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=> General Discussions => Topic started by: santikos on July 09, 2010, 05:35:40 PM
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I kind of mentioned to my wife something about what i have learned here but she dies not want to hear it. we still attend the pentecostal church and last week we went to hand out flyers by knocking on doors. i really did not want to go but i did it any way. she does know i got something against the church system but i dont make my case strong enough.
i want to so bad tell my wife that i no longer want to go to church but i know she will think that i no longer want to anything to do with God. i am just extremely confused about where God want to lead me.
i enjoy the fellowship and speaking about God with other believers. it will just be very difficult not having people who i can fellowship with. but then again no one i go to church believes what i believe so i must maintain my tongue when speaking with them. sorry for venting with you bro's/sis' but i am just so confused regarding the whole thing. how hard was it for some of you? and do some of you still go to church? let me know. Thanks, God Bless.
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FYI: http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,11572.0.html
Hello Santikos,
I no longer go to church with my family and my wife knows somewhat why I do not. She does not like discussing the bible with me but respects what I believe by not pressuring me to get involved in her church.
It was harder at first, but the Lord gives strength to those who ask. It helps to focus more on living these truths that we've learned than getting upset because a loved one or friend doesn't believe. We would be doing that all our life if we let it. God is not calling everyone in this age.
Hope this helps,
Marques
P.S. I removed all the extra space in your comments above, just to leave more room on the page for member comments. Hope you don't mind.
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Hello Santikos,
My tongue has been bruised so many times from my biting it; and equally many times i used to get into arguments with my wife about church/hagee teaching. Well she still thinks i am a heretic and cult member, although now she is starting to doubt quite a bit of the hell and damnation teaching of churchianity.
Last couple times i even recorded her favourite program for her; the point is, you need to heed all the words of Scripture, in Spirit and Truth, and not let the things of the flesh bother you too much.
1Co 10: 23-33 (GW)
23 Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.
24 People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves.
25 Eat anything that is sold in the market without letting your conscience trouble you.
26 Certainly, "The earth is the Lord's and everything it contains is his."
27 If an unbeliever invites you to his house for dinner, and you wish to go, eat anything he serves you without letting your conscience trouble you.
28 However, if someone says to you, "This was sacrificed to a god," don't eat it because of the one who informed you and because of conscience.
29 I'm not talking about your conscience but the other person's conscience. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else's conscience?
30 If I give thanks to God for the food I eat, why am I condemned for that?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.
32 Don't cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God's church.
33 I try to please everyone in every way. I don't think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.
george :).
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Pray pray pray, here is a little disscussion on what happened to me.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,10351.0.html
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DON'T FEEL ALONE! We all go thru it on an everyday basis with whoever we talk to that is "grounded in their church beliefs".
Sometimes it feels like a curse, as we remember what peace of mind we had when we all believed the same thing. Now you are the
"Jewish" kid that accepted Christ at college and has to tell his family, friends, relatives that he is a member of "Jews for Jesus"!
PROBLEM: once you are exposed to the TRUTH, and you truly believe it and accept it-- "you can't 'un-ring' the bell"!
(Like ok, you won, I guess I will go back and believe what I used to ?! Now, does anyone believe me? Do I get my old status of
acceptence back? PLEASE??)
How do I know? I am going thru the same thing you are ==RIGHT NOW! Duane
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I am just glad I am the only one. I just need to contonue reading his word. One question I do have is on how to study the word? I have only always read it bit nevr disected it. How do some of u do it?
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Hi Santikos,
The narrow path is not the easy way that's for sure, but don't forget very few are given the opportunity to go this way. First study and get yourself well grounded in these truths, just start the top article of the BT home page http://bible-truths.com and go all the way through. As you continue to read the articles you will grow in knowledge and understanding. The better your understanding is the more able you are to explain these things to somebody else.
