parking lot. Every time I passed it I would tell myself, "those poor people do not know the Sabbath" and then would add "I could never go to a big church like that". I knew, exactly, which church the voice meant. I went there the following Sunday. When a seat was found for me and I sat down, I had the most incredibly comfortable feeling of having come home. So that is how God directed me to the church He wanted me to attend. It does not seem large to me now as I am very active there. When I was at Yosemite with my son and his family, in March, I met a woman at Vernal Falls who attends Central Christian Church, where I attend. God has a church for each one of us and will, in His time, take each one of us to it. He is awesome in doing His job. Diana L |
