| Author |
Message |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 2:24 pm: |     |
Dear Angie, What a bummer for you. Isn't is amazing how similiar our experiences with our loved ones who are still bound by SDA'ism is among us on this forum. I guess the clutches of being in the one true church on this entire planet can sure keep people bound to it. I have had former SDA's as well as former JW's tell me the exact same thing. And that is if they were ever to go back to having a religion it would be the one they were the former of because they really know it is the right church but they just can't go back now for whatever excuse they make up at the time. Folks from either group just often can't immagine attending a different denomination because they would just not attend anywhere at all then attend one of satan's organizations. It's very sad. |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
I used to wish I was born anything but Adventist, all the time, I bet most of them wish that, I thought if I just didn't know, then I could be normal like the rest of the world, SICK!!
Angie, does your husband know Galatians 5:4 "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace."?
That verse outta scare any law keeper into at least reading up on something!
They are so brainwashed, what about the rest of your family? Are they all SDA or just the in-laws?
Will pray for you, I can't imagine living with an SDA! I'm mean, I'd probably cook up a ham for Sunday dinner and bacon for breakfast and maybe crab for supper, mmmmm (LOL)
If you can sneak off with the "Sunday keepers" come visit me at church tomorrow. As if we keep anything, shoot, we hurry outta church to the nearest restaurant, SDA's are so weird! |
Angie (Angie)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 7:59 pm: | |
Sabra,yes he read Galatians finally after I bugged him to death about it.I thought forsure that would make him study some things out,but it didn't.Thats another thing,I like my meat!!There is going to be serious problems I know.Jerry you are right,I need to focus on my faith and whatever happens,happens for a reason.Easier said than done b/c of the kids,I don't want them to get sucked into the way he believes.So how do I keep all of this stuff seperate?He wouldn't talk about what they studied,ate or nothing tonight when he came in.Actually that is fine with me,the separation has already begun. Angie |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 8:09 pm: | |
Angie,
You are in my prayers knowing full well how heartbreaking this can be as I sit by and watch my daughter and son-in-law go there seperate ways while their 2 boys get pulled apart.
If you don't know my story; just briefly my son-in-law was duped into this 4 1/2 years ago as we were coming into Y2K and the rest is history and exteremly sad.
Let the Truth of your word which became flesh and suffered and died upon the cross, was buried and returned as a triumphant King claim those whom we love and rescue them from the cluthes of the powers that be, Carol |
Janice (Janice)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 9:25 pm: | |
Angie, I just finished reading today's posts and thought that I would paste this chapter of scripture here for you and make a few comments.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (WE HAVE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DEMONIC INFLUENCES OF SDAS AND THIS VERSE SAYS THAT IN LATTER TIMES/LAST DAYS SOME WILL DEPART. I KNOW THAT THE SDAS WILL TRY AND TURN THAT AROUND TO SAY THAT YOU ARE LEAVING THE CHURCH BUT SEEING AS HOW THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED 1800 YEARS BEFORE THE SDAS BEGAN THEIR FALSE DOCTRINES, GUESS WHO GOD IS TALKING ABOUT, IT SURE ISN'T THE BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN?)
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; THIS VERSE SAYS THAT THEY WILL BE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES WITH NO CONSCIOUS AT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO NAILING OUR HIDES TO THE WALL, AMEN?
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (DID THAT HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD OR WHAT), AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO HAPPEN TO ENJOY OUR MEAT? WE RECEIVE IT WITH THANKSGIVING BECAUSE WE BELIEVE/HAVE FAITH AND KNOW THE TRUTH.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (THE ONLY COMMANDMENTS OF SORTS THAT I SEE HERE IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY GRACE OVER OUR FOOD, AMEN?)
1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (I REALLY LOVE THIS VERSE BECAUSE GOD IS TELLING US THAT WE ARE GOOD MINISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST WHEN WE CALL THIS FACT TO REMEMBERANCE TO OUR BROTHERS, AND IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE ATTAINED NOURISHMENT AND RECEIVED GOOD DOCTRINE, AND THIS WAS ALL BROUGHT ABOUT BY OUR FAITH.)