I think with people that have no interest in hearing what you believe, you can show them by being a living example. There is always lots of situations that come up in daily life to let your light shine. But you will also reflect the way you believe in your normal conversation. This truth will permeate every aspect of your life and that is how it is suppose to be and your wife will have to notice this. So just live your life applying these truths that you are learning and as your wife sees the changes in you she may begin to ask a few questions. Then you would have somebody who is interested in what you have to say.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
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I read, talk with others, listen to audio, spend quiet time(just me and God), watch video and read some more. Most of all I be that the Father continue to drag me toward Jesus (John 6:44)
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Here is another thread Sankitos of more discussion on my story journey, enjoy
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,10222.0.html
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Hi.
Never been a problem as we used to move all around the south isl , kiwi land , because of work ./ & just moving . we have friends every were.
I knew 40 odd years ago that many of the teachings from the bible were not right . i looked at what they were teaching & knew that after a few trys it was better to keep my mouth shut . because i knew they would not listen did they , no . so i took time away from having much to do with those groups.
now that does not say iv not keeped away all to gether i still see some & meet them just not in thier meetings & the group Jos was with has basicly been disbanded & in many ways that is good .
& even if we can get to show those in the groups the truth they dont wont it .
on the many forums im on there is a good oppotunity to share the truth so ill work on that nice & slowly .
...noeleena...
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I quit going about a year ago. I just could no longer sit there and listen to the things they were preaching. When the Lord led me to BT web site, I wasn't even half way down the first series of the Lake of fire series when I realized that everything I had been taught was a lie. Literally every single doctrine that I believed in ALL changed in just a couple days. But I believe God was laying the ground work before he even sent me to BT web site. I had for years been questioning certain things that just didn't set right with me. These questions I didn't dare ask anyone cause I really felt like I wouldn't get an honest answer without them (pastor) telling me there is no such thing as eternal torment. But for a long time I ignored these questions that played in my mind. Then I was directed to BT web site (out of the blue) by a friend. Then that's when everything I pondered was true. There is no hell. But when I had to explain all this to my wife, she thought I lost my mind. My sister even told my wife I had a demon when they discussed it. But NOW, after about 14 months of CONSTANT seeking, and explaining to my wife, she is FINALLY getting it, and understands why I refuse to go back to church. Though my wife isn't word savvy, she at least knows that hell as traditionally taught is a lie, free will, immortality is a lie, and many more. My advice is to get DEEP into studying and then when your fully prepared, sit down with her and explain all that you have gotten a revelation of. If it is God's will to open some truths to her then God will be the only one who can do that. Just plant the seed.
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"immortality is a lie"
Phillip I hope this is not a lie. Maybe just a typo. Paul taught us that, without the hope of the resurrection when mortality will put on immortality, we have nothing.
Good to hear you and your wife are seeing the Light, the Truth and the Way.
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"immortality is a lie"
Phillip I hope this is not a lie. Maybe just a typo. Paul taught us that, without the hope of the resurrection when mortality will put on immortality, we have nothing.
Good to hear you and your wife are seeing the Light, the Truth and the Way.
Ditto.
george. ???.
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I'm sure Phillip meant the church doctrine of the "immortal soul", which stands in direct conflict with the truth of resurrection.
Phillip, I'm not married, but I identify very much with what you've shared about yourself and coming to truth.
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Yes. The doctrine of man having a immortal soul. Ecc 9:5 The dead know not anything.
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My mother asked me about the confusing church doctrine of if you die and go to heaven or hell immediatly than what is Judgement day all about? I told her there was no hell and the dead are dead until the resurrection. She verbally attacked me(kind of like some of the nasty emails Ray gets.) and has been quoting Bible verses to me ever since. My daughter had her seven year old son 'preach' hell to me. I could only think about Jesus saying not to lead a little one astray or it would be better to hang a millstone around your neck (paraphrase Mt 18:6) When I go to their programs at church, it is uncomfortable. She said they were begging for help for their Vacation Bible School, and I felt a little guilty. I found out what Jesus meant when he said a man's enemies will be those of his own household after he said he came to set a daughter agaist her mother(etc.).(Mt. 10:34-36) My husband got himself an internet ministers certificate!
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God bless you, Nan.
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Santikos,
I'll take the points (namely Kat's) expressed a step further. Which is more expedient,
WITNESSING to people about Jesus? Or people WITNESSING Jesus about you?
