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David:
Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It would seem that in some way or another we are affected by heresy and lies in the Church. John 10:4-5, And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
I think these profound verses are very applicable to our experiences.
Hi Kat, I did have some issues with guilt when I left my Church, I couldn't help feeling I was letting people down. I did notify the Pastor beforehand. I was part of the worship team, more in a coaching role for the musicians than actually taking part in the services.  But I just felt that the Lord was calling me out of that and that I must follow. I'd also gotten to the point where I was sitting at the back listening to the services and thinking to myself ".....that's not right, that's heresy, that's blasphemy....." and actually learning nothing at all and getting no spiritual growth from it. I would come home and listen to one of Rays audios, usually from the other site where his early ones are listed because I didn't know there were any here then. I also started to notice that the pastor would very cleverly switch Bibles when preaching. He would very often quote Matthew 16:18, but always from the King James. I found that to be very deceitful for some reason once I realised what he was doing. You see, he and the Deacons strongly urged everyone to read from the NIV Bible, or at the very least the NKJV. When I showed up at Church with a King James I was actually asked why I would read from it, their reasoning was that it was the oldest English translation (which I found out was not true), and that was it outdated language etc and difficult to understand. Personally I prefer it or the NKJV to any other translations. I went out and got a NIV and really didn't like the way it reads. I don't question its accuracy, I'm far from qualified to do that....its just that to me it reads like a 1970s industrial manual, there's no flow to it and I don't get the feeling that what I'm reading is Gods word, it seems to have lost any spiritual feel to it if that makes any sense.
Anyway my point is, he would always read from the NIV, but then whenever he quoted Matthew 16:18 he would use half that Scripture ".........I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This he would say was the proof that the Church will continue to grow way past its current 2 billion Christians, but of course those tens of billions that were never "saved" were all burning and many more will be burning etc etc. The Bibles he urged his congregation to read from do not have the word "hell" in that scripture, they have Hades. The Contemporary English version seems to be a very good translation of that Scripture, it has it ....... I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. That translation seems to fit perfectly with opther scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 15:26.
Anyway, I would often sit there when he quoted it and think "I wonder how many here noticed he switched Bibles, because he doesn't want you asking what Hades means".

Outlets like this for our experiences are such a blessing I feel. May God bless you all for sharing.
David. 
 

kweli:
Hi all

I've been having this going on in my head for a while now. Jesus said in Matthew 10:

35For I have come to turn
   " 'a man against his father,
      a daughter against her mother,
   a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
       36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e]

    37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


Daily I look forward to doing the Will of Him who snatched me out of the shadows into the light. But I must say, turning against our loved ones is tough. My family is a christian family of people who dearly love the Lord and believe they are living for Him. Turning against them not necessarily something I look forward to. I realized my older is hell-bent on eternal torture (excuse the pun). But he's really does get this from his bible. He may not have the understanding opened to him but he isnt necessarily coming up with stuff from the top of his head and making that into Scriptural truths.

Anyway, to please God, I will have to turn against him. This is tough. But I find great comfort in the fact that He promised us greater things than these. So I'll keep that in mind as I "come out of her".

All Glory to Him,
Kweli

kweli:
I couldnt even put this together in proper English...

hillsbororiver:
Hi Kweli,

Your English is excellent, some of who use this as our first language do not use with as much expertise as you display Brother!

Mat 12:46  While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
 
Mat 12:47  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
 
Mat 12:48  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
 
Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
 
Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

This might on the surface appear callous and even disrespectful, but to me this is Jesus setting priorities and the proper order of how things should be. God comes first, the brethren come second, everyone else comes third, this in itself is difficult enough, in fact (at least in my case) it is impossible but for the grace of God.

We also have this to consider and practice;   

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1Pe 2:17  Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

While keeping all this in mind we can't forget what else we are admonished to do;

1Ti 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

There is no need to separate yourself from your loved ones, be a good example of your faith let that be your witness to them, if and when the time comes for any division it will be they who will want to disown you but there is always the hope that the Lord will open there eyes in this age, if not we know He will in the next!

His Peace to you,

Joe
 

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