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Back to Babylon?

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mari_et_pere:
I was going to insert this into Arcturus' opinion thread, but then realized it doesn't really fit there. Here goes:

I'll use this thread to insert my experience from Sunday. It fits in a way.

My wife had really really wanted me to go to church with her Sunday. Well I had basically said 'maybe' but she expected me to go. When I didn't she was pretty upset.

Well I joined her, my son, my mo-n-law, sis-n-law and bro-n-law for lunch. They began talking about the lack of emotion in their church lately. The praise and worship team apparently has been failing in getting the congregation up and moving, the pastor is a little dull, blah blah blah. My wife mentioned those were some reasons I won't go. We discussed it and we all came to the realization that worship is up to US, not the "praise team" or anything else. A really good discussion in my book.

The rest of the day was a bit tense because my wife felt hurt by me skipping out on church, and at the end of the day I tried to tell her why I didn't go. Well let's just say the evening didn't go as well as either one of us had planned.

I said I've been crossed and torn about church for a very long time. She's known this for a long time. Well it led to us talking about differences I have with the church, and of course she became defensive because she's held on to the common carnal beliefs of the church her whole life so far. But during this "conversation" I realized a few things:

The people in Bablyon don't want to know, think about, or discuss anything that we discuss and believe here.

The people in Babylon who are willing to, are already in the process of realizing something's wrong with the way they believe and are being taught.

Since I was called out ages ago, I'm pretty solid in what I believe. I learned a lot of this long ago, Bible Truths just reinforced it and gave me a home and a vehicle for outlet.

Since I'm solid in the truth, why can't I go back to Bablyon? They won't change my mind, and I'd love to see my kids be brought up around other loving, kind hearted people. They won't learn the whole truth though, and in fact they'll swallow some lies. BUT I don't think they'll learn the truth here at home. My wife and mother in law both are fully entrenched in Babylon and won't even listen to anything I say about it.

So basically I'm thinking about going to church each Sunday so at least my kids will see that I'm involved, so that hopefully through their childhood and teen years they won't turn their backs on God. Like I said, I realize they'll swallow a mouthful of lies, but they'll also learn to trust in God and have a foundation to stand on. Hopefully one day they'll grow to the point to where I can tell them what I believe.

I think I'm justified in doing this. I'm feeling led to do this. I see no other way from where I stand at this point in time. And maybe I can reach a few people like Snacks does in his church.

You all have any thoughts on this?

Matt

seminole:
Matt, you have always been courteous to me when others were not. I respect you highly for thinking of your wife and kids the way you do. God gave your kids you as their Dad and God knows and I believe you will make the best decisions for their lives. You are strong, man, and I don't think any thing will sway you. Your kids will see you in their lives , concerned for their spiritual well-being and trust in your teaching of them. My hats off to you in speaking in this forum about your considerations. I hope you don't get a rough side for speaking freely. I admire your strength and courage. Good wishes to you as you make your decisions.
Seminole

skydreamers:
Dear sweet Matt,

It is a beautiful thing to put yourself aside and want to do what's right for your wife and kids.  I think we are all confronted at times with just simply not knowing exactly what that right thing is.  And you will likely get all sorts of opinions one way or another in this thread.

You say:


--- Quote ---I think I'm justified in doing this. I'm feeling led to do this. I see no other way from where I stand at this point in time.
--- End quote ---

I have no doubt that you have given this much thought and prayer.  It looks like this is what God is putting on your heart to do at this point in your life.  And at any rate, you can give it a go, and if God shuts the door on it, then you'll know for sure.  If your spirit simply cannot tolerate being there, then you will know for sure.

It is my opinion that whether or not our children are put through a church system or not, they will still go into and then out of Babylon in some capacity if they are to be one of the chosen.  And this will be all God's doing.  He will work it out.  You cannot thwart any plan He has for your children. 

I do not attend church, and my husband has never been a church goer, having attended only because of me.  So I've often wondered, where does that leave my two little ones?  I also struggled with whether or not I should bring them to church, or at least put them through a Christian school.

But when I look at my own life, I was not raised with God AT ALL.  I grew up with a single mom and the two of us never discussed God.  As I got older I searched out my own stuff....from occult...to new age....to pyshic phenomena...etc etc etc...you name it.  I even took Religious studies in University and learned all about Greek mythology, Judaism, Buddhism etc etc etc....I mean, it seemed never ending...EVERYTHING BUT Christianity!!!!! 

