| Author | Message | ||
| Laurie Registered user Username: Laurie Post Number: 46 Registered: 6-2007 |
There is much discussion here on how to reach adventists, and I know we all share a burden to reach them. But, let me share a personal experience, that for me, pretty much represents SDAs for me. One sabbath, shortly before we left, it was time for the pastoral prayer. The lady up front to pray was a friend of mine. A beautiful, sweet, kind lady. Very deep in adventism, but a beautiful person with an incredible gift for public prayer. She stood up front and said that she felt the holy spirit had impressed upon her the need for us to lift each other up in prayer and sincerely pray for each other. She continued by saying she did not want any verbal requests, but instead she asked that anybody that would like the other members to pray for them, for any reason - any possible reason, to remain standing during the prayer instead of kneeling. Stupid me - I thought everyone would stay standing. Doesn't everyone need others around them to lift them up in prayer. I desperately needed prayer as I was in terrible conflict about being in that church. I closed my eyes and stayed standing. Then I heard everyone around me kneeling. I peeked, opened my eyes, and to my horror, I was the only one standing. The absolute only single person standing. For a moment, I almost sat down to stop the embarassment. Then I thought, no way! and I remained standing, alone, to the last amen. That, my friends, is what adventists are all about. They don't need prayer, they are the remnant. They don't care about each other, they are too busy being hypocrits. They don't have a real prayer relationship with God, or every single person would have stood up. Bottom line, they are perfect. And here is the kicker... not one single person ever came up to me and said they would pray for me. Not one! Not ever! They all saw me standing, they all stared. But no one cared. I only attended that church a few more times after that. I could not, and still have not, gotten over that experience. Sorry for the rant. Seems like once I start thinking about things, I can't stop! Laurie | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1140 Registered: 9-2006  |
Laurie, I think you are dead on in your summation. Laurie, I am glad you told about this because I need to know. I am Hip deep in Adventist kid and it like being tossed into a pond fulla gaters. River | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 179 Registered: 10-2006 |
Laurie, You go girl! Adventism is more about hate, pride, self-righteousness, judgement, etc. than it is about Christ and His love for all those He died for. It is finished, they refuse to accept it. That is another gospel, one that kills so many spiritually. Adventism is evil. I hate it. steve | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 438 Registered: 11-2005 |
Laurie, You are so right. Adventism is all so superficial. When I started attending the Christian fellowship I now meet with it was like the difference between night and day! We have a mission -- three in fact. 1. Keep supporting our fellow formers who are transitioning out. Their lot is never easy. This forum is a lifeline to provide focus and stability. 2. Keep witnessing to Adventists provided that we don't put ourselves (or especially our children and families) in spiritual harm's way. Proclamation Magazine is a wonderful tool in this area. Every Adventist needs to see Mark Martin's video, "Seventh-day Adventism -- the Spirit Behind The Church" (http://www.exadventist.com/store/Home/tabid/388/ProductID/24/Default.aspx). Websites like http://www.exadventist.com/, http://www.ex-sda.com/, http://ellenwhite.org, http://truthorfables.com/ and many others are doing a great job of exposing the dark side of Adventism. The White Estate is doing its best to try to silence these sources of information. 3. Alert non-Adventists to what Adventism is really all about. That includes pastors of other churches. Don't let Adventism slip away when the spotlight is on cults. Adventism must be listed as a cult, right along side of Mormonism, the Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Scientists and Scientologists. This must be a top priority! Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6378 Registered: 12-2003  |
Again, Gilbert, you are 100% correct. Laurie, thank you for sharing your story. I know how you feel. Public prayer, in my SDA experience, was primarily "for show". I never heard anyone really pray about anything really serious. When I first joined Moms in Touch the year we put our sons in Christian school, I was blown away by the prayer. I had never been with anyone where the Holy Spirit was actively present during corporate prayer. I left crying, not even knowing what had happened or why I was crying. A few months later, I was blown away when one of the moms prayed, thanking God that her son had been caught cheating on a Bible test. "You know I've always asked you to be sure my children were caught if they sinned," she prayed. "Thank you for having the teacher catch him, and please help him to be honest..." etc. I was so shocked I actually opened my eyes to look at her as she prayed. I'd never known anyone who admitted in front of any other mom that their kids were less than gifted, talented, and superior. Most SDA moms I knew would have been embarrassed, would never have mentioned the incident, or would have tried to take on the teacher for being unfair. I was in shock—and deeply impacted. Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1143 Registered: 9-2006 |
Colleen, You said something here that touches on something that has been in my life for a long time. Quote: I left crying, not even knowing what had happened or why I was crying. Almost from the very first, every time the Holy Spirit touches my heart I begin weeping, I can be sitting in a church as the Holy Spirit touches my heart just a little bit and the tears just begin leaking out, I try to control it but it just happens. I have to try to remember to sit where there are napkins handy otherwise I wet my sleeves and even my lap. If the Holy Spirit uses me in either one of the gifts the weeping gets so profuse I end up slinging tears all over the place and snot going everywhere and everybody else is dry eyed. In the early years my Pastor came up to me and said this “never be shamed of those tears” that was the whole conversation and statement “never be ashamed of those tears”. When I think of the blessing and mercy and love of God out comes the tears. I have to keep napkins on my desk because I get into the word, something is said, something is studied, the Holy Spirit touches me or speaks to me and up come the tears. So here I am 66 years old and it has never lessened in all those years. What made me decide to write about it was because you stated that you were weeping and didn’t know why. Nobody has ever said a word to me about this accept that one time when the Pastor come up to me and made that statement. I have thought before, do I have some kind of emotional problem or something? I need to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit in spite of this, if I become callus because of this then I won’t be able to hear him. I have never spoken openly of this before to anyone, I know I can receive honest answers here. What do you guys think it is? It never took place before I was saved. Sometimes I feel about like Laurie did when she looked around and found she was the only one standing. In spite of the tears, or if I’m the only one left standing, I desperately need God in my life every day, I don’t really care when it comes down to it, if I start sprouting daisy’s out my ears, I need God in a big way. River – now that’s an apt screen name if I ever seen one  | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 445 Registered: 5-2007 |
