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Palorenz
Posted on Friday, June 02, 2000 - 8:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I guess my question is pretty self explanatory. I'm interested in what angle all of you are coming from. By this I mean, some of the individuals in some the discussions seems to be still calling themselves SDA's while blasting the organization, while others (like myself) seem to have just walked away. Along these same lines, how many of you are now part of a different Christian fellowhip now that you are out of the SDA org? Me? I was a part of a interdenominational Spirit filled church in N. Dallas for about 8 years until my wife and I moved to a different part of the North Dallas area. Now were part of a local Assembly of God fellowship.
Lydell and David
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 3:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

We made the foolish mistake of meeting as a home church with some friends for 8 years after leaving the denomination. That's a dead end. Literally. For the past 3 years we have been part of the Vineyard church here in Dothan, Alabama.
Plain Patti
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 3:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi, Paul!
I am your neighbor to the south (Houston).

The mistake often made when leaving the SDA fellowship is to seek out another one that is "special" or has the "truth." There is no such denomination. I am comfortable in any of the mainstream churches; they don't preach works, they are not exclusive, generally, their ministers understand and preach grace. There are other denominations that I avoid because of their requirement for salvation--usually a believer work, such as speaking in tongues, refraining from certain activities, such as dancing, one's fine moral character, etc. I have found a lot of grace out there in the mainstream. (By mainstream I mean Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Disciples, Lutheran, etc.) And I have found some in each congregation who like to sit in judgment on others.

In short, it doesn't matter with whom you worship; what matters is that you are comfortable with the message being presented. Is it one of grace and forgiveness? Or is it one that focuses on the believer, a guilt-based religion?

Right now I am in between churches. I keep saying I am going to find another church (we moved), but I have been putting it off. It is hard for me to aclimate into a new setting; and I want to be in a church with good music. I worship a lot online. But I need to worship physically also. There is something edifying about physically attending church service.

Anyway, good luck

Patti
Maryann
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 7:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Patti,

You have such a way with fingers on the keys! Thank you for so many great post's.

The one about Delores was awesome! Don't stop.

Maryann
Steve
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 7:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Paul,

I'm one of those that is still SDA, while blasting the organization. Although I haven't left (attended church today) my resignation is forthcoming. I can't just leave due to the repercussions in the family (wife once wanted to leave over this issue, and won't allow me to talk to the kids about any of it -- you know, gotta smooth it all over and make it look OK.)

But I am a Christian, albeit a confused one at times. I will be visiting some churches in the area soon and may be one of those who attend both SDA (to be with my wife and kids) and another church of my choosing on Sunday.

I agree wholeheartedly with Patti above, there is not one true church out there. And the mainstream, grace oriented churches are where we SDAs and Formers can find some real spiritual healing.

God Bless,

Steve
Plain Patti
Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 11:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thank you, Maryann and Steve.
I needed the encouragement tonight!

God bless!

Patti
Colleentinker
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 7:24 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

We are, as I guess you probably know, worshiping at Trinity EV Free in Redlands. We chose it because of the pastor's awesome Bible teaching. While we have joined the congregation, we will never become part of a denomination again. We are Christians belonging to Christ alone and taught/defined by Christ alone.

The important thing is to find a church that bases its preaching/teaching firmly on the Bible!
Lydell
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 7:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Aw, come on now guys. Just because a church is not what you would consider "mainstream" doesn't mean you should entirely discount the possibility that the Lord has some stuff for you to learn there...IF he is leading you! My choice would have been to go with the familiar and comfortable (not referring to Bible truths here, but to such things as style of worship) and settle into my friend's Baptist church. There would have been no stretching of my attitudes involved. I could have just moved into a pew and not really learned the leasons He has taught us now.

God's idea was far different for us and I can see was a much wiser decision. We have been blessed and are growing in Him. As you noted tho, the emphasis must! be on does it teach grace and forgiveness, and does it rely on the Bible. Hm, think I would add to that are the members willing to show mercy to those who are babes in Christ and is there a loving fellowship. Those things are needed as well.

Patti, I would disagree with you on one thing that you said:
>In short, it doesn't matter with whom you worship; what matters is that you are comfortable with the message being presented.<
Truly we can worship with any group of Christians. However, we do need to ask for the Lord's direction to the church where HE wants us to be planted. I know your heart from your posts and that you do follow the Lord's direction for your life. And that you already know what I am talking about here.

But sometimes we sort of overlook pointing out this other part of the equation to those who have just left the denomination. I'm just noticing that with maybe too many folks they will just attend say, the closest church to their house. They go week after week and just seem to feel like something is missing.

Well, it is! The thing that was missing was the guidance of the Lord in their decision. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that congregation where they are attending. The problem is that it wasn't the Lord's choice for them to be there. Instead it was his purpose for them to be involved with a totally different fellowship. He had a purpose for them to be elsewhere and they are comfortably snoozing instead of seeking His direction.
Lydell
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 7:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hm, it occurs to me that perhaps it would be good to define "mainstream churches." To some that is large Protestant denominations with massive amounts of organization in the leadership, other's would say it is denominations that have been around for at least a hundred years, for some it is a certain number of churches or members that would qualify, some would define them by style of worship, i.e. organs, pianos, and great solemnity. For me, I would think of it as being large denominations that believe that the gifts of the spirits ceased when the apostles died or the New Testament was completed or whatever.
Lydell
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 7:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oops! Obviously that should have been "gifts of the Spirit". Sorry.
Palorenz
Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 8:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Let me expand on my post a little to explain where I'm coming from. For about a year before I left SDAism, I was attending Sojourn church (see my above post)because I knew this was where life was and where God was. For me, this is "where it's at" to use a dated cliche. God clearly led me there, for a time ( 9 years) before I was married. It was only after a lot of asking God whether or not to leave SDAism that He final sanpped the chains, in His timing.
Lydell
Posted on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 4:55 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Palorenz, yes that's my point! Aren't you glad that you sought the Lord's direction for what you were to do? His timing, and His place for us to go is always going to be best for us. It's a spiritual growth thing for us to learn that the Lord didn't just save us and then cut us loose to rely on our own wisdom to make decisions, especially spiritual ones.

He is a personal God. He's personally interested in whatever happens to us and whatever we are doing. And He stands there willing to give us direction IF we are open to seeking Him for that. I think that's probably very hard for someone who has grown up in a legalistic religion to learn. We don't serve a stern impersonal master who sits on a throne and is distant from our lives. Instead we have a loving Dad who is personally interested and involved with our daily lives. It's a difference between just seeing Him as being someone on the pages of history (and relying solely on our own reasoning) or experiencing an intimate relationship with Him.

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