You All are encouraging!
I was in a Calvinist church (
election doctrines) for many years. Later - that of Free-Will (
self-determination) churches. It was not the differences that troubled me, rather, it was what they truly agreed upon, that was troubling (
the skin of an unbeliever was burnt-off, like the skin of a molting snake, over and over again, throughout, i.e. eternity, along with an immortal soul that never dies, and the greed-seed creed of tithing, etc.). I could never come to the understanding of limited atonement, as taught in either of these so called camps, nor, with the others tenants that they believed and preached.
Often, there were conflicts involving my daughters, simply because they had informed their friends (
who live under the churches and their parents - doctrines of…) that they would eventually be with the Lord, "as they cried and confided in my children because of their fears."
Pastors, youth Pastors - including other various teachers and parents had attempted to impose their so called beliefs in a literal fire-of-hell, upon them. However, much to their surprise and astonishment (
my daughters stood in their knowledge of the truth, and of course - I was at fault for their teaching – thank, God!) while approaching my daughters who were taught with a deeper understanding of the Scriptures (
including Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and Latin language translations), they were dumb-founded. These people took selective Scriptures to prove their point, however, they were given dozens of Scriptures from my daughters that actually harmonized with their selective ones, proving that they had erred from the truth.
I can still hear the words of one of my daughters, as she was confronted by two Pastors and a parent on the sidewalk just outside the main church doors...
"…and you believe that is the meaning of perish…" She was steadfast in her faith of who Christ is…and all that He will (
has) accomplish(
ed).
I was a single parent raising his daughters by the Grace of God for over nine years, at that time…
I remarried, shortly thereafter, (
…my daughters had imparted their wisdom ) and just prior to leaving the worldly church. But not before my beautiful, new bride, had come down stairs (
she heard the snake-skin sermon that made her skin crawl…)...
"I was praying last night" And… "I want the truth of Christ which can not be according to that sermon." I was studying the Word of God - in the early morning hours…you want
"The Truth?" While going through the Scriptures, her eyes told it all …
"I never saw that." The bondage that she was dealt, all but disappeared. She had to ask me to slow down…"
I was excited", after all…
"I am only a man." I searched for a church that dared teach the truth, but have found none to this very day (
it has been several years, now). Then, I began searching the so called "Christian web-sites" on the internet, only to find that the discussions seemed to conclude in contention, strife and hostility with an, us, and them mentality.
No wonder the Prophets, Apostles and the Saints were [are] martyred for the witness of, "the truth of Christ."
Finally, I came across (
rather, was led by the Spirit) bible-truths (
to this forum) and the
"Lake of Fire Series." That was refreshing – "No French Fries." Hell actually meant the Grave (
ditto…ditto…ditto…).
I must say:
"I am excited being a Bride," although, the terminology took time…after all…you guessed it…I’m only a man!
In His Grace, Mercy, Love and Righteous Judgment,
- Jer
P.S. I have found most of our friendships in church were Sunday friends, and for my wife that was heart breaking, although, she has kept in contact with two friends from two different churches (
a Calvinist and an Armenian).