| Author | Message | ||
| Freeofe Registered user Username: Freeofe Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2005 |
I've posted here just a few times since I discovered this group nearly 4 years ago. Since that time my husband and I have visited about 11 different denominations and still haven't found a church home. Now that our son (8 months) is here we're really trying to connect with one. Something I realized is that one of the trappings I still carry from Adventism is that I want to "nail down" every belief of each church I go to. Now, I believe that finding a Biblically sound denomination is important but honestly, I will never be 100% in agreement with any church I attend. My beliefs are very mixed. In all honestly, I see this same attitude here at FAF sometimes. We can get so caught up in theology that we miss Jesus. My husband, son, and I have found a baptist church we see Christ in but I don't believe everything they do. Why can't I just be happy that Christ has led me to this grace-filled fellowship? Why do I have to be so picky? A main requirement of mine in finding a church was not to find one that believed they were "IT" and yet I find myself looking for "IT" and wondering why I'm not happy...Please pray for me. My husband is finally on board with a church we both like and I'm suddenly getting the "greener pastures" look in my eye. As Charlie Brown would say, "Good Grief!" (Message edited by Freeofe on June 18, 2007) | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 885 Registered: 9-2006  |
When we brought our grand daughter from China we continued to feed her rice milk for a while because that was what she was raised on. We knew that her little three month old body would reject pure milk. Eventually though she was taking American food and thrived on it. I hope nobody will mind me saying this but that is what you folk remind me of. First you have to be given a little rice mixed with your milk and then after a while you go onto “The sincere milk of the word” and really begin to thrive on it. Do you think it might be that you are still demanding a little rice mixed with your milk? Or are you on “The sincere milk of the word? Just take that Bible with you and get on out there and mix it up, if you don’t mind my saying so. I do hope nobody is all hurted with that diatribe.  River | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 886 Registered: 9-2006 |
I gotta get offa here before someone throws a monitor at me. | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 71 Registered: 5-2007 |
Freeofe, I am new to the forum myself and have been looking for a new church home as well. I agree, there is this big huge empty hole that lacks a sense of validity. We are use dthe dogmatic confidence of the SDA world and nothing short of that will bring us to that feeling of being in the right place. Except perhaps the atmosphere of a Catholic church. They are real big on confidence of authority too. It is a luxury to feel so absolutely confindent in doctrine. But I consider this. The early church experienced the same basic issues we face today. In my own search, I expect If I can find a church that places Christ first, displays the fruits of a loving church, then , hopefully , I will have found a place to be. I guess there are show stoppers. Such as demand requirements based on their doctrine statements. I have had interest in the Babptist because they espouse liberty of belief of the individual but that varies greatly in practice. Churches are not always uniformed. Much to my displeasure. It is hard to find a lighter version of SDA without getting into continued errors. But even in the mainline churches. Errors and pretense abound. I was told 20 years ago that there was no (Church) life after adventism. Scary thought. But I think that is a trap too. Rather , I think there is no substitute for SDA. Which is the point. We may only find answers in something totaly new. Let me know what you find. I am still looking myself. | ||
| Laurie Registered user Username: Laurie Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2007 |
My husband and I have been attending a Methodist church for the last 15 months. It is far from the traditional Methodist church. When we walked in there it was incredible to us. The music, the atmosphere, the true experience of worship, we were hooked. It was exactly what we needed at that exact moment in time. It saved us. We were angry, hurt and not really wanting to attend a church. However, now we are not sure what to do. They call themselves a seeker church. The sermons are very generic, non-offensive, and I feel like I am hearing a lecture on positive thinking more often than anything from the Bible. Then every couple weeks I hear a sermon that holds me spellbound as I hear grace taught to me like never before. The music is awesome. Contemporary songs, with a very talented band. Many times I have tears in my eyes as I sing out these songs. That time for me is the "true" worship. Lifting up my voice in praise. I have no desire to become a member. Don't know if I ever will, don't really care. I do support the church financially and we attend lots of social events. This church has a very active youth program and our 14 year old daughter is our primary concern. She is involved in this group with many kids from her school, so we feel torn as to whether we should look elsewhere or stay for her. It's confusing. We pray every day and ask God to lead us to the right place. The denomination is not important to me. I am not hung up on complete agreement in doctrine anymore. I don't know where we will end up and I wonder a lot, but I do not obsess about it or worry about it. God led us out of SDA and will not leave us hanging. Laurie | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6084 Registered: 12-2003  |
