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Busymom
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Username: Busymom

Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 7:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was born into the Adventist faith and have been a faithful member. Three weeks ago the church basement was flooded and services moved to the church school. It was my turn to teach Kindergarten so I brought my supplies and two children (ages 2 and 5) to the church school. No one called to say children would not be welcome. When I showed up I was greeted by "Why are you here? your kids will mess everything up." I simply stated okay, we'll go home and make a mess there and left. I spent time that morning looking on the computer for Adventist web sites and found this one. Some of my concerns about Adventism were validated. I then spent the next week reading Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. Wow! What a different view of salvation than EGW. I have since resigned my positions in the church and am exploring everything I have been taught. My question is does anyone have any insight on explaining things to a five year old. My husband (not Adventist) and myself explained we were going to visit other churches. He has stated several times that he misses his friends and the old church. We visited a nondenominational church last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. He enjoyed the Sunday School. But I have been very anxious about changing churches. I feel like it would be beneficial to have support to transition out of adventism. I do not want to give up my belief in Jesus and believe in the power of prayer, but the change feels overwhelming at times. Do you think bringing him to Sunday School which he enjoys is the right thing to do even though I think it will take a very long time for me to be able to trust another church? I know if I didn't have children I would be spending several Sabbaths hiking. But my five year old loves the social aspects of church. (today is the first time in five years I haven't felt guilty for not having a spotless house on Friday night)
Loneviking
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Username: Loneviking

Post Number: 237
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 11:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Absolutely, take him to Sunday school. He'll make new friends and probably have a lot more fun than he did in Sabbath school. Yes, he'll miss his friends---but not for long.

And yes, the change will feel overwhelming at times. The enemy will hit you with feelings of depression, despair and 'this isn't worth it'. You're potentially in for some rough changes (depending on how Adventist your background is). That's why it's so important to find a Bible believing church with consistent teaching and small groups where you can make friends. You need to start sinking roots down---just make sure of the churches' beliefs. There are wonderful churches out there and you may be surprised at how soon you realize you can trust again.

Good luck and we're here for you!

(BTW--I have a six y/old son who, because of his mom attends both Sat. and Sunday. He told me today he goes on Saturday for his friends and on Sunday for what he learns!)

Bill
Conniegodenick
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Username: Conniegodenick

Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 5:56 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Busymom!

wow I feel for you because I know exactly what you are going through. Just be grateful that you are getting out before your children are any older. At their ages they will make the transition quickly and probably relatively painlessly. When they are older you can explain why you did what you did.

I want to echo the thought that you are certainly doing the best thing and also that it can feel overwhelming. I got out 3 years ago (while I was the teacher in the Junior SS dept) when I stumbled across these very same websites and wow did I feel a conflict. I knew I couldn't go back in there and teach the same dry rot that I had been so I kept finding excuses to be absent or whatever. Luckily I had some co-teachers who were happy to fill in until the term of service ended in June. Then I quit attending for good and pulled my kids out of SDA school. (As a side note, the next year I put them in a Baptist school with strong Bob Jones leanings--wow from the frying pan into the fire! My older daughter got accused of cheating for trying to help a classmate with her homework and we noticed that they were very focused on behavior. For the past 2 years they have been bathed in grace since they are attending a wonderful non-denom Christian school.)

Currently however because my children were raised (indoctrinated) into Adventism and formed some very strong social connections, they still hobnob with their SDA friends. Right now as we speak in Spartanburg SC the Pathfinders are conducting an "evangelistic" series for the church complete with all the toxic doctrines. My kids are going to the meetings to support their friends then they come home saying "What about when Jesus says, If you love me keep my Commandments?" Well I point out to them that Jesus's Commandments were His teachings--not the Torah or the Law. They know full well that it was impossible to keep the Sabbath (have since confessed that they used to watch TV while I was in my Sabbath afternoon coma) but their friends are so judgmental towards them. It's been a very painful experience to see these other SDA kids start spouting off the same errors as their parents and to see the rampant judgmentalism in Adventism.

