| Author | Message | ||
| Artman29 Registered user Username: Artman29 Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2006 |
I was scared to death most of the time of the Sunday law, sins, salvation, being saved, The Great Controversy, ect.. Did anyone else have these fears? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3797 Registered: 12-2003  |
Oh, yes--when I was a teenager, I used to lie awake at night worrying over any unconfessed sins and whether or not I might have accidentally committed the unpardonable sin. I was bound up in fear. It ruled my life. I was compulsive and anxious most of the time. Praise God He has given me freedom in Him! Colleen | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 200 Registered: 4-2005  |
EG White's real meaning is: F G White for Fear and Guilt. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2466 Registered: 3-2004  |
I remember thinking I would never make it to heaven because I could not remember all my sins. I hated to read the Bible as I came to adulthood because I thought everything that happened to the Israelites would happen to me and I read the Great Controversy only once because it scared me so much. I did not read the Bible for about 20 years. Jwd, EGW could mean experience guilt wholly. Diana | ||
| Cathy2 Registered user Username: Cathy2 Post Number: 130 Registered: 2-2006 |
Hi Andy, Welcome; and may you be "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort..." 2 Cor. 1:3 I can relate... 'End Times' family obsessions and endless discussions and speculations about it... I grew up within all that. My sister and her husband read aloud all of the Great Controversy to their two girls, when they were 15 and 13. The oldest came to me, when she visited one evening in my home. She wept, and told me of her terror of being taken away from her parents at the soon coming of the Sunday Laws and the End Times, etc., etc.... I was between a rock and a hard place; desiring to tell her that it all wasn't true, yet, not wanting to disrespect her parents to her. Finally, after praying really hard, I gently told her that I truly didn't believe that she would be taken away from her parents and that Jesus was always with her and would never abandon her. And some other scriptural things (her parents claimed to be very serious on scripture), I cannot recall, right now. I was so heart-stricken for her, knowing of the lies taught to her and her sister by her most trusted persons. I was, also, frustrated at her parents for scaring her so badly. Yet...I knew that they were deceived and truly believed they were doing something good and right for their girls. (They are truly loving parents) They just couldn't see, anymore than my parents were able to, that it was emotionally terrifyng and harming to their daughter. (If others knew more about my niece, her sister and that entire family, they would understand just how deeply the harm goes; and how tragic Adventism can be, personally, emotionally, mentally and in daily living; and how much healing is needed. Andy, you are one individual, whom could truly and deeply relate to the harm done to certain types of persons from EGW Adventism!) It was a hard time for me, emotionally, coping wiht all that.I felt a lot of anger at Adventism and, even at my sister, for awhile. I did let her mother know what happened. I thought that was the right thing to do from any mother to mother about one's so deeply frightened and hurting child, no matter wehat the subject is. So she could help her daughter. I know my sister loves her! My sister took it well in person, but I don't know what her true, inner feelings were about EGW, the GC, et all. I pray that it made her think some things through, but I may never know. I have a niece and nephew even younger, who I hurt for, as well, especially, after Gilbert posted the latest Sabbath School lessons, which are blasphamy to me! Spiritual danger! Possibly, them never having a chance to learn of the real Jesus, what he truly did on the cross and in his resurrection, having an assurance in Christ, and growing up in fear and believing they are an Elite, better than everyone else... ~shudder~ I just hurt and pray in deep sadness. It's all I can do for this younger generation, being raised like I was, in heresy, fear and arrogance. Speaking to their parents would do no good--they seem too blinded-- it would only alienate me further from them all...the heretic aunt, completely useless, then. I am already that, the Heretic, but I need not go out of my way to make it worse. I can only live my faith with them. My children and I do not, in Christ, live in fear, even of so-called 'End Times'; nor do we feel that we are better than others, let alone other Christians. So, even though, my youngerSDA family, has been taught to fear us, we love them in Christ and in heart. I pray that it comes through. Andy, in time, healing comes, more and more and more. Trust that. In hindsight, someday, you will see that Jesus, God, was there, is there, with you, right now. Many of us have been there and come through to the other side; still growing up in Christ, learning for all of our lifetime. We don't always, every time, understand the purposes, but there is one, for all things, for Goodness, not evil. I've been praying for you, as I've read your heart-postings, Andy. I can relate to some of your trauma, especially, about SDA-EGW, angry, controlling parents. Not all you experienced, but some. I am very thankful that you found healing and counseling support in your life about the cultic trauma; I think that is very, very important and needed for you. I speak from my own past, PTSD and healings. God's grace, mercies, comfort and Belovedness be with and upon you, Andy, right now~ Cathy choosier1@msn.com | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 201 Registered: 4-2005 |
Diana, And we certainly did, didn't we? :c) "Experience Guilt Wholly." Jess | ||
| Wooliee Registered user Username: Wooliee Post Number: 77 Registered: 6-2005 |
This is kind of silly, but I used to worry that the world would end before I had a chance to grow up, get married, and have children. Ellen's writings always filled me with fear, doubt, and worry. I am so glad that Jesus has replaced that with faith, hope, and peace. Julie | ||
