| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3403 Registered: 3-2004  |
We all have family and friends still in the adventist church. We would like them to know Jesus. My family are unchurched adventists. I would like to tell them Jesus loves them and wants to give them a freedom that is indescribable. I would like to tell them that the Holy Spirit will tell them how to live life on a daily basis. I want to share with them what God has done for me in the past three years. And most important, to me, I want to tell them that all they need is Jesus. Unfortunately, they do not want to listen to me at this time. Some one I know very well wanted to say something to another person. She said she would like to tie this other person to a chair and put tape over the mouth. That way the person could not talk back and would have to listen. Then the first person would say everything she wanted to say without interruption. We both laughed at that 'cause we know that would not work. It was just how she felt at the time. This had nothing to do with religion or Biblical beliefs. But I can really identify with that when it comes to members of my family. I want them to meet Jesus. My question to all of you is, what would you like to tell your adventist family and friends if they would listen? God will tell us what to say when the time is right or it may be some one else he uses instead of us. He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Rejoyce719 Registered user Username: Rejoyce719 Post Number: 15 Registered: 1-2007 |
I would share how wonderful it is to live according to Love. God is Love. That when you do that the life that you live will automatically be Christ-like. That you do not have to complicate how you should live life with many many books written by a "so-called" messenger of God. I agree, Flyinglady, the Holy Spirt will guide your life. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 432 Registered: 6-2006  |
First, I would tell them how much I love them. Then I want to tell my family to throw away all the "red books" and put their trust in the Holy Spirit. I would tell them that EGW is a pillar and a veil that hinders them from knowing Jesus completely and that Jesus is the Sabbath, the Truth, and their Salvation. I would tell them that the Bible is all they need and that there's joy and freedom (from fear) and peace and assurance that awaits them. ...But they absolutely have to let go of EGW!!! ...then I think I would run! | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 76 Registered: 10-2006 |
I have family that refuse to even recognize my spirituality and ministries bacause I left the Adventist church. Just dead silence. No encouragement, not one amen, not one praise God. They just don't get it. While I will continue to share my spiritual experiences with them (we are to share Jesus with everyone), I will not bother contesting their religion. They will only find out by asking, praying, and studying. This is the Holy Spirit's responsibility, not mine. Lord, may I keep my big mouth shut so as to not interfere with your holy work. Amen. Steve | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 512 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mom, you don't have to worry that sharing a cup of tea with Grandmom will cost you your salvation. Dad, you can study all the stuff on the internet with an open mind and without fear of being deceived by the Beast and being "shaken out" of your salvation. Brother, God is just as worthy of my worship of Him on Sunday morning as He is of your worship of Him on Saturday morning. To all of you: I promise not to hunt you down and kill you because you observe the Sabbath. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 473 Registered: 9-2006  |
I would tell them all those words up there, then I would run to my cave with the Bats and the Bears, eat a few wild berries and then smoke a cheroot of wack backy so big it would take a news paper to roll it!! Aw!! Now I have laughed so hard my guts hurt!!  | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 80 Registered: 10-2006 |
yeah, I've smoked everything that would burn. It didn't help a durn thing. I even grew my own, still didn't help. Lay off them Rasta-farians River! Steve | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 476 Registered: 9-2006 |
Well, the Adventist do drive me a little crazy but I guess I will be able to lay off the caves,leaves, Bears, peyote and Wacky Backy. But seriously, what would I tell my friends, I would like for them to know that Jesus does save to the uttermost, I would like to tell them that their ceremonial eating and Sabbath keeping will not furnish salvation, I would like to touch their eyes and say "Do you see yet? And then receive an answer "I see men like trees walking". But in reality, I believe the Lord can take my two small fishes and feed five thousand, I have to believe that lest I get discouraged beyond measure. Rather than looking on hopelessly at the external circumstances, I will look to Jesus this morning, he is a miracle worker, I sit here and let my faith reach out to him and declare his power and his glory. Our faith in God is an important thing and somehow connects with his eternal plans so I let my faith reach out this morning to encompass my friends, my loved ones who need salvation and those who are sick in body. Thank you Jesus for the miracles that are coming my way today. The prayer of faith is important folks, through it we our own selves are lifted up to soar above the trouble and tumult of this world and have a sense of rest and peace in Jesus that it will be done according to our faith. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 6:37 when they were wondering what to do with the crowds ìYou give them something to eatî he didnít say he would do it because they couldnít, he said ìYou do itî has Jesus all of a sudden taken a different attitude today, has faith weakened over time? We say ìWell, we donít have that kind of faith!!î what kind do we have? I started out with two fishes worth of faith this morning and the Lord has taken it and multiplied it. Donít got any faith in God? Read Hebrews chapter 11 and come back and tell me faith is groundless. I would like to tell you, not them, let your faith reach out and encompass your friends and families this morning. River | ||