Again, hang in there, you made the right choice. The longer I'm gone, the more toxic I see Adventism. It robbed me of every assurance of salvation and left me hopeless and at one time suicidal. I just could never do everything that Ellen White advised to do (esp felt inadaquate as a mother after reading Adventist Home and Councils for Parents and Children.)

Use this Forum as your sounding post and support group. I lurked for a long time before finally posting and I really love the attitudes and concern that you'll find here.

Good luck and we'll all be praying for you.

Connie Godenick
Praisegod
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Username: Praisegod

Post Number: 35
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 11:55 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome Busymom! We hope you enjoy this group. Itís unfortunate that such an unkind incident was what it took to get you to really examining Adventist doctrines. But, hey, whatever it takes, right? It seems now to be a big plus that your husband never became an Adventist. You are so blessed that heís willing to look for another church with you.

As to your five year old, I would absolutely be looking to get him into another church right away. He needs to make new friends. When my daughter and SIL were transitioning out of Adventism, they visited many different churches. For one of the kids, this was very difficult as she is shy and reserved until you get to know her. Their son is so social that he would tell them he loved every church they attended!

For them, it was a lot of prayer that brought them quickly to the right church. You can do lots of phone calling, networking with friends and checking websites during the week to find one you are personally most comfortable with. After three years Iíve decided to get serious about finding one church to call home. I have done lots of floating around, but that worked for me because my kids are grown and my husband remains SDA. I would have settled quickly if I had had kids the ages of yours. If you are matter of fact that you are going to a new church, your son will just accept it. If/when he notices a difference in beliefs, take them as they come up and pray for Holy Spirit guidance to explain them on his level.

Praise GodÖ
Lydell
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Username: Lydell

Post Number: 586
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 1:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Busymom welcome! What an awesome thing God is doing for your family.

Now, take a deep breath and just relax. Kids are far more resilient than we adults. Your 5 year old will likely be having a grand time while you are strugglig through your transition.

You said he liked the social aspect of church, so give him the opportunity to build on that if you can. If you hear they are doing something special with the kids, take him! The good news is that summer, and vacation Bible school is just around the corner. That means he will have several days in a row to spend getting to know some kids.

If you do see him getting to know a certain kid or two, try to arrange your timing to meet the parents. You need the social interaction/support right now too. Especially it helps us to see that these non-SDA's are, contrary to what we were taught, quite normal, quite happy people.

Don't worry about what to say to him. He's a little kid. He doesn't need an involved explanation on doctrine. Just tell him that you felt like the old church didn't have a real good understanding of how loving Jesus is, and feel like you should find a church that talks more about that. It's a deep enough explanation for him, honest.

And remember this one thing--this is SO HARD for us moms to remember!--God actually loves your child equally as much as He loves you. So that means He is just as concerned about helping your kid through the transition time as He is in helping you.
Busymom
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Username: Busymom

Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 1:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Bill, Connie, and Praise God Thank you for your response. We attended Sunday church again today, and my son loved it. It is definitely different, they put in their bulletin to not give an offering unless you feel the Holy Spirit impressing you. The Adventist pastor called to request I let him explain how much God loves his law (I can't keep all the Adventist laws I know of). I asked the pastor of the nondenominational church for advice, because I do not feel smart enough at this point to battle his theology. All I know is peace and simplicity re: salvation when I read the New Testament and confusion after I talk to the Adventist pastor. It was also upsetting to me that he called my babysitter and another friend to talk to me about staying in the faith. I have been losing sleep over this change and feel like I have been kicked in the stomach. Anyways the nondenominational pastor advised not discussing theology at this point, until I've had more time to think and made it clear that even though he is praying for me and willing to give advice since I asked, he is not doing it to convince me to join his church. So we will see how it goes, it doesn't seem like I am going to end up in a worse church, and it is definitely a novel idea to think about getting something out of church. (In the Adventist church I could teach Kindergarten downstairs and then bring the kids to the mothers room upstairs and never have interaction with the other members if my kids became to irritable to stay for the whole service)
Praisegod
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Username: Praisegod

