From Minister To Atheist

[Dennis Vogel]

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/30/151681248/from-minister-to-atheist-a-story-of-losing-faith

[lilitalienboi16]

Thanks for sharing Dennis, what a tragedy, she was blinded to what was right before her. It's always so heart breaking to read stories like this and it's all because of that blasphemous garbage known as eternal damnation. :/

[Gabriel]

Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

[indianabob]

Hi folks,

Interesting story, I feel compassion for the woman.
I wonder though if it accurate to call it tragic.
She is coming out of Babylon.
Admittedly in a difficult fashion, but why is it tragic?
Haven't many of us had similar experiences.
The lady has been shown that what she was teaching was error.
She believed wholeheartedly in a false Christianity.
Now she apparently is saying that she doesn't believe in God.
Isn't it more accurate to say that she no longer believes in a false God?
That's a valid first step on the path toward truth.
Who knows what God has in store for her next?
Patience then is the watch word in circumstances like this.
As Moses told the Israelites leaving Egypt, "stand still and see the salvation of God".

Bob

[cjwood]

i was listening to this on npr radio in the car today.  all i kept saying was, "amazing, absolutely amazing."  then i thought, why doesn't she just quit preaching.  they can always find another pastor to fill her spot.

claudia

[Dave in Tenn]

My mind was like a ping-pong ball reading this.  Was a time in my life when I made similar statements, and if I had followed the path I intended, I would also have been a professional pastor.  It is only the grace of God that keeps any of us from being like anybody else.  This one hit's a little too close to home for comfort.  It does remind me how glad I am that I did not pursue that, and how flimsy the whole notion of 'bishops' and 'pastors' is, carnally understood and practiced.

I also couldn't help but remember that this is not the first time I've heard of a professional clergy not even believing in God.  It's also mentioned in Scripture, so it's been around as a phenomenon since the early church.  No doubt she's not alone standing up there going through the motions.

Bob raises a good point as well.  God is not finished with her yet.  Her questions about God have answers, but she's definately experiencing the falling of the house bult on sand.  She's no more without hope than anybody else.  The salvation of God is sure.     

[Shawn Fainn]

Interesting. I've always seemed to have an easier time talking with atheists than those in christendom (they don't call me a heretic, at least lol). Anyway, maybe she'll stumble across bible-truths sometime

[Akira329]

I listened to that story yesterday.
She had questions that obviously were not answered.
God is not through with her.

Antaiwan

[ez2u]

what a sad commentary  not only for her church but also for her family?  I don't see the good in this at all and if i was her parent i would  be having a wake up call?  nor do i see her as a very honest person.  she seems to be posses of something other than God

[santgem]

this is an excerpt from Ray.

EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST

What an astonishing truth it is, that God CAUSES all those destined from the foundation of the world, to be chosen in Christ, that they should "fall away" from the Truth and "leave their first love" before they can be truly spiritually converted. Yet this is the plain declaration of Scripture.

Peter fell away:

"Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, you shall deny me thrice [three times]" (Matt. 26:34).

All the apostles fell away:

"Then said Jesus unto them, ALL YE shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad" (Matt. 26:31).

"And they ALL forsook Him, and fled." (Mark 14:50).

Paul fell away:

"As for Saul [renamed Paul], he made havock of the church..." (Acts 8:3) [while at the very same time he was "blameless" in keeping the Law of Moses] (Phil. 3:6).

ALL the Churches in Asia fell away after being in full support of Paul's ministry. First:

"The churches of Asia salute [greet] you..." (I Cor. 16:19).

Later near the end of Paul's ministry:

"This you know, that ALL they which are in Asia be TURNED AWAY FROM ME..." (II Tim. 2:15).

Paul warned the Ephesian Elders about the "flock—church" falling away:

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock [the whole flock]." (Acts 20:29).

Jesus prophesied that all who will become overcomers will have first fallen away temporarily by leaving their first love:

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you [the seven-in-one golden candlestick church of God that is, was, and will be] have LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE" (Rev. 2:4).

Jesus Himself calls this leaving of our first love, a falling away:

"Remember therefore from whence you ARE FALLEN, and REPENT..." (Rev. 2:5).

Whenever we "fall," we leave our "first love." For spiritual falling IS, LEAVING LOVE. Jesus said that when we leave our first love we are to 'remember from whence we are FALLEN...' Love itself has not failed us, but we have failed love, for true love is not capable of failure or falling:

"Charity [Old English for 'love'] never fails..." (I Cor. 13:.

Jesus reprimands us for "falling" from love in Rev. 2:5. Interestingly, the word translated "fails" in I Cor. 13:8 is the very same word translated "fallen" in Rev. 2:5. And so, "love never FALLS," but before we are saved, we will fall.

Why is it that this Scriptural truth is not taught in the Church? Simple: Most in the church have not as yet experienced "leaving their first love." Therefore, they are still deceived, and CANNOT see the beast within. They are still in the process of constructing their spiritual house upon the sand. Most will never see the beast in this lifetime.