| Author | Message | ||
| Cindy |
Kimberly, Welcome to this place of grace. I am glad you are here! I KNOW about the messages given that you will lose salvation if you leave the S.D.A. church... but, the reality is, salvation is found in no other name than JESUS! Many S.D.A.'s are completely mystified that you could leave for DOCTRINAL reasons and still remain a follower of Christ. I always heard about those who left that they were either hurt by, or mad at, some other church member; or else they were turning their back on Christ. I read in the preface to "Cultic Doctrine" by Dale Ratzlaf these words which I really agree with. Ratzlaf tells that he and his wife left the Adventist church in 1981..."Since that time many of our SDA friends ask us,'Why did you leave?' My answer has been, 'We studied our way out.' This answer is completely incomprehensible to most Seventh-day Adventists. They--as we did--believe that Seventh-day Adventists have 'the truth,' a special message given by God for the last days, How, then, they reason, can one study himself out of the truth without leaving truth and accepting error?' Like you, I want to Rest in the Freedom of Christ! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Steve |
Hi Kimberly, Good to "see" you here. This site has been very helpful to me since I found it late last year. I've learned from all who post here. Hope to see you engage in some e-dialogue with us. Steve | ||
| Breezy |
Does anyone know where Max is? I miss his wisdom on this forum. Also kinda worried. Thanks, Wendy | ||
| Steve |
I hope this is OK to share (I'll be brief.) Max is doing fine. Visited his church this past Sunday. Computer usage issues are in process with him. I also miss his wisdom on this forum. But he's OK (as of this past Sunday) and his usual self. Steve | ||
| Colleentinker |
Welcome, Kimberly! We look forward to your contributions on the forum! Colleen | ||
| Joni |
Dear Kimberly, Yes. Welcome! Our God is Good and Holy, and able to bring us to Him. Praise Him for doing so in each of us. We can have peace and refreshing knowing that He will complete the work that He started in us. I have been reading Acts and found in Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" I have a little note that says "refreshing" means "inner relief - sabbath rest". It truly blessed me. We can have a true Sabbath Rest in Jesus Christ. Joni | ||
| kme |
Hello again! I'm so excited to have fellow believers in Christ to share with and learn from. I told my sister about this website last night. She's going to visit soon, as well. She has helped me find my way to Christ's saving grace. I won't elaborate on her story, except to say "she received Grace about 3 years ago". Boy, did I think she was off track! That's why, I can understand so well, what the traditional Adventist thinking is. My family believes we're lost. At least most of them. But I understand where they're coming from. And I believe, because of the way the Lord chose to lead me out of the wilderness, through love,prayer and the Holy Spirit, our friends and loved ones can be, and will be reached as well. As Christ as our example, we have to love them through it. There's no doubt in my mind, many of the sincere Adventist Christians have Christ. But, something about the nature of the religion, makes it so hard to find Christ, and display His fruits! The very nature of it sets us up for judgement in every respect. I praise the Lord every day with thankfulness, for his Son Jesus who loves me through it all! My story, well, as I said, I was raised S.D.A. went to church school etc. I had always been drawn to the Lord. But, when I got discouraged with trying to live the "Adventist Lifestyle" I would tend to throw out God! After all, if you weren't going to be an Adventist, there was no point in doing anything, because they had "The Truth". Worshiping the Lord in any other way was futile, if not blasphemy! Wow! This is why I think this website is so important! My heart goes out to all of those like me, who couldn't separate Christianity from religion. Please don't misunderstand. You who have been raised Adventist, probably won't. Christ has to be, first and foremost, the focus of every Christian religion. That's where, in my opion, the SDA's often get side-tracked! It would seem, that Sabbath is the focus of Adventism. As well as many other things. Anyway, back to my story. So this trying to live right, and giving up, happened many times over the years. For years at a time. But, two years ago, I told my husband that we had to do something, or forget it! I had to find a church, religion or something, that would be meaningful to me. So,we began to look outside the Seventh Day Adventist Church. My husband's stipulation though, was that it had to be a Seventh-Day observing church. I looked in the yellow pages to find only one other that wasn't Seventh Day Adventist. It was an independant church, that was most similar to the former World Wide Church of God. We fellowshiped with them for about two years. I must say it was wonderful. We still love the people there. However, although we accepted a lot of their beliefs at the time, such as the observance of God's Holy Days, the forsaking of all pagan holidays etc., when going into the second anti-Christmas season, I began to question, that the focus of our efforts might be misplaced. So I studied every night diligently for two or more months, the Bible, about different denominations, the Seventh Day Adventist doctrines, Bible history, etc. I was so tired and frustrated, because I couldn't