| Olga Registered user Username: Olga Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2005 |
Just ended a frustrating discussion over the phone with my mom about this which started after telling her that both her grandchildren were starting basketball games this coming Saturday. She expressed pain (which I guess I undertand) and said something about my not giving the kids the opportunity to know about the Sabbath and to make up their own minds about it. I reminded her about my not believing in this SDA stuff anymore and it just went sort of downhill from there. We were civil but she started asking me what would I do if years from now the government passes Sunday legislation and persecutes Sabbath keepers; would I be a persecutor too? I hate confrontation so I tried to just come back with: "I am a believer in God, Jesus and his Holy Spirit and I am not fearful of the future and trust God to lead me no matter what might come" - I also said God orders mine and my children's steps if I remain faithful so she does not need to fear that I will go to hell and her grandchildren will grow up not knowing the Lord. I reassured her that the kids will grow up knowing the essentials for salvation and that is to know and believe in God and His Son whom He sent to save us; I will not add anything else and will just trust God to take care of the rest and this way I will raise them without any " confusion" as to their salvation. It was a lengthy discussion and she said there's nothing she can do to change my mind since am an adult and that while she has a few doubts she feels correct in what she believes so she's not going anywhere. I told her I cannot live a lie before my dad and the rest of the family; she ended by asking me not to tell my dad (about my leaving the church, which she says he suspects) by phone or letter (which is very difficult 'cause he lives out of the country); she said it would be better face to face that way I can answer his questions and she won't have to deal with his painful reaction to my news. Please pray that I can handle this in the way that God intends me to and in His timing (that's if I am supposed to handle it at all). | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 818 Registered: 8-2004  |
Praying Olga. Hang in there. God has you firmly in his loving, safe grasp and your children too. I pray that He will continue to face the rest of the family with as much of the truth as they are able to handle as quickly as they are able to handle it. On the issue of telling your father I can see some wisdom in wanting to speak face to face. But consider that even if you agree not to tell him that doesn't stop her from telling him. And if he 'suspects' it apparently he is asking at least her. The truth never needs to be protected by lies. If you have a direct relationship with him it seems to me that it would be wise to speak up for yourself and not risk some other person putting their 'spin' on it before you've told him the truth. Who knows if God has put you in your family "for such a time as this." Then again I don't know your father. I'm praying that God will give you clarity, comfort, and courage as you listen to and follow His leading! The Holy Spirit is good at helping you know when to speak and when to keep silent, giving you the words to say, and working things out to God's glory as you obey His promptings. Blessings, Mary | ||
| Olga Registered user Username: Olga Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2005 |
Mary, thanks for your kind and quick response. I'm tired of living anxious about everything (as an SDA it was anxiety about living right with God, now is anxiety about living in the freedom that Jesus gives me while seeing loved ones still bound). Thank God for Jesus, this forum, and brothers and sisters like you for providing much needed encouragement. I know He is in control and I need not fear (just wish I had more boldness in telling family about my freedom in Jesus!). Blessings to you as well. | ||
| Olga Registered user Username: Olga Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2005 |
Wow!!!! I am speechless!!!! God is as some of you put it AWESOME!!!!!!! (I knew this and I know He is REAL, but once in a while is hard to describe how he feels so real.....) I had just posted the earlier message in response to Mary's encouraging words and I was praying at the same time. Then the phone rang (I didn't think it would be my mom since I had just talked to her, but I thought, I would only answer the phone if it was her calling). Well, guess what? She was calling to tell me that I needed not to fear and live "in anguish" over when and how to tell my dad about my leaving the church....she said she found him to be in a receptive mood and decided it was the perfect time to give him the news. His reaction according to her was one of sadness but somewhat understanding as she explained to him that I was not leaving Jesus; just that I couldn't stay an SDA and bring up my children as such if I didn't truly believe in its doctrines; she told him they both needed to respect my decision and that she didn't want him trying to "confront" me to try and "convert me back" (see my dad is someone who's proud of proving wrong the Jehovah Witnesses using their own Bible); since I'm no theologian I'm not sure how well I would do talking with him. My dad told her he knew something wasn't "right" and he's sure I'm probably getting my information against the church from wrong sources and from my friends in the Bible Study group I belong to (my mom told him I've had my doubts for a while and that since they've survived other bad news in the family, they would be able to survive this one as well). Anyways, I told my mom I'd been praying for God to bring some resolution and that God listened to both her prayers and mine (this in a matter of minutes!). So now, it feels like a huge load off my shoulders knowing that my dad knows (I trust God will continue to order my steps, and have hope He'll do the same for my family, in His timing). I can say this with certainty as I opened my Bible and read the following verse: "...Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy." (John 16:24) Thanks again for praying Mary! | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 821 Registered: 8-2004 |