Post Number: 37
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 1:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Busymom, I believe youíll be amazed at how much you will be able to grow personally without all the kid distractions. Thatís one thing that I have noticed about ALL Sunday congregations. They are much more quiet and worshipful during the actual service because usually the kids are gone. If the kids arenít gone, it is still quiet. Iím not sure why, but it is a marked difference over what I was used to in the Adventist church. Anyone else notice that?

You seem to be so blessed with making a great choice for your family with this new church.

I agree that I wouldnít get into any theological battles with your Adventist pastor. But, on the other hand, please look at the bright side that he honestly seems to care about you. For many of us, no one cared one way or another whether we left.

You could ask the Adventist pastor (or anyone else who comments since he seems to be soliciting help from others) to put their points in writing so you can study and pray about it. That will slow them down. You could also ask them to be praying for Godís will to occur in your lifeónot for you to remain Adventist or any of the other soulish prayers that Adventists are prone to pray. In fact, I stopped one woman who said she was going to pray for me to come back to church. I asked her to please pray for God's will to be done. Since she truly loves the Lord, she was not offended and it seemed to make her think.

Praise GodÖ
Insideoutsider
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Username: Insideoutsider

Post Number: 24
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 2:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Busymom, Welcome, to the Body of Christ. Its been awhile since mine were the ages of your two, and fortunately or unfortunately I stopped going to the SDA church long before I stopped dropping my children off (when they could find their rooms alone). I wish I had thought to find another church but it was a very difficult thing before all the enlightenment about the plagiarizing prophet had come out. The funny thing was that no one minded the lack of church attendence on my and my husbands part until I became a "born again" christian and went to church on a different day. Then, believe me, all hell broke loose. I think you are so brave and obedient to head the call of the Holy Spirit and seek to worship Jesus Christ.
I wanted to write down a few things that were helpful to me as I sought to be free from a generational "curse".
You don't have to cringe everytime you hear or read the word Law. It can mean many words, the words of Jesus, God, the Spirit, it rarely in the NT means the law of Moses. (10 or 613)
God doesn't scream. He seeks us with His grace and compelling love. The screaming voice in your head is probably your mom, or an old teacher (if you were SDA educated), not God. And if you hear it condemning you just ask your Saviour to please remove it, and start singing (to yourself if out in public or something) your favorite grace-filled praise song.
I used to put every promise I read in the front of my bible. A lot of the promises had to do with the transition out of slavery, and thats where I would go when attacked.
Remember, it is a process. It takes time to get rid of the stuff you need to delete. Don't be too hard on yourself. Fill your mind with Jesus Christ. I became a "born again" christian while in a Bible study. Our teaching leader used to tell us when things got overwhelming, just to pretend that Jesus was in a chair. Kneel beside Him and talk to Him and tell Him all that was going on, He undersood. And He did.
I would guess contrary to SDA teaching, most of us don't "keep" Sunday. Everyday belongs to God, and there is very little difference between spiritual and secular.
No one is drawn to Christ by an argument. When your old Pastor and friends see your radiant face - they will know you have "something". And you do!
Take courage, we all have been there. We have taken different paths, but they all lead to Christ alone, and trust me, He is all you need. We will all be praying for you, you have started the most exciting journey of your life!
Sabra
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Username: Sabra

Post Number: 78
Registered: 10-2001
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 5:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey busymom,

We have a lot in common, the last time I went to an SDA church I had a tiny baby and two older kids. We were in the mother's room and the pastor's wife came in and told me the older kids would have to go into church. I said, "By themselves?" She said that they needed to learn to sit in church, they were 5 and 8! She said the mother's room was only for mother's and babies. We're talking a church with about 50 people every week and almost no kids. I told her we would just go home then and never went back.

