| Author | Message | ||
| Richard Tinker |
Discussion starting with "Roger's" post has been moved to the Discussion section under the topic "So Sad." | ||
| Jeralee |
Hi I am Jeralee Smith. I was a 4th generation SDA and both my dad a grandfather were pastors. I left the church 10 years ago after realizing that I just wasn't being fed spiritually in it. I went through the Bible to see if it really supported the importance on the Sabbath that SDA's ascribe to it and found that Jesus was terribly remiss in preparing His disciples and the new church for the importance of the Sabbath in the last days. I decided that it wasn't intended to be a focal issue by Christ nor the apostles! So I left the church and found what it's really like to walk and live in the Spirit and have Jesus for my constant companion. I hope to get to know the people on this forum. Is there an intro page? Thanks for having this great forum!! Jeralee | ||
| Jude the Obsure |
Dear Jeralee, Welcome to this forum managed by Richard Tinker, a wonderful Christ-truster. Notice that unlike other forums, this one is not exclusive. Everyone is welcome. You don't have to provide your e-mail address if you don't want to. And you don't have to reveal your real name until you're ready. Regarding your Sabbath experience, kudos to you for going to your Bible and checking it out for yourself. That shows you're a true scholar-in-Christ. Isn't it amazing how the "scales" fall from the eyes when you begin to discover what Scripture is really saying? Again, welcome, Jeralee, Jude the Obscure | ||
| Susan |
Greetings Jeralee! I too am a former 4th generation sda. Welcome to the family. This is a great forum. I truly feel like the folks on this site are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes I think about what fun it will be, to meet you all in heaven one day! There are some testimonies to read here. I think you can find them on the opening page(?) It's nice to read them. Also, I think by reading all the archived discussions you could find out a bit of info. about some of us. When I first found this site and others I just couldn't get enough of reading the personal stories. I never knew there were others like me out there. So glad you've joined us! Blessings, Susan | ||
| Lynn W |
Jeralee, Congratulations on your escape to the Kingdom. Click on the FAF Online logo to the left of the message box for the homepage. Lynn | ||
| Colleentinker |
Jeralee, Welcome! I hope you're finding your way around our website now after Susan and Lynn gave you some pointers. We're so glad you're here! Join in the discussion any time you feel like it. We'd love to hear from you! Colleen | ||
| Bruce H |
Jeralee. Welcome to the the The Body of Christ. He (Christ) is here within us today and forever!!!! And Boy is He awesome. I to am a fourth generation Adventist and have left the THEIR Church, and have joined HIS church | ||
| Lynn W |
I'm testing to see if this still works. It had been blocked by my server. Colleen, thanks for printing the articles on Ellen White vs. the Bible in the Bible study section. | ||
| Jim M |
I am so thankful to have found your website. I have felt like I am being torn in two for the last few months as I try to make the decision to leave the SDA church . I am a 4th generation SDA and I know it will hit my family so hard to find out about my "desertion". I no longer feel that the Adventist church is the "true" church that I was led to believe for over 40 years . The teachings and doctrines have such a hold on me that the last few months I have felt so guilt ridden and confused . I have just found your site and plan on spending a lot of time here . Thanks , Jim | ||
| Lynn W |
Jim, praise God, I'll be in prayer for you as I know the others will too. Welcome aboard. It's a little scary at first, but the people here are very supportive. | ||
| Ernie |
Jim: There is light at the end of the tunnel. I understand your frustration and confusion, I've been there. Jim, the God who is working in you through His Spirit will never forsake you. You will be in our prayers. I was a pastor in the SDA Church, and God brought me out of it. The first months are the worst, but God will be opening doors and helping you with those family crisis. The Lord is not unfair, He will be faithful with you. God bless you, Ernie | ||
| Jim M |
Lynn and Ernie , thank you for your encouraging words in response to my first letter here . I am in an area not close to any of the churches mentioned in this website . I know I need to be part of a group to grow strong and not stand alone. What would you suggest I do ? I know no other sda's in the area with feelings like mine . I attended a couple of different Methodist churches but have been going to a Southern Baptist church for the last 3 months . Like I mentioned in my first letter , I'm basically just one very confused person . Thanks for listening , Jim | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Jim, I just got in and so this is the first opportunity I've had to WELCOME you to this website and FAF. Come on, all the rest of you out there, WELCOME Jim! God's grace and peace to all! -Jude | ||