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness. (WE ARE TO PUT AWAY NONSENSE AND LIVE GODLY LIVES.)
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS BODILY EXERCISE IS? COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS SPEAKING ABOUT "DOING WORKS"? JUST WONDERING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE'S THOUGHTS ARE HERE. TO LIVE GODLY LIVES IS OF PROFIT FOR SURE BUT ISN'T LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND SPEAKING WORDS OF TRUTH BEING GODLY? GODLY LOVE WILL RECEIVE ITS REWARDS BOTH NOW AND IN GLORY.)
1Ti 4:9 This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE WORTHY THINGS AND WE WILL SUFFER FROM THOSE THAT DISAGREE BUT WE MUST PLACE OUR TRUST IN GOD AND KNOKW THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY AND HE WILL HELP US THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND HIS WORD, AMEN.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE HERE, I GUESS THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO LOOK AT IT, BUT MAYBE THIS YOUTH IS NO MORE THAN BEING A BABE IN CHRIST AND SPIRITUALLY NAIVE LIKE A NEW-BORN CHILD, BUT REMEMBER CHILDREN ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT UPON THEIR PARENTS, SO, MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS VERSE IN THE SENSE THAT MANY WILL NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THE BORN-AGAIN EXPERIENCE THAT JESUS SAID THAT WE MUST HAVE TO INHERIT THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM AND WE ARE LIVING TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD THE FATHER AND HIS PROMISES.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; THAT THY PROFITING MAY APPEAR TO ALL. 1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Angie, I will be praying for you and yours tonight and ask you to look at the last verse here and repeat it to yourself over and over again until God gives you a peace about it, and pray that God will open Jerry's ear so that he can hear you. Continue on in the sound doctrine that you have heard and don't let anyone rob you of your joy and your peace and have faith that in doing so, Jerry can't help but see a change in you and you will be like the Gentile that provokes the Jew to jealousy, live your live in such a way that he will be jealous enough to ask God for some of what you have, amen.
God bless you, and I hope that these verses have given you comfort.
Janice |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 10:09 pm: | |
Angie, I am also praying for you and for your husband. I second Jerry's advice: focus on your faith in Jesus, not on your conflict. I will pray that you will know how to respect your husband without giving up your faith. I'll pray that the light and the love and the respect in you are so compelling that your husband will desire to understand it. I will also pray that God will comfort your heart and protect your children and give you wisdom. I pray that He will grant you peace and deep joy even in the complete uncertainty and unresolved situation in your marriage.
Another thing I'll recommend is that you listen to praise and worship music as often as you can. I know I've said this many times before, but I continue to be amazed at how having praises and worship to God filling our home often changes the atmosphere and also changes and calms my heart. It's possible that your husband might even find himself calmed by it.
Remember Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believesÖ"
Jesus has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, and he has promised that when we walk through the fire and when the waters overwhelm us, he will be with us.
Thank you, Lord, for calming and teaching Angie how to live through this situation while growing her faith and her wisdom.
Colleen |
Susan_2 (Susan_2)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 10:22 pm: | |
1 Tim. 4:3 says "abstaning from marriage...". Were you all aware that in the early development of the SDA church EGW says in her writings that people should not marry because "the time of trouble" will soon come and they'd best not be getting married because marriage leads to children and having children will take the time away from the faithful preaching the soon coming of Jesus. So, that entire passage is in refference to the SDA church, the marriage part as well as the eating part. |
Janice (Janice)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 5:45 am: | |
Susan, I haven't heard that one yet, but with all the weird stuff I have read about here and since I wasn't exposed to a lot of EGW because I am NOT a former, then I just have to believe you, that woman was so weird that it scares me that my family got caught up in it.
Colleen, I totally agree with you about playing Christian inspirational music, it does agree with scripture too. Read what it says here:
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Angie, just keep the word of God in your heart and I will say that Kyla Rowland's "Field of Grace" has really blessed my soul. I also have a CD that my preacher's daughter recorded called "Still Blessed" and hope to sing that song with her in church very soon. If you want me to, I will send you those two songs in an attachment.