The former is what a lot of churches emphasize you do in order to "be an on fire christian".
The latter is living in the reality of God's love. When you're living in God's love, people can't help but notice. 1 Peter 3 comes to mind:
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Another question to ponder: "Did you FIND Jesus? Or did God REVEAL Him to you?"
The christian teaching is the former, the TRUTH is the latter as told in John 6.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Know this dear friend. God has EVERYTHING under control. As you let go of trying to convince others of God's truths, the better off you'll thrive in them. Only HE can open eyes and ears as He has with you.
As Ray has pointed out that "the blind cannot see". Until God brings them to see they will stay blind.
May His truth further enlighten you,
Ches
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The thing is, I can't really blame my family or friends for pushing their churches on me because I would have done the same thing. That's what you're taught to fo. Help your brothers and sisters...don't want them to fall, etc. They get worried. When my mom started reading from this site 7 years or so ago, it rocked my faith. I couldn't understand how my mother who had always been this pillar of faith had strayed into these other teachings...I really didn't know what to think. It's taken me this long to finally grasp what she was understanding. I don't have a spouse so I suppose it's easier for me to deal with the church questions. I usually just tell people there's no meat to the messages and I would rather find good study materials online.
I don't know how it is elsewhere, but what is big here are the small groups (home bible studies where you really don't study anything but try to make friends and read Christian self help books). If anything, I get nagged more about not being in a small group than attending church regularly. I tried to go with the flow about 2 years ago and joined some but in the end I couldn't take it and left.
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Hi Santikos,
The narrow path is not the easy way that's for sure, but don't forget very few are given the opportunity to go this way. First study and get yourself well grounded in these truths, just start the top article of the BT home page http://bible-truths.com and go all the way through. As you continue to read the articles you will grow in knowledge and understanding. The better your understanding is the more able you are to explain these things to somebody else.
I think with people that have no interest in hearing what you believe, you can show them by being a living example. There is always lots of situations that come up in daily life to let your light shine. But you will also reflect the way you believe in your normal conversation. This truth will permeate every aspect of your life and that is how it is suppose to be and your wife will have to notice this. So just live your life applying these truths that you are learning and as your wife sees the changes in you she may begin to ask a few questions. Then you would have somebody who is interested in what you have to say.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Hi Kat,
You mentioned "There is always lots of situations that come up in daily life to let your light shine." Comments like this has always confused me as letting you light shine as you say is seen by some differently. There are people through out history that those in the church system look to that live a life letting the light shine. Some may say the Pope, Mother Theressa or even Gandhi lived a life of letting there light shine but what has there lives proved?
Those that have family that do see truth of God are not moved by the same things. Having a wife that does not believe the same way can put a strain on the relationship but when there are kids involved things get a little more complex. What responsibility do we have to our children? Like Roy his wife enrolled there daughter in catechism, is the loving thing to just sit back and be quite?
While my wive is not impressed with any church as she still believes in many of there doctrines.
While from time to time we do discuss scripture almost always ending the same way with each saying we must agree to disagree. But we do have children involved and I am not so sure the loving thing to do is sit back and allow them to be lied to.
Thank you
Bill
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Ijust LOVE
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I just love to read and re-read the messages on Ray's MAIN web-page, as well as all the "Posts". In fact, I have a hard time wanting to watch tv programs that I used to really enjoy! Then, there is all the hard copy articles that I have that I review a lot.
I have only been MEMBER a few months, but now I am getting to the place that I have the confidence that I know this "new doctrine" equally as well as the "church doctrine" that I was brought up in. I am getting more bold in expressing my convictions because I am reading the articles enuff that I know where to go to find the points I am looking for, which include the verses.
One of the flaws of Ray's, and sometimes, Samson's articles is that they are really Doctoral Thesises covering such a WIDE variety of subjects that they really need a TABLE OF CONTENTS. Sooo, being that these 50-100& page articles are NUMBERED when they are hard copied, I go through them paragraph by paragraph and INDEX them for easy reference. Someday, there should be a COMPLETE INDEX that
cross-references a topic from "thesis to thesis". WHEW! THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK! However, I love hard copy (minus the HIGH cost
of ink) because I can underline things, write notes in the columns and also study to my heart's content without hogging the computer when
my PATIENT wife, would like to use it!