Wow, your experiences are all so typical of all of ours! I'm realizing that one of the biggest temptations we have as we leave Adventism is to reject Christian fellowship because the doctrines aren't perfect. Here's the secret I'm discovering: it's not the doctrines we trust. It's only Jesus we trust. He goes with us wherever we go, and He, by His indwelling Holy Spirit, helps us recognize the presence of His truth and Spirit in other churches where He is central and His word is honored. Absolutely, God leads us, sometimes, into a church for a season of healing and learning, just as you described, Laurie. Sometimes He then leads us to another church where we will begin to be fed meat from His word. You're right on target, River. Jim, I think you've made an important observation: "Rather , I think there is no substitute for SDA. Which is the point. We may only find answers in something totaly new. " That is true. As we learn that Jesus is the only One on whom we can hang our confidence and trust, our search for a church becomes more and more about finding a place where we will be fed the word of God in an atmosphere of Christian growth, fellowship, and responsibility. Finding meat from God's word won't happen in a church that considers the Bible to be errant or relative, nor will it happen in a church that doesn't consider Jesus and His cross to be the central focus of reality. But when Jesus is honored and His word is taken seriously, we can find growth and fellowship. God is faithful. He knows where we need to be, and He guides us there. I believe that the ongoing prayer to be protected from deception and to know the truth is important. As one man said, "Truth is not in your head; it is in the word of God." We can trust Jesus to guide us. Colleen | ||
| Freeofe Registered user Username: Freeofe Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2005 |
River, it's funny you should mention rice milk since a lot of Adventists I knew drank that instead of milk! LOL! Your analogy was hard for me to hear but right on target. Thank you! | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 887 Registered: 9-2006 |
Colleen quotes: “Here's the secret I'm discovering: it's not the doctrines we trust. It's only Jesus we trust. He goes with us wherever we go, and He, by His indwelling Holy Spirit, helps us recognize the presence of His truth and Spirit in other churches where He is central and His word is honored.” Absolutely right Colleen, if we don’t get out there and mix it up we don’t have a chance to grow much is my opinion. Further I think we need to honor the scripture in Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. That is plain text and one doesn’t have to figure out the meanings. Laurie, I think you will find “dry spells” and “wet spells” in all these churches, some “wetter” and some “dryer” than others, it is just that way, however I believe what colleen said and God leads us at times for his purpose which generally involves our leaning and growth. If God is leading you to go somewhere you may find it increasingly uncomfortable where you are even though the place hasn’t changed. That said we need to examine ourselves and our motives carefully to see if we are at fault. Sometimes in my own case I feel as if I myself would liven up the service a little bit if I could only loosen up myself, I have a terrible time in this area and I just stand there woodenly, when I get around people I freeze up, hang-ups? Plagued with’em. River | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2007 |
I went from a very strict Presbytarian Church to the Adventist Church because they both had more don'ts than dos which was all I knew. So when I decided to leave the SDA church I looked for a church that strictly teaches from the bible only When I first started going to this church I really had my defenses up but God is slowly tearing them down. I also joined a bible study group and we strictly stick to the word. I have learned so much more with this church than I ever did with the SDA church besides fear and misinterpretations by EGW. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 270 Registered: 4-2005  |
I posted our experience several days ago. Evidently it was kidnapped by Cyberspace. It looked like it had been posted.......oh well. I thought it might help those looking for a church family. I don't have time to repeat it. Maybe it would have muddied the waters even more! Well enough. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3818 Registered: 3-2004  |
It sounds like you had a wonderful experience with God. If you feel like writing it again, someday, please do so. I really like reading how God works with individuals and how he communicates with them. Diana |