Like you, I was led to Galatians and Hebrews and Romans and finally understood grace.

It's not by accident that you found that little non-denominational church, none of it is by accident. God has His hand on your life and He is leading you and He will never let you down. Don't be bullied by the SDA pastor, your family or anyone else. Stand in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So great to have you here!
Sabra
Terryk
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Username: Terryk

Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 7:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear bsuymom you as you can see are not alone. We all have been right where you are and it will be one of the hardest things you have ever went through. I would like to share more with you. If you get a chance e-mail me at tbawgus@hotmail.com. I would love to talk with you more about the kids etc. You are in our prayers.
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 188
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 11:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi, Busymom! I'm so glad you're here; we can all relate to the internal struggle you feel right now and the simultaneous conviction that you're going where God is leading.

I echo the thoughts above that your son will be resilient and will respond to the activities and to the simple explanation that you are going to another church where they teach about Jesus' love better than the other church. How does your husband like this new church?

Be sure you spend some time in God's word every day, and learn to praise Him for the things that happen in your life. When those paralyzing doubts hit (as they have all of us as we left!), pray that God will keep you grounded in truth, and turn to Galatians, Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews, etc.

Ask God to direct your Bible study; he will guide you deeper and deeper into the reality of his sacrifice and grace. Eventually you will probably want to read Dale Ratzlaff's books The Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists and The Sabbath in Christ. They are available from his website, www.ratzlaf.com. Also former Adventist-and-now-Calvary Chapel pastor Mark Martin has some wonderful audio downloads on his site, sdaoutreach.org.

We are happy to be able to share with you, and we are praying for you!

Colleen
Carol_2
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Username: Carol_2

Post Number: 152
Registered: 2-2002
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 5:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome Busymom!!! I was so thrilled as I read your post. How quickly the Lord led you out. Praise God you were open to hearing Him.

As everyone else has mentioned, this is a stressful and confusing time for you, just stay focused on Him when things get a little scary. I've been out for two and a half years, and there are still times when the SDA baggage rears its ugly head and I become frightened and confused.

Thank God your children are young. I left when my daughter was 16, and it was difficult. It took her quite a while, but just recently she even commented how strange and cult-like Adventism now seems to her.

Probably the most common advice I personally give to other Christians with young children is to find a church home that's Spirit-filled with a very active children's program. I am still amazed at the spiritual maturity and understanding of the young people at the church I attend. It just blows my mind when I see these kids on fire for the Lord, unashamed, praising Him, wanting to spend every spring, christmas, and summer break, etc., to go on mission trips, volunteering for anything and everything that happens in the church. It's something I never experienced in the SDA church. These kids are taught from the very beginning about God's amazing grace, love, and power. Week after week this is the focus, not the Sabbath or "being good", or being vegetarian, etc.

God bless you Busymom....you are in our prayers! What an adventure lies ahead!

Carol
Chris
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Username: Chris

Post Number: 293
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 6:57 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome Busymom! When my wife and I left a couple of years ago our children were very close to he ages of your kids (6 and 3 at that time). I worried about their transition because they would no longer be with their friends in Sabbath School and my older daughter had already completed first grade in the local SDA church school. But, praise the Lord, they've done well. My older duaghter took to her new school quite well, they both love Sunday school, and really enjoy AWANA kids clubs on Wed. nights. As it turns out it was tougher on the adults then the kids I think. Still no matter how tough it was (and still is sometimes dealing with family), I keep in mind that a big motivator for doing this is the kids. Becasue my wife and I are willing to go through this tough transition, my kids will have a different life, a better life, a Christ focused life. That thought makes it all worth it.