Awesome!! Praise God! Wow! Mary | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 150 Registered: 2-2003 |
Olga, That is Awesome!! Your story got me singing one of my favorite hymns. We sang it this morning in church. "I Stand Amazed in the Presence" O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O how marvelous! O how wonderful Is my Saviorís love for me! I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean. Refrain O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O how marvelous! O how wonderful Is my Saviorís love for me! He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calvary, And suffered and died alone. Refrain O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O how marvelous! O how wonderful! Is my Saviorís love for me! When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, íTwill be my joy through the ages To sing of His love for me. O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O how marvelous! O how wonderful! Is my Saviorís love for me! | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 223 Registered: 7-2005  |
Here's what I would say to my Adventist friends: Titus 3:4-9 (English Standard Version) "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared (past tense), He saved us (past tense), not because of works done by us in righteousness (all our righteous works are as filthy rags), but according to His own mercy (it's all about HIM), by the washing of regeneration (He plunged me beneath His cleansing flood) and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out (past tense) on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace (past tense) we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy (With the mouth confession is made unto salvation), and I want you to insist on these things (I insist that my salvation is by grace alone), so that those who have believed (past tense) in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. (Without Him we can do nothing.) These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Teaching God's empowering grace is completely effective to produce good works.) But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, (Romans 14:5 says, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.") ...for they are unprofitable and worthless." (Focusing on the law is completely ineffective in establishing God's kingdom on this earth.) And I would say this: I am well aware of Ellen White's predictions that those who have once embraced SDA doctrines and then turn away from them are deceived and doomed to perdition. However, I have NO FEAR of her judgement on me, because I have put my faith in God's Word instead. And God tells me that, as a prophet or messenger or whatever she called herself, she fails the test of a true prophet. In Early Writings, page 75, she "saw" that Old Jerusalem would never be built up. This was not a conditional prophecy. Since Old Jerusalem has been built up and is a thriving city to this day, her prediction failed. This classifies her as a false prophet and I am not required to be afraid of her. 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Jesus is perfect LOVE. In Him there is NO FEAR! My only identity is being hidden with Christ in God, not being a member of any church. My dear Adventist friend, thank you for practicing the principles of religious liberty and not condemning me for my beliefs. Honestwitness | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5378 Registered: 12-2003  |
Olga, what a wonderful progression of events today! Praise God! Honestwitness, I like your summary: "Jesus is perfect LOVE. In Him there is NO FEAR." That "no fear" part is, for me, one of the most profound changes in my life. I used to be dominated by fear and worry. The presence of Jesus has given me peace. Colleen | ||
| Olga Registered user Username: Olga Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2005 |
Thanks everyone for the encouragement; I thanked God last night until I finally fell asleep and all the while I wondered why such an Awesome and Holy God could really care enough to listen to my prayers especially when I feel so unworthy of his love? (thank you Leigh for the beautiful hymn; His love is so undescribable). Honestwitness and Colleen: I know that fear you are talking about; problem is I still feel it from time to time--not as gripping-- sometimes I wonder: "what if they (SDA) are right?" Thanks to God that it doesn't last and He points me to Jesus and His Word. Yesterday I was able to tell my mom that since I'm putting my trust in God and not man, that I don't fear the future and that I pray it will be the same with them - I don't know if I got through to her. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 436 Registered: 6-2006 |
Olga, One morning not long ago I faced my longtime fear (truly, I was so afraid to ask) and I asked the Lord, "Heavenly Father, is it true? Is the SDA church the true church? Please Lord Jesus, make it clear!" And I kid you not, that very morning I found SDAoutreach.org, and which led me to this wonderful forum. I'm STILL thanking Him for that!! Thank you for sharing your story. You were so brave to tell your Mom about your new life and you did it in such a loving way. You inspire me.  Leigh Anne | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1538 Registered: 7-2003 |
