| Author | Message | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 119 Registered: 1-2005  |
Hello All! Hard to believe – it’s been almost 2 years since I last posted on this forum. I titled my very first thread “An invitation to sup”; I received a tremendous, warm response from many FAFF’ers. Good to see that this forum is still going strong! It’s good to feel a common bond, that is, our shared history of SDA’ism. The quirks and foibles, the noble triteness of our previous religious experience, I feel, bind us together in a unique way that others can’t comprehend. To be honest, I’ve become a died-in-the-wool agnostic. I read the rich and rewarding faith that so many of you have found in a more orthodox Gospel – and I won’t pretend to apprehend what you are speaking of. Rather, I will state that I firmly believe that I at least have shed the shackles that held me for too long… and I am a seeker… someone who wanders, but who is not lost. I hope to once again share my experiences with you, and learn from what you all say. - Tom | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6603 Registered: 12-2003  |
Tom, it is good to see you again. I won't pretend I'm not sorry to hear you've become agnostic...although agnosticism is a very common response to leaving Adventism, and I sensed that you were leaning that direction earlier. Our common bond, though, is strong, and frankly, we understand the pressures that led you to your current position. I will be praying for you, Tom—even though you don't "pretend to apprehend what [we] are speaking of", it is real, and the Lord Jesus came and opened a new, living way to the Father for your sake, too. He is faithful, even when we lose all ability to trust. Welcome, and with prayers for you, Colleen | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 215 Registered: 10-2006 |
Tom, Jesus loves agnostics. He knows that the search for meaning and purpose and truth has begun. You only have to "do" one thing: pay attention to what He wants you to understand. A former agnostic, steve | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1313 Registered: 9-2006  |
Tom, I haven’t had the privilege of meeting you before, nor have I had the privilege of meeting an Agnostic. First of all the rich and rewarding faith that most have found who write here and share their common bond is not found in an orthodox Gospel, but found in the person of Jesus Christ himself and his Holy Spirit come in to make his abode is then on accepting his person. It is the person of the Holy Spirit confirming the word and the person of Jesus Christ that we know, we know, without the person of the Holy Spirit confirming the person of Jesus Christ there is no knowing the person of Jesus Christ, no amount of theology, studies or experience will offer proof, knowableness or evidence of Gods existence, or the ability to know God. Without the confirmation of the Holy Spirit abiding in us, we are like waves tossed, flotsam and jetsam tossed back and forth against the shores of life and without his presence in our lives, the result will be that we will finally be tossed, worn and useless and broken on the rocks of this life ending in the second death. The person of the Holy Spirit is really our only link to Christ Jesus and his saving grace, for without his confirming presence in our life and experience we can only read the letter of the word instead of being partakers in his word. People can read and study the Bible and wonder about it for a lifetime, but without the Holy Spirits confirmation of it, the printed seed cannot survive the arrows of doubt, but with the Holy Spirits confirmation hope and faith, a living faith will spring forth, its roots reaching deep and jealously guarded by the Holy Spirit and springing into eternal life for he is eternal and in him we have eternal life. Why wander any longer? It is a simple faith that is a saving faith, not a complicated thing at all. Even a child can receive the person of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, it goes somewhat like this “Lord, I am a broken vessel, I receive the person of your Holy Spirit, I need you, I want you.” No use wandering and searching Tom, he is ever present to save, to heal and deliver, that was his purpose when he came to earth and it is still his purpose today, just that instead of being in his body on earth, he has died for us and risen to the father from where he came and has sent forth his Holy Spirit to be in us, his Holy Spirit seals us and becomes our identity. It is by his Holy Spirit that he will know us in that day we stand before him and the Holy Spirit will confirm us as a child of the living God. Whereas, without the Holy Spirits presence and seal within us Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. He will not know them because his Spirit is not living in them, we are known by him. The Adventist have a form of Godliness, but without Holy Spirit confirmation they are twice dead, the Holy Spirit will not confirm lies or a false Gospel (he is the Spirit of truth) and he will not live in an un accepting and (or) an unbelieving heart, he will not recognize us by our own perfection ,but his Holy Spirit living within us and confirming us as children of the most high, and that my friend is the dangers of following the Adventist beliefs of perfection, the IJ and the false façade of Ellen G. White who denied his saving power and elevated man above his glory. So Tom, it is by his Spirit that we live and breathe and have our being in him. Have you invited, accepted, ask for his Holy Spirit? He says he will not refuse His Holy Spirit to the ones that ask for and are willing to receive. With out him living in us my friend, we are in a lost and dangerous wilderness of bewilderment, confusion and consternation and death. While it is good that you share the common bond of Adventism, quirks and foibles and common history, there are many common bonds of man which we may share to our own edification, I would rather that you share the richest most blessed history of all time and that is the person of Jesus Christ, his living Spirit living within each of us, confirming us that we are the true child of God, a common bond above all common bonds, the common bond of his love dwelling in our hearts by his Holy Spirit and although disagreements may come, we submit to his love by his Spirit in the finality of it. What makes this forum survive and what will keep it surviving is that in the end of any disagreement, misquotes, unquotes, misreads, misunderstandings, personal quirks, personal baggage, we finally and with finality submit ourselves to the cementing love of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord and keeper of our souls and being. River | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 1021 Registered: 8-2004  |