I am listening to music and one of our preachers on our local AM radio station this morning and about to get up and get ready for church. I just thought I would check the posts this morning.
I will hold all of you up in prayer in church service this morning. God bless you all on this beautiful Lord's Day. Amen
Janice |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 6:04 am: | |
1 Tim. 4:3 says "abstaning from marriage...".
Yeah, just read the rest of the passage and see if it isn't EGW
"Now the Spirit expessly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God.
Hmmmm |
Brad_2 (Brad_2)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 12:18 pm: | |
Sabra, As far as recieving food to eat, I had the hardest time with eating pork again after being an Adventist for 10 years. Until I read the covenant God made with Noah. God said that he could eat anything on the earth that moved. I can understand that they were in a survival mode and I don't think most Adventist would turn down some beacon or shrimp if it meant starving to death or not. I know there would be some diehards who would hold out and give those who would eat a difficult time.
You think that this scripture would have settled the debate as to what to eat and what not to eat.
1 Cor. 10
25. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26.for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."
27.If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28. But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 29."Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30. But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33. just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
I often wandered what the forbidding of unclean foods in the old covenant symbolically pointed to in the new covenant. Does anyone have anyone any thoughts as to this. |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 1:42 pm: | |
Interestingly Brad, there were 7 clean animals put on the ark for every 2 unclean, so it would make sense that if "unclean" animals were harmful there would have been plenty of clean ones to eat.
Personal opinion here, I think the unclean animals represent the gentiles and their acceptance after the cross.
My friend who wrote the ark/sanctuary/rapture article wrote this too:
His quote"13 In the same day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; (14) They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. (15) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. (16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in."
(7) of all clean beasts
(2) of all unclean beasts
(All) the cattle
(7) of the fowls (birds)
(2) of things that creepeth on the earth.
2 Peter 2:4-5 - "For if God spared not the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment; (5) and spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the Flood upon the world of the ungodly;"
Since Noah was the last righteous and 8th person, the (seven) before him were his congregation or church. He was the righteous preacher of his day, doing all that God had commanded and a type of Christ, because he was also preaching a way of salvation in his generation. He was perfect in God's sight, just as Jesus is in our day. Noah built his ark with many rooms for 120 years, but Jesus has been building His with living stones for the past 2000 years.
In the days that Noah walked the earth, God destroyed the earth with water. Noah didn't have to do much work in gathering these animals, because they all were able to come to him. Since Noah represents Christ, next time it will be the Bridegroom who comes out to meet His bride before God destroys the earth the second time. But the second time, the earth will be destroyed by fire, so our place of refuge won't be a large boat, but rather God's Holy Mountain and all vessels will be placed in the Temple. I believe the numbers used for the animals who entered the ark gives us a clue as to who will be raptured. Seven is the number of perfection or completion. The sevens we see are the body of Christ. However, in the destruction that will come as fire, not all these animals will be able to make it on their own to where the Bridegroom will be calling from. Only the seven birds will be able to make it there, because only birds can fly. The other seven clean animals can not fly and will not make it to their destination on time. Thus, we see the picture of the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins once again.
In the tribulation these are :
(7) of all clean beasts = trib saint martyrs
(2) of all unclean beasts = these fall away/ take the mark of the beast
(all) the cattle = Jewish remnant / mortals who repopulate the earth
(7) of the fowls (birds) = the bride in heaven
(2) of things that creepeth = goats of the world/ haters of God
Genesis 8:20 - "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
This interpretation fits nicely too with my article, "THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER" as it shows the four different types of people and how they respond to the gospel, and also adds the sheep who will be placed on the right. Isn't God's word amazing!!! "end quote
Still studying up on his thoughts about a partial rapture, not sure I agree with everything, but he seems to be inline with what you are saying in a way too. |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 7:20 pm: | |
The clean and unclean foods of the Mosaic covenant symbolized Israel's total separation from the pagan nations around them. They were not only forbidden to eat certain foods, they were forbidden to mix wool and linen in yarn for fabrics, they were forbidden to cook meat and dairy products in the same pots, etc. These strictures really had nothing to do with intrinsic good or bad; they were symbols of the Israelits' separation from the nations around them.