I am sure Samson and Kat must havetheir own systems of finding/retrieving things as they "cut and paste" from larger articles. Maybe they could share their system with us novices so we don't have to "re-invent the wheel"!
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I do not think we have any obligation or responsibility to teach anyone the truths of God, whether they be family, or minor children, or the general public.
Jesus is the Saviour. That's what His name means. It's His job, responsibility, obligation to save people, which He will do at the appointed times. He will save everybody. We don't have to worry about it.
Que sera, sera! If Jesus wants to use someone to teach the truths of God, like Ray, then He will see to it that that person does it.
Sometimes we take too much on ourselves. Didn't Ray say somewhere that light and salt do not teach or preach?
Perhaps responsibility was a poor choice of words for me choose. What is the loving thing to do for our children when it comes to teaching the truth when one spouse believes something else?
Bill
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I just love to read and re-read the messages on Ray's MAIN web-page, as well as all the "Posts". In fact, I have a hard time wanting to watch tv programs that I used to really enjoy! Then, there is all the hard copy articles that I have that I review a lot.
I have only been MEMBER a few months, but now I am getting to the place that I have the confidence that I know this "new doctrine" equally as well as the "church doctrine" that I was brought up in. I am getting more bold in expressing my convictions because I am reading the articles enuff that I know where to go to find the points I am looking for, which include the verses.
One of the flaws of Ray's, and sometimes, Samson's articles is that they are really Doctoral Thesises covering such a WIDE variety of subjects that they really need a TABLE OF CONTENTS. Sooo, being that these 50-100& page articles are NUMBERED when they are hard copied, I go through them paragraph by paragraph and INDEX them for easy reference. Someday, there should be a COMPLETE INDEX that
cross-references a topic from "thesis to thesis". WHEW! THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK! However, I love hard copy (minus the HIGH cost
of ink) because I can underline things, write notes in the columns and also study to my heart's content without hogging the computer when
my PATIENT wife, would like to use it!
I am sure Samson and Kat must havetheir own systems of finding/retrieving things as they "cut and paste" from larger articles. Maybe they could share their system with us novices so we don't have to "re-invent the wheel"!
Duane,
Here is a good place to start.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,14.0.html
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Perhaps responsibility was a poor choice of words for me choose. What is the loving thing to do for our children when it comes to teaching the truth when one spouse believes something else?
Bill
Bill, all I can offer is some counsel. Feel free to ignore, as I'm not a father.
I'd ask some questions first. How old are the kids? Have they developed their own concience and belief system to some extent? How adept, accustomed, and/or inclined are you to be the head of your family AS CHRIST is the head of His church? How comfortable are you with the truth that you can't convince anybody--not even a child of a certain age--against his or her will? As a matter of fact, we can't convince anybody at all, ultimately, because it is God who draws, calls and chooses. While we can't believe without a 'preacher' (no matter what form that preaching takes), it's not the 'preacher' who performs the miracle ending blindness.
What truths are you wanting to instill? Can you communicate them in a way that matches their ability to comprehend?
I guess what I am driving at is that this is an opportunity given you by the grace of God to learn and grow, and to experience evil. Maybe the evil of uncertainty. Maybe the evil of inadequacy. Maybe to experience the evil of seeing your kids themsleves grappling with the evil in the synagogue. Certainly to experience the evil of being a flawed human who falls short of the glory of God.
It may be (and it's certainly my leaning) that there is no one right thing to do with your children. I'd only further add that when it comes to your own family, you're not likely to be able to sit quietly on every occasion. Ultimately, 'success' is garunteed.
I pray for all the parents grappling with this. God gave you your kids. He also gave your kids their parents. Surely He knows what He's doing.
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Hi Bill,
You mentioned "There is always lots of situations that come up in daily life to let your light shine." Comments like this has always confused me as letting you light shine as you say is seen by some differently. There are people through out history that those in the church system look to that live a life letting the light shine. Some may say the Pope, Mother Theressa or even Gandhi lived a life of letting there light shine but what has there lives proved?
