| Author | Message | ||
| Geneva |
We left the SDA church 8 years ago. However, our our names remained on their membership list. Recently, however, we received a call from the SDA church regarding their pictoral directory. It just finally seemed the right time to have our names removed. Having our name in their directory just didn't seem right or honest, anymore. After all, we hadn't attended their church in many years. We wrote a letter to the church, stating that we had not attended there in a long time and requested our names be dropped. The pastor that handled "our case" is a dear and personal friend and personally told me of the sad and disappointed faces he observed in the membership committee that evening. My question is "if they are so sad and disappointed, why do they not speak directly to us about their concerns or to say that they miss us?" These people knew us and are coworkers of ours. It reminds me of a time when I wrote a letter resigning from the orchestra at this same church. (I had played in it for 19 years!) Again, there was no response, even to say "We will miss you!" That was painful, but I will say that it has gotten easier. I understand where they are coming from. What I have in Christ now makes up for all the "losses" that have come before. The freedom that comes from being able to live authentically and the security I have in Christ dwarfs all the worries and silence that I have experienced. | ||
| lkreed |
Well!!!! This website has so amazed me!! Sometimes it seems like one is somewhat alone in the quest for Jesus and Jesus only. Had I found this type of information in 1996, I may have not studied so hard to "unlearn" a life time of 'SDAism'. My first eye opener came when someone said to me: "it's not a sin to eat pork, you know!" From there the study became almost an obsession. We--10 friends --have steadily held weekly study groups in our homes. There we find open ideas, good questions, the love of Jesus and a wealth of study options. We are the last (hopefully!!) fallout of a series of fallouts from a local SDA church. However, we are not trying to make our own little SDA congregation as some previous individuals have. In fact, I really have no desire to join in any type of religious game playing. Note: I am a firm beliver in the distinction between Christianity and Religion. The freedom in Jesus without denomonationalism is 'almost too good to be true'. Additionally, as our group 'unlearns' together we have understood the importance of the similar histories of the lifetime in SDAism on which we have based our quest to know Jesus more. And, in answer to the basicquestion: "Nothing" Even in our previous group of 'leavers', the hard questions are loudly ignored and the word is that they are better off now that we aren't raising such difficult topics. I believe that as long as my target is Jesus, He is too big to be missed and He will not allow me to be led astray. One does not become born again as an adult Christian. Even Jesus stated that we must become as little children. I may be a toddler until He comes, but, I know that I will always be on His knee. Everything I have read in these forum topics have demonstrated so many of the hurdles and traffic bumps in study I have encountered. One cannot realize how one's mind has been --I'm searching for the word here, since I don't really like the use of brainwashing--managed by the evidences of "truth". I welcome imput from others with similar history!! | ||
| Colleentinker |
Ikreed--actually, you're probably blessed that you have had to study so hard to unlearn Adventism. I'm convinced that the people who actually leave Adventism and find Christóas opposed to just leaving and becoming rudderlessódo so because of their personal Bible study. Reading the Bible for oneself is far more impacting thatn only discussing the truths about it. It's such a wonderful thing that God leads us to himself and to each other! | ||
| lkreed |
Thanks for your reply. any discussions on your journey would be both interesting and helpful. | ||
| Ernie |
I remember the nights of personal anguish trying to reconcile the Scriptures with my beliefs as an Adventist minister. The hardest part of it was to stand before my congregations knowing that Adventism was not the last message of God for the world; that the historiography regarding the change from Sabbath to Sunday was flawed; that there is no investigative judgement in Heaven, etc. It took me many years before I took the decision of leaving Adventism. I still recalled the first time I went shopping a Saturday morning. I felt so bad I could not concentrate in doing my errands. I stopped in front of a store and prayed earnestly to God for deliverance from that spirit of legalism. When I left the church, many people tried to talk to me and convince me that I was doing the worst mistake of my life. However, nobody proved me wrong based on the Word of God. The arguments came from the reasoning of EGW and not from the Scriptures. It was very hard for me. I was losing my livelihood, my career, my friends, my little world in which I had grown up. I recalled a "friend" who with tears in his eyes told me that it was better for me to leave the church for the world and not for theological reasons. In his mind, in the world I had more hope than in a different church. Actually, that helped me in understanding the spirit within the SDA church. Throughout all my ordeal, God's grace sustained me and helped me to cope with the crisis. God provided financial resources out of nowhere. God helped me to find a Bible believing community where I was nurtured and groomed to continue preaching the Truth as it is revealed in the Scriptures. I am totally amazed in how God has led my life out of the SDA organization. Right now, I travel throughout the world telling other people how gracious God has been in providing us a wonderful Saviour like Jesus. I just want to thank God for leading me out of an organization that does not teach the whole counsel of God. Actually, I see my own experience as a miracle of God's grace. Ernie | ||
| Susan |
Praise God Ernie! What a blessing it is, to hear about the marvelous workings of God in your life. It is truly a miracle of grace that any of us made it out. Like Timo has said before, " It's Christ plus nothing". The legalism of adventism just draws folks away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ alone, susan | ||
| Colleentinker |
I echo Susan: Praise God, Ernie! It is a miracle each of us made it out. The spirit of ADventism is powerful, subtle, and clutching; only God could get someone out of it. Thank you for sharing your story. Last Friday night we asked the people in our Former ADventist Fellowship group how their feelings about Jesus have changed. It was amazing to hear both men and women saying, essentially, that Jesus was an uncomfortable name and "concept" when they were Adventists, but now they actually love him! I'm so glad I can say that I love Jesus! And he actually loves me, personally, not just in a distant, "Philadelphia" sort of way. He is personal, and he loves me and each one of us! Colleen |