Chris
Susan_2
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Username: Susan_2

Post Number: 511
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Busymom, It's wonderful to have you join the gang on this forum. Your children are young. They'll adjust easilly. You on the other hand must prepare yourself for lip[ from your SDA kin. Hopefully your kin will be more open and kind to you about leaving SDA'ism than most of us on here have experienced. I, too have noticed how much more reverant other Christian churches are than the SDA. At the SDA I frequently attend with my elderly mother it almost seems like total chaos while the sewrvice is going on. I think it is only respectful if someone must leave the sancturary during the service then he/she should wait until a natural break, such as after the prayer is over or after the announcements. In the church where my mom is a regurlar atendee people will even get up right during the prayer and walk out, and any other time, too. Recently I had to turn around twice and tell the people they were disruptive. The first time I was verey polite and asked them to please not talk during the service so everyone around them could hear. They just ignorred me so the second time I truned around and told then, "This is the House of God. Don't you have any respect for God while in His house and for those who come here to learn His word?" They left. Afterwards one of the young men in the four or so people who left asked me if I was a member of that church. I told him I wasn't but my mother was and she's elderly and was sitting in front of him and his friends and could not hear with their talking and laughing. They seem to put a lot of emphasis on actually being an official member of the SDA organization. Your kids will be fine. It's you that I have concern for. Prepare for your SDA friends to either try hard to get you back to being SDA and when they fail to just eliminate you from their friendship or to just drop you without even bothering to get you back. It's extremely cultic so beware.
Praisegod
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Username: Praisegod

Post Number: 39
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 2:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Your comments about reverence and requesting the young people not talk during the service reminds me of one of my last visits to my husbandís church. When I went in I chose to sit in an entirely different place than I normally did. A group of teens came in to sit in front of me and a group of teens behind me. They then proceeded to try to pass notes around me as well as speaking to the ones next to them. I stopped the note passing and then started praying to change the spiritual atmosphere in that section. One group got up and left.

The interesting thing was the dad of one teenóa church elder--spent the entire service in the lobby talking. (My husband was running sound and was where he could see him.) Other parents were sitting nearby and seemed to have absolutely no clue that this talking was problematic. Other kids seemed to be there on their own without any parents in attendance. I felt very sad for these kids that they had to sit in a service that wasnít joyous. But, still, where is the respect? The adults werenít modeling it.

It seems that Adventist churches equate deadness or lack of emotion as meaning a service is ìreverentî. In reality Iíve found even casual, very contemporary Sunday services to be much more worshipful and reverent because what is taking place is focused on Jesus. If they are clapping, if they are dancing, if they are shoutingóitís all focused on Jesus. And when the sermon starts, itís quiet.

What is truly unfortunate is that there are so very few times that the Holy Spirit has seemed to show up in that particular Adventist church. If he did, he wouldnít be welcomed by most people. One truly awesome praise and worship time (by a Sunday keeper guest) resulted in a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The few people that recognized it were joyous. The others put in complaint after complaint to the pastor because the keyboardist was ìswaying.î It was so little I hadnít even noticed it. It was not a contemporary service just very Spirit-filled. Heartbreaking that God isnít even welcomed in his own house.

Praise GodÖ
Terryk
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Username: Terryk

Post Number: 27
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 3:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

On the note of seeing a differnece in teenagers in the church. Well most in SDA church are sent away if not you are talked about cause yoy have not made a commitment to God to be in debt up to your eyeballs to send your kids to the work farm oh I mean boarding academy. Well that was the first thing I noticed when we vivsited the church we now attend. A large church and half the church was full of teenagers they all sit as a group with their teachers mixed somewhere but the kids were actually sitting listening and not reading the guide or passing notes or sleeping etc. They were sitting there and they attend the first service which is nine. You know in other churches kids actually bring themselves when their families do not attend. That was a true sign of something was right to me. About changing when you have kids I will not say it was easy my kids were 7 and 12 my daughter had a very hard time and never felt a true part of our new church and I went through the same feeling. They were loving it just was not my church. I have adjusted and do not expect to have same situation that I did before now I do not want it. My daughter is very happy now but it took a long while they have awesome youth leader and very active group. Even my daughter said to me after a long time of being there you know mom we talk about alot deeper issues then from our old church. I thought that was another good sign. Busymom it will not be easy it will be hard and like others have said it will be filled with tears,fearanger and loss. We will be here for you and know that we all are praying for you.
Susan_2
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Username: Susan_2