Yes those people you mentioned did let there light shine, by seeking to do good in a corrupt world. This is the fruit of righteous character development which is always a good thing in God's eyes. There may or may not be any payback in this life for living righteously, but sooner or later as the Scripture says everyones shall give account for the work/fruit they do in this life.
Rom 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
1Co 3:13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
v. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
So it does matter how you live and the fruit you bare in this life, God will hold everyone accountable, for the few that judgment is going on now, but for the many it will come in the Lake of fire.
is the loving thing to just sit back and be quite?
So what I mean by letting your light shine in situations that come up in daily life, well I mean as we go about our lives it's rather easy to do good when things are going our way. But then we are always confronted with difficulties and trials of one sort or another and how we handle these things says something about what kind of character we have, especially to others. This is the fruit that we ultimately develop from the way we think and is reflected in our words and then is evident in our actions.
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain...
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
v. 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Hope this better explains.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
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Bill,
As a mom raising daughters who have been taught from what I call psycho-babble/megachurch doctrine to charismatic/word of faith doctrine to now truth, I have had to UNteach quite a bit and admitted my "wrongness." My oldest is quite Spiritually deep and always has been. She goes with the flow and picks it up quite quickly. She also sees the inconsistency in the things she hears and amazes me with the wisdom God has given such a young child.
Her father and I are on the same page with most of what we've been learning here but not everything. And certainly not everything we see in the world are we in agreement about either. The way I handle this is that when I am talking to them about something I don't agree with their dad on, I tell them so. I say, "This is what I believe but your daddy doesn't believe this way." I feel free to give my side and he his.
My oldest (age 12) has told me, "Mom, I know what you think and I know what daddy thinks but I am not sure what I believe yet."
And I tell her that she will believe exactly as God wills her to. I have no concerns about it at all.
But as a family who loves God, I don't see why we have to be upset or intimidated by our disagreements.
As was said here before by a very wise member (not me ;) ) This is what I believe, "1) I believe in the sovereignty of God and 2)I believe that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world."
If your wife (thinks) she believes the same, then she should stop worrying.
If she is overly concerned about the no hell doctrine, then concentrate your teaching to the love of God and the Scriptures that teach that. If you truly understand the depth of God's love for us, and the Scriptures about why Jesus came here and what He said He accomplished, the rest will come. The natural questions will come when children see the inconsistency in the church teaching of unconditional love vs. hell and torture.
Then you will be hopefully be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in Christ Jesus. ;D
Lin
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Tx everyone for all your insightful advice. I will just continue to let God love me and focus on his truths. Txs again for all you that have posted. This the only place I can have fellowship with others because no one here in San Antonio believes like I do. Txs
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I must say I have a problem with going to church. My family has noticed some signs of my conversion, but apart from calling me a hypocrite (you should know what I mean - you were an atheist and now you are a believer?) they mentioned I should go to church again. What is a dilemma here? If I don't go, they will think that they were right (my conversion is just a "mask", nothing more). If I go, I will feel very uncomfortable - after I've learnt the Truth I can no longer listen to church teachings, spend my time there, I just see no sense in going to church. It's very sad that for many people not going to church means you are breaking the Third Commandment. Anyway I prefer the second option :D :D maybe due to God's spirit I slowly stop worrying about others' opinions. Do you think my attitude in this matter is proper?
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I must say I have a problem with going to church. My family has noticed some signs of my conversion, but apart from calling me a hypocrite (you should know what I mean - you were an atheist and now you are a believer?) they mentioned I should go to church again. What is a dilemma here? If I don't go, they will think that they were right (my conversion is just a "mask", nothing more). If I go, I will feel very uncomfortable - after I've learnt the Truth I can no longer listen to church teachings, spend my time there, I just see no sense in going to church. It's very sad that for many people not going to church means you are breaking the Third Commandment. Anyway I prefer the second option :D :D maybe due to God's spirit I slowly stop worrying about others' opinions. Do you think my attitude in this matter is proper?