| Artman29 Registered user Username: Artman29 Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2006 |
To all that have responded, Thankyou so much. I am starting to feel like I am not alone in all of this spiritual abuse. Through all of your help I am starting to see the real, loving Christ that you obviously all know. It will take time, but the healing is happening and God is Good. Legalism is so draining. Andy | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 361 Registered: 10-2005 |
Although I was Adventist for 20 years after becoming an adult. The message has been buried in me and I thought of it as a part of my relationship with Christ. I didn't realize my beliefs were such a big barrier in this relationship. I never fake prayed. I was sincere in my Adventist beliefs and in my prayers and I know as an Adventist, my prayers were answered without my even knowing it. Like protecting my children from some of this message. I knew that I couldn't really handle it, so how much worse would it be for my children? I figured they would "have to know" eventually, so I figured a slow, softer, indirect approach would work. Kinda how Adventists evangelize outsiders into the church. How I came into the truth. Panic attacks, fear and unbelief became greater with age. The Adventist message is not grace alone. That must have been what was confusing to me. I was taught two completely opposite messages in the church. However, because He loves me, He has been faithful, even when I couldn't be. And now the relationship is mutual and real. I am no longer lost and found, lost and found, lost and found... saved and lost, saved and lost, or so I thought.... screw it, what difference does it make, I can't please God! Christ alone. I believe He died for me and has risen. That is enough. I am saved. I am secure. Even if I get drunk next Saturday or worse! I'm not trying to be sacrilegious here, but, Happy Sunday! | ||
| Vchowdhury1 Registered user Username: Vchowdhury1 Post Number: 150 Registered: 7-2004 |
Artman29, I grew up in the SDA church and I can remember when I was about 7 or 8 years old being absolutely terrified of the "last days", "Sunday Law" fear tactics. I can also remember that I always felt like I would be lost and go to hell because I was not "perfect" and did not keep the sabbath perfectly. I could not sleep at nights, and I would have crying "fits". Praise God my son does not have to grow up with this fear. | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 1018 Registered: 7-2004 |
I've been spending a good deal of time debating at CARM for the past couple of months. That's why you haven't heard that much from me. This morning one of the SDA's started a thread on sinlessness and struck a deep nerve. I'm sure I'm not the only one that was frustrated by the need to be pure and sin free before Jesus returned. The posts being made on this thread have awakened all of that frustration again. It is different now, however, because I know that I am forever clothed in Christ's righteousness. My frustration is that they have to paint Jesus as potentially sinful in order to portray him as our example rather than Savior. The effect of this belief is like sand between my teeth. This is an amazingly abusive belief. It says that Jesus only died for your sins up to a point, and that past that you have to make up the difference. Total blasphemy. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3820 Registered: 12-2003 |
Belva, I so completely agree with you. Your statement, "The effect of this belief is like sand between my teeth," is SO descriptive. I agree; the implications of Jesus' imperfection (they're usually careful NOT to say He was sinfulóSDAs close to us say, "He didn't have a SINFUL nature, but He had a FALLEN nature...) means he was not here as my substitute. He was here to show me how to overcome my own fallen nature and become sinless, also. You're right; it's abusive and totally blasphemous. Sigh...and sigh again. Colleen | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 482 Registered: 7-2004  |
Belva, I know just what you mean (since I spend a little time on CARM too). I find SDA doctrine of salvation produces only hopelessness. In fact, I once said that the biggest hope in SDAism was that I would be destroyed rather than punished eternally. It is no wonder SDAs are so attached to annilihation, since salvation is so elusive. | ||
| Artman29 Registered user Username: Artman29 Post Number: 28 Registered: 4-2006 |
Ric_b Good point! Andy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2483 Registered: 3-2004 |
Ric, what you said above reminds of how I felt when I was a pseudo SDA. I thought that as long as I was not doing my part, I would enjoy my sinning and do as much of it as I could, because when I died, after Jesus came, I would be dead for good!!! Diana | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 1019 Registered: 7-2004 |
So true about annihilation. I remember discussing just that with my mother. She was upset at me for not being a goody-two-shoes (I don't want to go into the details) and she had been calling me and harrassing me over the subject for a while. I told her that I guessed Jesus would either have to save me, or burn me up. I trusted Him, but if he didn't trust me, he was in charge. That fried her, but at least she stopped calling for a little while. That's an interesting point. Who among us hasn't had that type of discussion with either a SDA relative or friend who was trying to get you to rejoin the church and behave like a good SDA ought? | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 1020 Registered: 7-2004 |
By the way, Ric, I've thoroughly enjoyed your posts at CARM. They are clear and supported from scripture. I especially like the reference to the sound of crickets. Every time we ask the SDAs who post for clear evidence from scripture to support one of their pet beliefs the discussion falls off like it had gone over a cliff. Ric used a wonderful metaphore about pregnant pauses that accentuate the sounds of the night critters. It's not really so funny, though, since I've been dealing with trunkated conversations for years now. I'm getting tired of waiting for the other shoe to fall. |