Further, the pig was a sacred animal in some pagan rituals. They were NEVER to touch swine, a symbol of pagan worship.
Peter's dream of the sheet coming down from heaven and God's voice telling him not to call unclean what God had deemed clean was not only a symbol of the Gentiles being accepted by God. It was also a symbol that the ritually unclean foods of the Mosaic tradition were no longer unclean. Since in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile but in Him all are one, they dietary symbols of separation are no longer meaningful at all. Christians, even of Jewish descent, do not need to symbolize there separation from the world anymore. Jesus has taken care of that and destroyed the dividing wall. They no longer have to artificially symbolize that division because in Christ it is no longer there.
As Brad said above, God gave Noah EVERYTHING to eat. There were no ritually unclean meats until God led his people out of Egypt and gave them the Mosaic covenant.
Praise God for making us all one in him!
Colleen |
Brad_2 (Brad_2)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9:41 pm: | |
From the pasage of scripture below in: 1 Cor. 10, it would seem that back in the times of the early church that meat sacrificed to idols was a counterfeit to the Lords supper. Have you ever heard of that saying you are what you eat. When we eat of the bread and drink of the wine we are strenthened in our faith that Christ is in us. When the people heard Jesus say that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have everlasting life. They must have been put to the ultimite test as to whether or not they would continue to follow Him. Until Jesus clearified in John 6 that the flesh profits nothing but it is the spirit that does.
If we do not rightly discern to body of Christ and partake of the communion we eat and drink condemnation to ourselves. You think that this would put the fear of God into us and we would end divisions and strife in the body of Christ. With the realization that we are not all called to be His hands or all called to by His feet. Each and every believer is a unique individual and we must honour all in the Body as a part of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor.10
Flee from Idolatry
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
18Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? |
Steve (Steve)
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 11:19 pm: | |
Non-believers eat and drink condemnation to themselves when they partake of communion.
When a Christian partakes of the Easter ham this coming weekend, they proclaim that an idol is nothing and that were are not to call anything God has made unclean. We also proclaim the excellence of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant that God established at Sinai and ended "when the seed should come", i.e., when Jesus Christ arrived (Galatians).
Some day I'll have to recount the story (some I'm sure have heard it) where I was offered food that had been offered (not sacrified) to an idol. As a Christian, it was difficult, but the Holy Spirit was swift in providing me with the action that I was to take.
Pigs, crabs, lobster, crawdads, catfish and the like have not been offered to idols. In this day and age, the only idol they've been "offered" to is the idol of commercialism.
Looking forward to that Easter Ham.
Steve |
Brad_2 (Brad_2)
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 7:44 pm: | |
Steve, My mistake I should have said judged by the Lord so that we won't be condemned with the world.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. |
Steve (Steve)
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:43 pm: | |
Right on, Brad
I've been learning to accept the Lords judgments in my life "so that I won't be condemned with the world."
Sometimes it's hard. Post-SDA, though, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Steve |
Brad_2 (Brad_2)
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 6:25 am: | |
Steve, I know what you mean. It took a miracle to get me out. Did you read my testimony in stories? |
Amt (Amt)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 10:07 am: | |
I used to live in fear. Yes, fear of being tortured and put to death for my beliefs once the Sunday law is passed. Come to think of it...looking back now, I followed a lot of the Adventist rules out of fear of being bad, of committing a sin. Fear of being the odd man out for not doing what the rest is doing. Fear of going to hell. Fear of being talked about and gossiped about during the potlucks in case I did something evil like watch The Lion King at a movie theater or God forbid reading the newspaper on a Sabbath.