Adventism is spiritually dead. I think many of the people stay in it for the "culture". I think my wife is one who falls in that category. I really wish she's go to SDB Church with me and see the difference. There is such life there that I didn't find in the SDA church. WHen I was an Adventist is used to DREAD the Sabbath, DREAD going to church. Now I really look forward to going to SDB church it is such a joy, I don't even mind driving 50 miles one way(compared to the SDA church which is almost withing walking distance for me). My wife sleeps during SDA sermons when I attend with her, she doesn't agree with a lot of Adventist stuff, either. I think part of it for her is just not the culture but I think she is afraid of breaking her parents' hearts. (though they are far away in Indonesia and wouldn't have to know). I am really hoping the CD I am going to get this Sabbath of the SDB pastors sermons will spark some interest in my wife to go to SDB Church with me. I love her so much and want her to be free from Adventism with me. I want so bad to break her chains. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1146 Registered: 9-2006 |
Reb, we all need to realize that our hope and source lays in Christ, we couldn't break the chains of a broke leg dog. The only hope you have of seeing what you want coming to pass is in him. I really don't want to seem unkind, but you seem like a guy who is hanging part of his hopes on his own ability, part on the sdb's ability, part on the ability of compromise. Truth of the matter is it depends on the Holy Spirits ability. I hope this doesn't light you off because it's in no way meant for offense. River | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 449 Registered: 5-2007 |
Not at all River. You made some very good points, actually. Your right it will take Christ and the Holy Spirit to break her chains. I remember when I was deep into Adventism, I don't think any one person could've gotten through to me, it HAD to be the Holy Spirit working on me. | ||
| Luzisbornagain Registered user Username: Luzisbornagain Post Number: 65 Registered: 7-2007 |
I experience the same thing at times when I'm in my church praising God during the song service. The words just hit home to me and I can't stop crying even if I try. I experienced it before I was saved very few times, but now it's more than ever. So you're not alone in this. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6382 Registered: 12-2003 |
River, I have the same experience. When we began attending Trinity Church, I was not prepared for the tears. The worship made me cry; sometimes Gary's preaching/teaching from the Word made me cry. I began to notice that at home, when I played praise and worship music, I would often well up and cry. At first I was kind-of disturbed. I found myself trying to figure out what they were about. What sadness or issue lay underlay those tears? I remember clearly one day working in my kitchen, crying away while the music played, and I was trying to figure out, again, why I was crying. Then, in a flash of insight that was so clear I still remember it, I realized, "My crying is caused the Holy Spirit in me, causing me to worship and respond to God." The mystery of my tears has finally cleared up! I also have the same experience sometimes when I'm studying Scripture. It's as if God opens up some understanding that I've never quite seen or experienced at that depth before, and the tears will come with the insight. Since I've finally understood those tears to be related to the Holy Spirit, I don't feel so foolish anymore! Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1148 Registered: 9-2006 |
Colleen and Luz, Thank you for your insight, even in the past six months I have wondered if I really had some deep emotion sadness or other issue that I am unaware of. I suppose what the Pastor was saying was "never be ashamed of the Holy Spirit that makes those tears" or something to that effect. Of course there is the chance we both have unsettled emotional issue and we both are Loony Toons.  The thing is, the end product is freedom and great joy and love in the Holy Spirit and not harmful in any way. Nobody has ever poked fun at me, they just go on as if it was a normal thing. This has always been a subject that I have steered clear of and I didn't know whether or not I would hit the send button, but I am glad I did. I guess I needed to talk about it to someone about it just to clear the fog. Thank you. River | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1981 Registered: 10-2004  |
River, yes it is definitely the Holy Spirit. Former SDA Pastor Mark Martin says that people ask him all the time (after attending his large church), why they cry when they worship there or start crying just walking in. He tells them that it is the Holy Spirit touching them. Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on July 25, 2007) | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 456 Registered: 5-2007 |
I know I feel the Spirit when I go to SDB church that I didn't feel at SDA. At SDA Church I felt NOTHING. Adventism is spiritually DEAD. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1150 Registered: 9-2006 |
Jeremy, I'd probably trade my best blue tick hound to go to visit Marks church and an Faf weekend. I don't look to get the chance but who knows what God will do? So I am not ruling it out. River | ||
| Lucybugg Registered user Username: Lucybugg Post Number: 50 Registered: 2-2007 |
Since we started attending our new church I've done nothing but cry every Sunday. It seems as if my heart is touched and becomes more tender the moment I walk through the door. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4045 Registered: 3-2004  |
When I walk into my church I am instantly affected. I smile more. In the service, I do cry and no longer feel I have to hide it. I am so glad we have the Holy Spirit in us. We do have an awesome God. Diana | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1152 Registered: 9-2006 |
Well at least it's not a sign of a defect! River |