figure out what was pleasing to God, and what wasn't! I was ready to throw God away again! But you know what? I realized for the first time in my life, if I had to live without the hope of God in my life, I couldn't go on. At that moment I realized that the Lord was so much a part of me, that I didn't want to be without him. That's when I received Christ! I can't tell the story without weeping! Well, that was last December. After truly accepting Christ's gift, I could allow him to lead me in everything. Now, we are attending a Missionary Baptist Church that I know the Lord led me to. We have a wonderful pastor who is truly Spirit led. He preaches the Gospel, what a beautiful thing! It has been so hard at times. I have to pray daily sometimes, moment by moment, "Lord, take captive my thoughts." The doubts that creep in, the fear etc., because of the things I was taught. But, Christ always reasures me of my Salvation through Him, and only Him. One thing that's so neat. When I read some of what had been written by some of you, it was the same conclusion I had come to, through prayerfully reading scripture! I know the Holy Spirit is leading. Of course there are those who have told me they believe it's from a different spirit. That's when I go back to Christ and scripture and He always comforts me through that. Well, I look forward to hearing from you. Grace and Peace to you all. Kimberly | ||
| Cindy |
Kimberly, Thanks so much for sharing your story! I, too, realized that if I didn't have God in my life I wouldn't be able to go on. I love where it says in Deuteronomy 30, "For the LORD IS YOUR LIFE..." I want Him to be mine. I also agree with you that, "After all, if you weren't going to be an Adventist, there was no point in doing anything, because they had "The Truth". Worshiping the Lord in any other way was futile, if not blasphemy." Unfortunately, this is the experience of so many who get discouraged and don't realize how wonderful the TRUTH IS IN JESUS! In debt to His Mercy Always, Cindy | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Kimberly, Thank you for that wonderful story/testimony. I'm sure there will be many blessed by it. Make sure and register so you can get a password and post in the other areas. I'm sure you will be able to contribute in a lot of other threads! Maryann | ||
| Sherry2 |
Thank you so much for everyone's testimonies. Thank you Kimberly for yours. I just am sitting here sobbing. Gosh, it hurts so bad, and for me so freshly out of the church, with a hubby still in, those "thoughts" of maybe I'm wrong, maybe EGW is right, just come in to haunt sometimes. These stories are helpful to affirm. I was so amazed when I started finding people who felt just like I did, and were concerned with this attitude of arrogance and exclusivism, and having EGW seem to be the only end-time prophetess even though Joel makes it clear God's spirit will be poured out on all His children....Thank you a million times over! Hey there Steve, and Max...are you folks out in California too? Bruce, at some point this year, by the grace of God, if it is ok with you all at FAF, I would like to fly out there and spend a weekend, see how the meetings are run, and come back to start something in Michigan. I also want to share with ya all that I talked with the pastor of the Baptist church I'm attending, and it turns out, his grandmother (or great..can't remember) was SDA too, but left, and from that point on did an outreach through the mail to reach those who were in cults, whether LDS or JW, or SDA or anything else. God bless everyone! | ||
| kme |
Hello Maryann, Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes it's a little scary to "bare your soul" to all. However, I believe we can help others by doing so sometimes. I have registered and received my password. I'm still trying to figure out how to get around the site. I didn't have a lot of time yesterday, and I'm not a seasoned computer whiz either! I have read some interesting stuff that I might venture to comment on. Re: Cindy's message above about Spiritualism and how the Adventist teaching on "soul sleep" protects us from that. Well, here's some enlightening information! I found out just recently in conversation with a relative, that my grandmother, who very much believed in the SDA docrine of "soul sleep" saw her mother standing at the foot of her bed after she died. So much for that idea, huh! kme | ||
| kme |
Just another added on thought to the one above (mine). If we will just get into our Bibles, there are warnings all over the place about not consulting mediums etc... The information is there, all we have to do is read it! But if we are taught to believe the Bible is too difficult to understand, therefore, we need "other writings" to clarify, we won't study our Bibles! There's a safety net there, isn't there. How can anyone ever be led by the Holy Spirit, if we don't read His Word. | ||
| kme |
Need Help. I just tried to post a message, and it wouldn't allow me to. Does anyone have any idea why? Or how I might find out? I had an e-mail this morning with my username and password. Does it take a couple of days or what? Grateful, kme | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Sherry2, Please e-mail me at gogold@quixnet.net I have something to talk to you about;-)) Maryann | ||
| Susan |