Growing up as an adventist aside from being afraid I also had this "high and mighty" attitude that just because I was and SDA I was so much better than one who is not. I was brought up that being an Adventist you are better than everybody else because I am the chosen, the part of the remnant and that I should never mingle with non-SDA's. In my native toungue we referred to them as "taga-labas" or outsiders.
As a teenager (I'm in my mid-20's now) I was told never to hang out with non-SDA's coz they are wild and are a bad influence. Growing up I pretty much thought that anyone who was a non-SDA smoked and got drunk and were promiscious. From birth until I was 21 y/o I was only surrrounded my Adventists. I was born in an SDA hospital, only went to SDA schools and hung out ONLY with SDA's and only had SDA friends and playmates. So yeah I pretty much kept to my little SDA world for fear of being influneced by "outsiders." So you see, my world was pretty small until I moved to Canada a few years ago and started to mingle with other people. You know what? I discovered that one's religion does not define you as a person (meaning SDA =good person, non-SDA= bad). Ones religion doesn't guarntee how nice you'll be to somebody and how loyal of a friend you'll be. I came in contact with people who were atheists, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, etc and they were nice people. Some of them actually were better friends than my old SDA friends. That's when I started to think that something is wrong with my religion. I mean to judge people by what their religious beliefs are and to think that when you're a non-SDA you are beneath me. I am so glad I no longer am an SDA. I feel happy and for the first time in my life I feel free. |
Freeatlast (Freeatlast)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 11:07 am: | |
amen brutha! |
Terryk (Terryk)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 2:17 pm: | |
Amt great to hear another sould is free from all that fear and holier then thou thinking. Many people have lived and died with those fears. I just keep praising God that he keeps letting people see the truth. I keep praying that some people I know will wake up and see the love of God and kindness and most of all grace. Well glad to hear from you keep in touch. Tell us more of your story. How you left and did you tell your family. Love in Christ |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 5:20 pm: | |
Interesting story, Amt! I'd like to hear more, too. Do you mind sharing what country you're from? And is your family in Canada with you?
Have you found a church to attend?
I know those feelings of superiority and fear (what an odd combination!) so well! Praise God for leading you out! And by the way, did leaving affect your view of God? Has he become more real to you?
Looking forward to hearing more!
Colleen |
Janice (Janice)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 5:52 pm: | |
Colleen, What you just said about superiority and fear is really a contradiction in itself, isn't it? My mother emailed me last year and got on the subject of last day things and I could just hear the fear in her voice and decided to console her with a little bit of "thus saith the Lord" and then she came back at me in such a "superior" tone while bragging that HER God was going to see her THROUGH the tribulation by HIDING her along with the other members of the "remnant" church. Boy, I just have a hard time trying to come to terms with this entire mess. While my faith grows and God sends me all these loving and caring people into my life that really can RELATE to what I am going through, at the same time I feel such a fear of sorts that my mother and sister will just NEVER get it, and to think that all those years--I thought they had embraced the doctrine of "saved by grace" but in their spiritual ignorance and their lack of being able to ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, the SDAs cast their line out and they took the bait hook, line, and sinker. They both get so mad at me if I suggest that they are wrong that even my sister says that she actually DOESN"T want me to join the SDAs, now is this double-minded or what? I mean if we Christians are supposed to be fishers of men and they believe themselves to be the one and only true remnant church, then you would think that if the top two commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor, wouldn't you think that my own flesh and blood sister would be earnestly seeking to convert me before it is eternally too late for poor deluded me? She went on to say, in the same letter, that even though she didn't want me to join the SDAs that it would certainly remove the "SCHISM" that "I" had caused within the family circle.
Oh me, sorry, didn't mean to throw a pity party here, and I guess I need to get up before I start to cry over it all over again. I know that you all are praying for them as I pray for all of you and yours, so, God bless and have a good night.
Janice |
Amt (Amt)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 6:25 pm: | |
Hi, Colleen!