Welcome back Tom. I remember you posting back when I first started I believe. Life sure is a wild ride isn't it! Mary | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 155 Registered: 7-2007 |
Tom, after I read your post, I had to blink back tears. My dad is also an agnostic. I just sent him a letter, appealing to him to reconsider the real God, not the god of the Adventist church. Ellen White has substituted a dead shadow - the Sabbath; for the reality and Seal of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Read Ephesians 1:13,14 where it says that the Holy Spirit is the SEAL and the GUARANTEE of our inheritance. The Adventist church is a very close fake of Christianity, but still a fake. I believed in it for over 50 years and have been out of the SDA church for less than a year and a half. I'm sooo thankful to be getting to know the real Jesus and having the Holy Spirit instead of the Sabbath! I pray that you will accept the real Jesus too. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1224 Registered: 4-2000  |
Tom, Welcome back! It is not unusual for Adventism to generate agnosticism. I have communicated with many of them in recent years. After all, Seventh-day Adventism is itself a religion of uncertainty and despair. There is a salvific difference between a HOPE-SO Christian and a KNOW-SO Christian. Plenteous are the accounts of saints who remember the "dark night" of their souls when they felt God abandoned them and no longer answered their prayers. They no longer felt His sweet, abiding presence. At times like these, at their lowest ebb, they reached out by faith to touch the hand of the one and only Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Yes, God still specializes in things thought impossible. He further specializes in mending the hearts of the spiritually-abused, the burned-out ones, the disappointed ones, and even the hopeless ones. It is my heartfelt prayer that you too will soon have the honor and privilege to encounter the all-knowing, all-sufficient, awesome, believable, Bread of Life, caring, comforting, Creator, delivering, Designer, exalted, encouraging, eternal, ever-present, faithful, forgiving, God the Son, grace-loving, gracious, healing, High Priest, inviting, just, kind, life-giving, life-transforming, Living Water, Lord, loving, majestic, Master, matchless, merciful, never-forsaking, overcoming, peace-giving, Redeemer, reliable, Savior, Shepherd, Son of God, Son of man, strengthening, Substitute, Teacher, true Sabbath Rest, truthful, uncondemning, victorious, and wonderful--the indescribable Jesus Christ! In awe of Calvary, Dennis Fischer | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 122 Registered: 1-2005 |
Colleen, I appreciate your kind words, your prayers, and I do agree that there is a strong bond at work here. I'm delighted to share, and to read what others here have to say. It is a boon! Tom | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 123 Registered: 1-2005 |
Hoo Boy! I better speed up my posts – Dennis :-) Steve, I hope that my journey of discovery never ends! River, your post touched me, and I am grateful for your thoughts. Yes, Mary, life is certainly a wild ride! Or, as a deadhead, I might say, “What a long, strange trip it’s been!” Dennis, your point about fostered doubt and uncertainty is well taken. For now, I have chosen to believe in the Divine, but not to articulate the Divine. And to all, I say that your articulations of the Divine certainly are closer to the truth than anything I ever heard growing up! Best Wishes to All, Tom | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 695 Registered: 4-2006  |
Hi Tom and welcome back. You are in my prayers as well. Jesus is for real, and as stated earlier, Jesus loves agnostics, he died for them and for me, yes for the whole world! He is our sin bearer, and we now delight that we are no longer slaves to sin, but set free from the power of sin, by Him. We have been born again and are now children of God, we are a family, the bond of the Spirit is stronger than anything else, it is pure love that binds us together, the Love we have experienced from God. In His amazing grace, Martin | ||
| Luzisbornagain Registered user Username: Luzisbornagain Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2007 |
I'm beginning to feel like Tom, too lately and it's scary. Please extend your prayers towards me as well. I feel like im in constant battle and am skeptical of any religion now. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6626 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dear Luz, I will be praying for you. What you are experiencing is actually normal as a person transitions out of Adventism or of any cult. There is a real spiritual battle at work, and Satan does want to disorient you and keep you off balance. There are a few facts you need to remember: 1. Nothing can take you out of Jesus' and the Father's hands when you are alive in Him (John 10:27-30). You are secure in Him. 2. Praise Jesus. In everything give thanks. Even though you don't feel like praising, it is a biblical command to praise God. Thank Him for calling you out of Adventism. Thank Him for bringing you to Himself and making you alive in Jesus. Thank Him for His promise to complete what He has begun in you (Phil. 1:6). Thank Him for what He is doing that you cannot see. 3. Read the Bible. When you feel firghtened or unsure, go back to Scripture and read those reassuring passages: John 5:24; 1 Timothy 1:15-17; 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:1-10; the book of Galatians; Romans 3:21. Immerse yourself in Truth. Truth is not in your head; that's where the confusion and deception were implanted, and God is cleaning them out. You have to go to the source of truth--the word of God--and fill your mind with truth, asking Jesus to reveal Himself to you and to teach you the truth with His Spirit. 4. Ask God, if you haven't already, to take away the spirit of Adventism from you heart and to place His Spirit in the place where Adventism had resided. Thank Him for freeing you from the bondage of Adventism. 5. Pray that God will teach you truth, planting your roots deeply into the truth of Scripture and of Jesus. Ask Him to keep you grounded firmly in reality instead of in fear and dissonance. Ask Him to help you to know what He wants you to know, to learn what He wants you to learn, and to be able to change what He wants you to change. 6. Remember that God is faithful. He has already defeated the rulers and authorities at the cross. Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus lives; He is the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God! And He is your King. Praise Him, Luz! He will hold you and protect you and keep you safe from evil. Praying for you (and also for you, Tom...) Colleen |