quote: "said something about my not giving the kids the opportunity to know about the Sabbath and to make up their own minds about it" Why is it they all say this about the sabbath when you disagree with it, yet when you 'make up your own mind', it is always because of someone else's influene, bad websites, people with an ax to grind, bad friends, etc. and not that the individual studied the issue for themselves and decided it was a non-issue? I heard that statement so many times about so many things, and it seems like a cop-out statement. We don't let our kids do drugs to 'figure it out for themselves'. We teach them truth, and 'our' truth is that the sabbath is Jesus' shadow, not a loyalty test for Christians. Another reality is that they teach 'the sabbath' as fact, not as something to 'decide for themselves.' It is a double standard to expect you to teach your children something in a way that they themselves would not. I suspect they did not teach you growing up that the sabbath was something to figure out for yourself. It was likely taught as 'mandatory'. But now that you're going to contradict their teaching, they want you to do differently than they did (or would do, given the opportunity)? I don't get it! I'm glad things worked out for your situation, but I just had to say that! | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 437 Registered: 6-2006 |
Melissa, it's easier to beat down "emotional reasons" than it is intellectual reasons. Now that I've done my own studying, I'm constantly amazed at how anyone can build on the Bible. As if Jesus and all of his disciples, and all the believers up until 1844 were "in the dark" and "didn't have the truth". Jesus is the the only Truth, the Sabbath, and Salvation. You don't need anything else! | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1705 Registered: 10-2004  |
Melissa, it was not only taught as mandatory (that would be a huge understatement!), it was ingrained in every fiber of our being, from day one, that sunset Friday to sunset Saturday IS the Sabbath. It's not even just a command to keep the seventh day holy--the seventh day IS the Sabbath--inherently, in and of itself, eternally, always has been and always will be--that is what we were taught. (This is so ingrained in SDAs, that even those who don't really keep the Sabbath [perhaps even those who don't practice Adventism any longer?] still will refer to "Saturday" as "Sabbath"!) According to EGW/Adventism, even God kept the Sabbath before anything was created--God has always kept the Sabbath, for eternity past. They teach that God is trapped inside of time--that He is NOT outside of time--and that He has always existed in time for an infinite number of years past (a logically invalid concept!). Time has always existed--uncreated. Thus, time (including "the Sabbath") is god. So they don't really believe that God is even eternal, since they deny that God exists outside of time and that He CREATED time. They reject the concept of "timelessness" as "Greek" philosophical mythology, akin to the "Greek" "immortality of the soul" "heresy" that "crept into" the Christian church. Truly, Adventism has a different god(s) than the one true God of the Bible, who is the I AM! Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5382 Registered: 12-2003 |
Yes, Jeremy, I'm afraid you're right. I have a friend who has recently left Adventism and is overwhelmed at the reality of who Jesus is. She said to me recently, "As an Adventist there was GOD [said in a loud, low voice] and Jesus [said in a high, small voice] and Holy Spirit [said in an even higher, squeakier voice]." It was the best description of the common Adventist understanding of God that I had heard! Colleen | ||
| Olga Registered user Username: Olga Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2005 |
I woke up this morning and this song (see the lyrics below) had just started playing on the radio; I was once again grateful to God for ministering to me through music. What a nice reminder from him; to not be afraid and to listen to His voice and His voice alone. Flyinglady thank you for this topic. I wish my SDA family would choose not to listen to EGW's and the SDA's voices, I wish they would not read her books anymore, I wish they would choose to listen to "the voice of truth" ********************************** Voice of Truth Oh what I would do to have The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in Onto the crashing waves To step out of my comfort zone Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is And He's holding out his hand. But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again "Boy, you'll never win!" "You'll never win!" But the voice of truth tells me a different story The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!" And the voice of truth says, "This is for my glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will chose to listen and believe the voice of truth Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant With just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand. But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me Time and time again, "Boy you'll never win!" "You'll never win!" But the stone was just the right size To put the giant on the ground And the waves they don't seem so high From on top of them lookin' down I will soar with the wings of eagles When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus Singing over me I will chose to listen to the voice of truth ©2003 Club Zoo Music/SWECS Music (Admin. by club Zoo Music)/BMI/Sparrow Song/Peach Hill Songs (admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)/BMI | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 113 Registered: 1-2006  |
Olga Thank you! What a message of encouragement! Bob |
