| Author | Message | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 3113 Registered: 7-2007 |
I was wondering what changes you've noticed in your thinking since leaving the SDA church? One major change for me is that when I was an Adventist, I looked forward to the things and adventures I could do and enjoy in Heaven. Now as a Christian, I'm still looking forward to that, but those things now take a HUGE back seat to my looking forward to being with God, Himself! I've found that there's something so indescribable and desirable about God's Presence that it defies description! What about the rest of you? What things have changed for you? | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 285 Registered: 7-2005 |
Asuprise, One big change is how much I enjoy studying the Bible and listening to other pastors/teachers. I have learned so much more about the culture of the Jews, what they heard and wrote meant to them, in that time and context, rather than how these concepts and ideas sound to us, as 21st century Americans. It has been exciting, informative and so interesting! We don't live around too many SDA's or hubby's SDA family, but I'm free from caring one bit about anything they would think about us and our change from Adventism, even if we were around them. I feel true freedom in Christ and like a giant black cloud has disappeared! I feel secure in God's love and salvation. I feel like myself again. I joined when I was 24 and spent 27 years there. I finally feel like I can breathe again, really breathe! I had some rough times to work through with regards to a lot of anger about being in the SDA church for so long. It felt like such a huge waste, and took a real toll on so many parts of my life. I still feel it occasionally, but not as much and not as often. Another really exciting thing is that I truly feel born again. It's hard to describe exactly, but I know and see how God has changed me from the inside out. Almost on a cellular level somehow. I couldn't say exactly when it happened, but it did. I feel like "a new creature". Probably so many other things. I guess that will do for now! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14476 Registered: 12-2003  |
Oh, Foofighter, I love your "cellular level" expression! Yes, that totally describes it! It's hard to explain; we are completely new! I have SO MUCH LESS anxiety. I used to be waiting, always, for the "other shoe to drop". God has given me TODAY. Amazing. Colleen | ||
| Annikahansen Registered user Username: Annikahansen Post Number: 15 Registered: 2-2013 |
Oh, I totally hear all of you! I also feel A LOT FREER. I got a lot of things out of my system after having been sheltered and cooped up in this borderline cult community. People think I have mental/emotional issues, and well, now that I know what I know, it's not a surprise how I've become that way. Now I can be MORE like MYSELF, NOT like the clone SDAs want everyone to be. It's great not having to be assimilated anymore by the SDA Borg.  Another plus is that I got to know God on a whole new level and it's pretty exciting! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 10024 Registered: 3-2004  |
I am FREE of all the sda teachings. God cleaned them out of my brain, a little at a time during the 25-30 years He was working on me before He pulled me out completely 8 1/2 years ago. Thank You Awesome God! Diana | ||
| Redeembyhim Registered user Username: Redeembyhim Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2012 |
I have so much freedom in Christ and I love interacting without other believers without the anxiety of having to share the "truth".I no longer worry about family members receiving the mark of the beast. | ||
| Redeembyhim Registered user Username: Redeembyhim Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2012 |
oops...that should be "interacting with other believers".A typo is a great opportunity to repeat something of great significance. | ||
| Gmatt Registered user Username: Gmatt Post Number: 44 Registered: 3-2005 |
Asuprise, You expressed my thoughts exactly. Formerly my thoughts of heaven were about studying and understanding great mysteries, where I would travel and how I would travel, what 'superpowers' I might possess and the unimaginable beauty of my mansion. I'm embarrassed now because I realize that, in my selfish little mind, heaven was all about me. Now I am filled with such gratitude that even if my eternal life were spent as a pebble I would be the most joyful pebble in existence - because I would be in the presence of God Almighty! Being in His presence is ALL that matters! Another thing that has changed dramatically for me is my perception of God. When I was an Adventist He was kind of a small human-like God. Now I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the Power and Majesty of this God who loves me so! | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2016 Registered: 7-2004  |
It becomes easier and easier to simply accept what Scripture says as true, even as I struggle to understand how it is true. Instead of working to make Scripture fit an understanding it becomes more about allowing my understanding to be shaped by Scripture. I never thought of heaven the way some of you describe, perhaps a benefit of not being raised SDA. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14479 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, Gmatt, me too! God is SOO much BIGGER than He used to be...  And Rick, I'm having the same experience with Scripture that you describe. Colleen | ||
| Kbuhler Registered user Username: Kbuhler Post Number: 31 Registered: 4-2013 |