Post Number: 516
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 4:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

TerryK, it's interesting that you mention the financial burdon of the boarding schools. I only went to SDA schools 3rd, 4th, 5th and 11th grades and then two months of 12th grade with 11th grade being at a boarding school. Once, only once when I was being given greif about turning my back on the truth I was raised with my mother told me that after all the money they spent on me going to SDA schools I owed it to her to be SDA. I didn't comment. I left and went home but I got to thinking, do SDA parents think of the money they spend sending their children to SDA schools kind of like a SDA insurance policy? I think it's stupid. I thought parents do nice, loving things for their children because they love their children and want what is best for them and with school this would mean education. Now I think that SDA parents look at SDA schooling more as indroctronation to keep their kids emotionally tied to the SDA church.
Ladylittle
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Username: Ladylittle

Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 4:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think it may also have something to do with the parents little 'perfect world' picture coming crashing down also. They may have sent their children in love, but when things don't turn out the way they expect they wonder what went 'wrong'.

After all, as many of us have grown up, it's only right to go to sabbath school and church every week, get baptized when we are very young, go to the SDA Schools, marry a good SDA person, and turn around and repeat the cycle with our kids. When the kids break out of the mold and start growing different directions it is scary! And even more scary when they grow directions we have believed are wrong.

I find myself scared as I look into things I was taught and find I don't agree with the conclusions I assumed I would come out with.
Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 22
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 7:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Busymom, Praise God, you are finding out what the Bible really teaches.
My son is an adult. so I cannot understand all you are going through. But I can empathize with you and the thoughts and feelings going through you. In Nov/Dec 2003 I was thinking of rejoining the SDA church. Thank God, He directed my attention to a web site I had book marked and forgotten about. It was about EGW and the plagiarism she had done. I followed every link and read everything on them, lots of the time with my Bible beside me to see if they were correct. Then I bought a Strong's Bible concordance to study SDA doctrine. I did not rejoin the SDA church. Only two people have contacted me, a friend and the SS leader. I told them why I was not going back. At the time it was because of the plagiarism and that I could not accept EGW as the spirit of prophecy.
Read the Bible stories to your children. I did not raise my son in a typical SDA way. I read the stories right from the Bible. When my son was about 6 I read him the story of David and Bathsheba. He looked at me and said. "The Bible is about real people". That will make the transition easier, if what they hear at home is the same as what they hear in Sunday school.
I will pray for you as the SDA guilt still hits me occasionally. It will do that. Just tell God to answer the door and tell Satan you do not want any. I do that also.
Another thing I do is get out my gratitude list. Did you know you cannot keep a positive and a negative thought in your head at the same time. So make a gratitude list for when those thoughts hit you and tell God thank you for every thing you can think of. Just a suggestion. It works for me.
God bless you in your walk with God.
Diana
Leigh
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Username: Leigh

Post Number: 78
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 7:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Busymom,
One of the main reasons for me and my husband leaving and taking our children with us was that we wanted them to know Who saves them, how they are save, and that they can have assurance of their salvation. They are almost 11 and 8. There are so many mixed messages that they get in adventism, even if you go to a "liberal thinking" sda church. I also didn't want them to think that spiritual growth consists of becoming more and more vegan or restricing more and more activities on the Sabbath. Jesus said "by their fruits you will know them," not by their law-keeping!! We attend a non-denominational church now, and it is wonderful. The worship and praise service is just great for my 8 year old who can't sit still for long. During the sermon, the children go to their Sunday school classes. (that was something to have to get used to saying! Sunday school!)

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