| Lori |
Jim, You are already doing the right thing!!! You are listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Stay in God's word! He has a plan for you and he will reveal it to you! I'm not near any former adventist groups, either. But you don't need one, all you need is God and His word.-----I have found alot of direction from the people that post on this website on various subjects that 'bind' the Adventist mind. Satan will do all kinds things to try to convince that what you are now believing is a lie and your former beliefs were the truth. Always test your doubts with scripture. A wonderful Christian lady I have had the opportunity to study with says to "Phillipian 4:8'em". And remember, there is a tremendous peace that comes with the truth! Stand firm in your faith, Lori | ||
| Susan |
Jim, what a joy to have you join us! Welcome to the family. God has mighty plans for you, His Spirit's at work in your heart and that's exciting. I will definitely keep you in prayer. I'd like to share something that really hit me the other day. I was explaining to a friend the impact of Christ in my life. I tried to explain that if we present ANY of our works as part of our salvation process, then we've taken away from the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Isn't it presumptous of us to think that we can actually "help" God out with what He's already taken care of? It's unlikely that we can compete with the awesome work of God almighty. In fact, to say we have any role in our salvation, (like sabbath keeping) implies that God can't handle it. Anyway, once again I was just blown away by what Christ has done, and how much I need Him. Welcome Jim! May God richly bless you as you walk in The Light. | ||
| Jim M |
Again , let me thank you all for being such a caring group and welcoming me into your 'family'. Yes Susan I too am just blown away at times when I think of what God has done for us . It's so hard to comprehend at times especially for me . Even though I was raised in the SDA church I was never a really strong member . Strong enough though that this breaking away ,like I said before, has really had me confused and stressed out. Hopefully , with your prayers and studying all the messages on your site I'll begin to really believe that I'm doing the right thing . Should I now move off of the guest page and onto another page ? I've tried to register my name ,e-mail etc. but have encountered problems and just notified your webmaster of it . Thank you all again for your prayers and support. Jim | ||
| Lydell |
Well Jim welcome. All you need to do is start posting messages. We'll talk to you. I know that one of the big battles you will fight with yourself is trying to dump the condemnatory stuff left over from the SDA days. The old whispering doubts in your mind of "gee, what if I really AM doomed for not keeping the sabbath." All we on the site can do is offer our personal experiences to the contrary. For David and I, we can strongly state that we are experiencing a walk with the Lord that is richer and deeper than ever before in our lives. (And we were Christians before we ever joined the SDA church.) He definitely has not turned His back on us! Don't worry about not having a former sda group to fellowship with. That could just be God's way of hurrying you into a true church body out there for you in your area somewhere. You are a part of a much larger family than the one you were born into. Spiritual family ties are going to prove to you to be stronger than your natural family ties. It's not that you turn your back on your natural family. It's just different is all. No one here will slam you. And I'm sure all of us would welcome private e-mail if there is something you want to go into real depth discussing and fear the discussion might get too long for the forum. | ||
| Lynn W |
Jim, in response to your question: "What would you suggest I do ?" QUESTION EVERYTHING. Whether they are SDA, Babtist, or whatever. The first, most important thing you can do is find an non-prophet church or group, which it looks as if you are doing. The answers should come from only one place - the Bible. A common excuse I've often heard Adventists teach to defend Ellen White is, "well every church has their own prophet." This is a lie. Look at the churches which do have prophets, (Mormons, JW, Christian Science, etc.) & you'll see who SDA is in company with. Don't accept isolated proofs texts here & there. My ex-Adventist friend told me that as long as she only read the verses given to her, the Adventist doctrine seemed right & hard to refute. But whenever she continued reading, she started seeing contractions to SDA teaching. When a verse is given to you, keep reading. If a teaching is right, the more you read, the more the passage will support it. | ||
| Colleentinker |
Jim, Welcome! I'm so glad you've found us! I'll look for you in the discussion forum! God is so good to lead us to the places and people that we need to help us grow! |