I don't blame you. I went for a while but I just couldn't just sit there listening to what they were saying. Sooner or later I would have eventually opened my mouth, and then it could have turned into a big debate. That I did not want cause I know how these people are. (This church even condemned watching tv) There is nothing there in these churches for me anymore. And I could care less what these people think. (though I do still have a Godly love for them)I know exactly what they think of me now. I'd be willing to bet money they are thinking "well then he don't believe in hell? well he's going to find out" But you know you know what? It's not what they think, it's what God thinks, and God is the one who gets the final say so. And God does tell us to "COME OUT OF HER"
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I must say I have a problem with going to church. My family has noticed some signs of my conversion, but apart from calling me a hypocrite (you should know what I mean - you were an atheist and now you are a believer?) they mentioned I should go to church again. What is a dilemma here? If I don't go, they will think that they were right (my conversion is just a "mask", nothing more). If I go, I will feel very uncomfortable - after I've learnt the Truth I can no longer listen to church teachings, spend my time there, I just see no sense in going to church. It's very sad that for many people not going to church means you are breaking the Third Commandment. Anyway I prefer the second option :D :D maybe due to God's spirit I slowly stop worrying about others' opinions. Do you think my attitude in this matter is proper?
Yes Dawidos,
I do think your attitude is proper, ;). Continue to stop worrying about others opinions regarding what to believe and their opinion about why you don't go to Church. For me, going to Church would be a total waste of my time, even for the social aspect. What fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness. They have nothing to teach me anymore, I've been called out. The Apostle Paul was told by the Proconsul that all this knowledge He attained was driving Him mad or crazy. Also back to going to Church: God does not dwell in handmade temple's, Churches, buildings, Synagogues, He is not far from each and every one of us. Jesus spoke about THE Church and HIS Church. HIS CHURCH is the only one that I'm interested in being a part of, if it's His Will for me to be a part of it. No interest here in ever being a part of THE Churches where they emphasize the Physical: physical water baptism, physical heaven, physical blood and bread of Christ, Physical punishment, Physical circumcision, physical Sabbath. Well, you get the picture. It would be better to concern ourselves with our Character and Moral flaws regarding our thoughts and actions and how it's perceived by those Church Dwellers. This way they can hopefully see our faith and belief by the way we conduct ourselves. I would gladly trade some of my knowledge in exchange for being able to overcome some of my Character Flaws, but it's All of God working in me.
Kind Regards, Samson.
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Dave, Kat, Linny,
I have been meaning to come back and let you guys know I did read your post and very much appreciate them.
Thank you
Bill
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Yes Dawidos,
I do think your attitude is proper, ;). Continue to stop worrying about others opinions regarding what to believe and their opinion about why you don't go to Church. For me, going to Church would be a total waste of my time, even for the social aspect. What fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness. They have nothing to teach me anymore, I've been called out.
Kind Regards, Samson.
I understand what you mean...even the social aspect. My best friend's new theme seems to be "community". That's all I ever hear come out of her mouth anymore with regards to church. She acknowledges the messages have no meat to them, but she really seeks out friendships and "community" at church. Now she is leading a small group at the church and was telling me how thankful she is about that because she is meeting so many people she wouldn't have otherwise been able to, and getting to know so and so better; really having community. Since I don't attend, she told me last weekend that I should go with her, "if anything, for the community." Ugh...she just doesn't really understand my place and how I feel right now. She knows my thoughts on the church and my beliefs, and I've told her that I just don't feel like I can connect with anyone at church...but I guess it fell on deaf ears. I don't know how to explain to her that I'm just not interested in bonding with these people. She actually invited me to go with her to church tonight, but I didn't follow-up with her to confirm.
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"if anything, for the community."
Yeah, right. If you went with your friend just one time and give a Testimony of you being called out of the church, I'd almost guarantee you wouldn't be bothered with helping the community anymore. :)
Continue to stop worrying about others opinions regarding what to believe and their opinion about why you don't go to Church. For me, going to Church would be a total waste of my time, even for the social aspect. What fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness. They have nothing to teach me anymore, I've been called out.
Kind Regards, Samson.
Amen!
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:).