Welcome Kimberly! Thanks for sharing. What a blessing it is to have you on this forum. It's exciting when God leads you out. Also, it's amazing to discover what the gospel really is. Sherry2, a bit of advice on starting a group in Michigan; PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! I think it's great that God would put this on your heart. But be prepared for some spiritual warfare! You're in one of the SDA "Mecca's", I think, and you'll be met with some opposition. I'm in a prime area too. I thought our group would never be up and running here near the GC, but we've been meeting now for almost 6mo. Praise God! You see it's really His group and his gig, we're just kingdom workers. And I'm so glad to be a part of His mighty plan. (I could do without all the spiritual warfare stuff though!) I too would like to go out to visit our FAF friends in CA. Perhaps in the fall?? In Christ, Susan | ||
| Colleentinker |
Hi, Kimberly! Your story moved me to tears. Thank you so much for sharing it! You should be able to post now with your user name and password. I'll have Richard check to make sure we emailed you the correct password when he gets home. I'm sorry you're having trouble. You're in my prayers. Colleen | ||
| Cindy |
Kimberly, Interesting story about your grandmother seeing her dead mother... I agree that there are warnings in the Bible about not consulting the dead. We've been taught so much (even subconsciously) to read the Scriptures through Ellen White's eyes. Like we will be in danger if we just have the Holy Spirit to Guide us! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| kme |
Dear Colleen, It sounds as though many people writing here are from California. I noticed Susan said she was in the GC area, isn't that Silver Spring, MD? And Sherry2 is in MI. Sherry do mind sharing where? I have relatives up there and sometimes (seldom)go to see them. Was up there last year for the 1888 seminar. That really started the ball rolling again for me to question where we were at. Do you know if there are any groups in the Southeast? I'm out of that SDA Mecca now, but only about 100 miles north. I seriously doubt there are any near me. Thanks, kme | ||
| Sherry2 |
I'm in Grand Rapids, MI...Loads of all kinds of churches around here. Right now the sda church is having a Revelation Seminar. Many people coming....it's sad when I go visit with Jon at my old church and some now feel they need to proselytze me...boy should have heard the one "friend" of ours go on about the FREEEE childcare that I could enjoy if I came to the seminar! Oh yukky! | ||
| kme |
Thanks Sherry2 for your response. This seminar was at Andrew's University. However, my relatives are not in that area. I know what you mean about the "proselytzing"! It seems almost weekly that we receive something in the mail (we call it propaganda). It's really quite sickening stuff too. I've never been one to read the SDA publications, because they were, or used to be, filled with a lot of politics that I couldn't care less about. But since I've been on my quest for "real truth", I have occasionally taken the time to read one or two. I'm amazed how much deception is in them, just my opinion. I also find the same thing so effectively done in the Net New York series, on t.v. About a month ago, I saw what must have been one of the last in the series, because the Sabbath was being hammered. I had always liked the speaker (I'm sure you know who I mean). But the way this thing was put together was absolutely nauseating! I really am saddened and appalled at such teaching! He made comments such as: "I've seen people trade a filter king for the king of kings", and a "string of pearls for a gate of pearls". I suppose if your're in aggreement, with these teachings, you don't even think about how it sounds to someone who isn't. No tact there! Then he went on to emphasize that you may have to leave your family, husbands, wives, children etc... for the commandments of God. Meanwhile in the background, there are pictures showing with texts to illustrate and subconsiously imprint this in your mind. But then as a disclaimer, he says "I'm not telling you to leave your children". What is that? You can probably gather what the picture was! And then as a final nudge, he says it is dangerous not to follow the Lord's commands (the Sabbath may have been used there, I'm not sure). Then he told this story about a woman who was convinced on the Sabbath truth, and didn't act on it because her husband wasn't, and she was waiting awhile longer to see if he would. Her husband had a terrible accident at work, that left him in critical condition. She said she just knew the Lord had done ( or allowed this) because she had not acted on her belief in the Sabbath! I don't know about you, but those were the kind of scare tactics used on me growing up. How utterly absurd! If I have made any mistakes in quoting, I sincerely apologize. But I was just watching the same way others were, and that's what I came away with, not unlike some others I'm sure. I believe God was removing that "veil" from me so I could really see what was going on behind the scenes. I literally cried. I get so upset to think about the poor souls being brainwashed with that! I can't believe my family supports it, as I once did. I was shocked SDA s'were still teaching so publicly the "jewelry thing". I truly believe our Lord is saddened by such tactics. To anyone: Have you ever heard of a magazine that has a Latin name, aimed at the SDA youth, and is published by a private, although denominationally supported to some extent, organization? To the best of my recollection, the name means "come to the Lord" or something like that. If so, would you please tell me the name of it and possibly and e-mail address. Loving Grace to you all, kme |