I'm originally from the Philippines. We (Me,My parents and my 2 siblings) moved to Canada 6 years ago. I was almost 21 then. When I moved to Canada I was still very loyal to the SDA faith up until I moved out and started working in a Non-SDA place and was exposed to different people with different religious beliefs and cultures. That's when I realized that nothing was wrong with other people just because they are non-SDA's. The final blow was when I started dating a guy who was considered a "backslider." It was weird because the first time I took him to church the first question wasn't "What's his name?" or "What does he do?" The first question asked to me by my closest SDA friends was "IS HE ADVENTIST?" He had a lot to do with opening my eyes how SDA's who pride themselves in to being the "chosen ones" actually discriminate against others. It even came to a point where I kept my relationship secret for a while coz I didn't want them to know I was in a serious relationship with a non-SDA (There's that fear again). Oh yes I was talked/gossiped about and somewhat shunned. That's when I stopped going to church. That was 3 years ago(about late 1998-1999). I felt that they were a bunch of hypocrites. Why would good, God-fearing Christains discriminate and shun someone they don't know just because his religious background differs from theirs? Why not make him feel welcome instead of frowned upon? I mean what kind of message are they sending to people outside the SDA religion?? I lost faith in God for a while. I was totally hurt, angry, disappointed and confused. That time I didn't want to have anything to do with God or religion..until July 2001 at a family reunion in Vancouver. My uncle from the US was giving a Bible study and asked me if I wanted to join. I flatly refused because I was mad at religion in general. I told myself I didn't need that kind of hypocrisy in my life anymore. Until my curiousity got the best of me and I sat down to just listen. That's when he started talking about things in the Bible that I've never heard of before because it didn't have the EGW and the biased SDA interpretation. He talked about salvation and God's grace and I felt like crying. Deep inside I was like..Oh my goodness..faith, believing in God, it is so simple. There was none of the guilt trips, the fear and the discrimination that I was used to. I felt this wonderful rush of freedom and acceptance and love from God. I felt enlightened. Now I feel at peace.
Actually my uncle was the one who told me about this forum.
I know this story is long. Thanks for taking an interest in it anyway.
God bless! Hope all of you have a great weekend. |
Bmorgan (Bmorgan)
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 8:16 pm: | |
Welcome Amt!
Great story. Nothing is better than understanding and receiving the Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ and to have Him live in your heart.
I know, "My Redeemer lives!" The Peace He gives is unexplainable.
God bless
Bmorgan |
Janice (Janice)
| | Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 12:18 pm: | |
AMT, That sounds sort of similar to what happened to me on two different occasions. My younger sister has been SDA for almost thirty years now and is now married to a life-long SDA and has two girls, one has recently joined the church at the age of 12 but since we aren't speaking now, I don't know if the other is now a member or not. Anyway, several years ago, when I visited in her Sabbath School class, I was introduced this way, "this is my older sister, Janice, and she is here visiting from Georgia, and she is a BAPTIST." I came home and related this to my mother, who was still a Baptist at that time, and she was very upset with my sister for addressing me in that way, however, my mother retired about seven years ago and moved from Villa Rica, Georgia to Mountain City, Tennessee which is only ten miles from my sister who lives in Creston, North Carolina, so they both attended the same SDA church in Mountain City after my mother became an Adventist about eight years ago. I believe that my SDA sister influenced her to move there to get away from my "Baptist" influence and when my husband and I came up for a visit and went to church service with them, my own mother did the very same thing that my sister had done years before, she told everyone that she was glad to have us visiting but wanted everyone to know that we were Baptists. You just don't know how I fought the impulse to jump up and say "YES, praise God, I am a Baptist and PROUD of it and feel sorry for all of you that have bought into this foolishness of replacing the worship of Jesus into making the gospel to be that of Sabbath worship instead.
I guess that is one reason why I thank God that I found this web site because it gives me the opportunity to say to them what needs to be said even when they won't listen to it. Maybe if I pray long enough and hard enough and continue on with my witness here, God will somehow cause my sister to stumble across this site and visit us here for a real "first-hand" look at all of the severe damage that has been done to all of us that post here. I just pray that it won't be like my daddy always said "A day late and a dollar short" so guess I need to end this one today. God bless.
Janice |
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