I did not become a Christian until I was 32 and even then it took 8 more years to get to know His real truth.....Do you see what I am getting at?  If God can take you, me and Seminole out of lives that seemingly were completely absent of any knowledge of the truth of the real God to where we are now, he will continue to do miraculous things with anyone He chooses, and whether they grow up in a Church or do not, will not change what He has planned for them ultimately.

So I'm kind of inclined to tell you, not to fret about it so much, but in all things do them joyfully and to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:29-32 MSG
29  But, except for these special cases, I'm not going to walk around on eggshells worrying about what small-minded people might say; I'm going to stride free and easy, knowing what our large-minded Master has already said.

30  If I eat what is served to me, grateful to God for what is on the table, how can I worry about what someone will say? I thanked God for it and he blessed it!

31  So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you--you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory.


May God give you peace and reveal to you His will for your life,
Much luv to ya :),
Diana

mari_et_pere:
Nole, thanks for your kind words man. I have two reasons why I'm courteous to you. One is because I always try to be courteous to everyone. My christian school taught me how to treat others by treating me the opposite of how they wanted to be treated.
And two, I've been in the postion you are right now, with the city full of gangs and violence and drugs. I was in the thick of it back in 92 and 93. I and my best friend had a friend who moved to California after our 2nd grade year. In 11th grade he came back, and we rekindled our friendship. Well turns out he had gotten into drugs and started up a KKK chapter. Other than the KKK, we had a lot in common. Well when the gangs found out I was his buddy, I became involved wether by choice or not. Everything for me peaked one Saturday night when we were cruising around, and got chased down by a car full of blacks who were screaming and shouting at us. They definitely didn't want to hang out with us! We raced through city streets at 65+ miles per hour, and out into the country side doing 90+. This is going to show you how much of a 180 I've done in my life:

We (the 5 of us in the car) each pulled out a weapon. Ball bats, tire irons, pipes, whatever was in the back of the Escort wagon we were in. We all pulled nylons over our faces and we had a spot in the country where we were basically going to beat these dudes down, maybe worse. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH US? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME?  :o Thank God the dudes chasing us gave up! I think they realized that the white dudes in that car were totally crazy beyond what they were and they just stopped, turned around and were gone.

A couple weeks later me and my best friend were hanging out downtown. We watched as two dudes got the beat down by a gang of blacks and whites. We hot footed it away (we couldn't help those two; a couple dozen gang members against 4 white dudes?) Well we thought we were okay. We found a pay phone in front of the county courthouse and called our friend I just told you about. We told him what happened, and figured he'd get a posse together and help us take care of the gang. But no, he was busy. WHAT? As soon as we got off the phone, the gang was right there behind us. They came running toward us and yelling. We heard "GET HIM, T! GET EM!" We ran. My buddy barely got clocked but was running fast enough that he was able to keep running. He ran straight into busy traffic and got away. As I was running, a dude jumped at me from behind and grabbed at my long hair. I was able to turn and clock him once and continued running. I had a couple dozen dudes chasing me. I also ran straight out into busy traffic, dodging and weaving until I knew I was "safe." Thank God those dudes didn't catch us! It's hard telling what would've happened.  :o

Where were our "buddies" that night? Why they were getting high. We would've usually been high right with them, but for some reason we weren't that night.

But that's just a couple examples of why I'm a humble pacifist now. That happened 14 long years ago, and I've done a 100% 180 turn from what I was. That's why I treat everyone with respect. I also learned I run faster than black dudes!  ;D ;D

I'm not sure why I told you all that for the whole forum to see, but I empathize with your opinions. (I realize you're not involved with gangs, it's just that environment can affect our everyday lives and our overall outlook.) But I don't think everyone can know where everyone else is coming from all of the time. But your heart is in the right place and you've got my respect. Thank you for seeing strength in me. You may be right about me getting a rough side for speaking freely, but that's their choice, not mine. I'm strong enough to take it.  8)

Matt

mari_et_pere:
Diana, thanks for your response. I hear where you're coming from. I've thought, "Well, it's all in God's hands anyway. They'll become what God has willed for them to become." Then I thought, "SO WILL I." <GULP!> So will I. So will you. So will all of us. Interesting to say the least.

Thank you for seeing the best interest that I have inside for my family. It would be so nice if I could sit my family down with Jesus in my living room and ask, "What do you want us to do?"  ;D

Then again, would we always do what He said He wanted? Probably not.  :(

Thanks again for your kind words. I expected a pretty volatile discussion from this, but it's going pretty peacably so far!  ;D

Matt

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