Well, I am only 2 months out of SDA and the biggest change in my thinking processes is total confusion. Before, everything was black and white. Today I know NOTHING except for the pure simple gospel. The positive changes are hunger for the bible and truth; no nagging guilt over not being able to read EGW; no nagging guilt over my morning coffee; and best of all total assurance of Jesus love and salvation, and knowing He is going to sort out all the confusing other stuff. Right now going through the gospels to have a clear understanding of what Jesus taught and how He lived that out in the reality of our messed up broken lives. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2018 Registered: 7-2004 |
Kbuhler, I think many of us can relate. One of the great changes is becoming comfortable with not having THE answer to every single item. Paul preached nothing among the Corinthians but Christ and Him crucified. Putting the first things first is refreshing. | ||
| Craig Registered user Username: Craig Post Number: 15 Registered: 2-2011 |
The Bible makes sense; I can listen, read, and learn from great teachers (Swindoll, Begg, Zacharias, Jeremiah, Sproul, Piper, MacArthur, and Courson, etc.)knowing that I am not being deceived by Babylonians. God is greater than I can comprehend, 24-7 sabbath rest, and Jesus, Jesus, JESUS! "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1,2 Craig PS: Bacon | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 1124 Registered: 2-2011  |
Craig~ Amen!!! ~mj~ | ||
| Sharon3 Registered user Username: Sharon3 Post Number: 209 Registered: 2-2010 |
Yes to all of the above. We went to a Christian Private High School graduation Saturday. I was in awe of how everyone speaking, including students were giving praise to God and glorifying him. The whole graduation was called a worship service. It was a major difference to my 50 year alumni weekend from an Adventist academy and my graduations from academy and college. Also, everyone talks differently about Jesus and they talk about bringing people to Christ, not to a denomination. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 1126 Registered: 2-2011 |
Since leaving the adventist church many years ago and being"born again" into CHRIST, my adult children with me, I have attended several of my Grandchildren's graduations from Christian Schools. I have experienced just what you described, Sharon3, and it always brings Great JOY to my heart! ~mj~ | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14482 Registered: 12-2003 |
Craig, I agree...on all counts! Colleen | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 1344 Registered: 5-2009 |
I relate to all the posts! I remember (the Heritage Singers?) singing about "There's Going to be a Picnic in Heaven". Heaven really was all about me--do you remember that some of us were taught that we'd have special telescopic & microscopic lenses on our eyes? I certainly was taught that. Jesus just wasn't the center of heaven for me. A HUGE difference is the "aliveness" of the Bible! I can understand it now! It's intricacy is astounding to me. I would have never enjoyed reading/studying it before. | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 477 Registered: 4-2012 |
It was on the news I this past week, Nowisee that the eye surgeons can now implant tiny telescopes into eyes of people with macular degeneration. I guess now the SDA's will have to come up with a new incentive for their minios to seek heaven. | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 478 Registered: 4-2012 |
It was on the news I this past week, Nowisee that the eye surgeons can now implant tiny telescopes into eyes of people with macular degeneration. I guess now the SDA's will have to come up with a new incentive for their minios to seek heaven. | ||
| Dt Registered user Username: Dt Post Number: 162 Registered: 4-2005 |
The fear is gone. Truly gone. All of the anxiety and endless worrying about the END TIMES was just lifted, as though it evaporated. No more endless worrying about the current state of my salvation, whether the smallest unconfessed sin was keeping me from being saved. | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 947 Registered: 1-2007 |
You know what I enjoy most about being out is letting God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son out of the box sda's have placed them. They are free from the box and so am I. The Holy Spirit has taught me I do not need to know every little thing because the church says so (ugh) but is taking me by the hand and teaching me what I need to know when I need to know it and will continue to teach me. My soul is so much calmer now than it had ever been when I was in the sda church. The fear from their teaching are gone. I am no longer looking over my shoulder worried about some unconfessed sin that will keep me out of heaven and away from our awesome Father and Son. Gail | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14522 Registered: 12-2003 |
Gail, yes. The fear is gone. I used to have continual anxiety about unconfessed sins, deliberate sins (such as washing the floor after sundown on Friday evening because I couldn't bear to have it dirty on Sabbath), and so on. I never knew I was safe or eternally secure. My future depended on me, and I KNEW I would never get it right. I could rationalize anything...and I would always feel guilty later. I knew I was hopeless...well, pretty much... Colleen | ||
| Trans4mer Registered user Username: Trans4mer Post Number: 337 Registered: 9-2011  |
Someone mentioned above about a 'cellular level' change. Makes sense to me. I have high confidence in Oswald Chambers because he is so insightful for me and he did say that being born again causes physical change. I think it'd be safe to say that other theologians believe that also. In any case I just like the concept. I just wish we could get healing change more often. Charles |
