| Author |
Message |
Helovesme2
Registered user
Username: Helovesme2
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 2:05 pm: |     |
I wonder if it doesn't have to do with the fact that when life is in flux people are more open to both good and bad. If you've just moved, it's likely that you'll respond more favorably to someone who acts friendly and who seem to know their way around the new place well; who can fill you in on the little tidbits of how things are done in the new place.
Kids want to belong, immigrants want to belong, people who are lonely and feel outcast want to belong. When someone makes them feel like they can, they are attracted. Sometimes that person has a 'good' thing to offer: a real insight into the community, good tips on where to shop and where services are, etc. Other times the person who is 'friendly' something bad to offer: drugs, entrance into a cult, etc., etc. And still other times, the person is just trying to sell something that in itself is not bad: a vacuum cleaner, a car, a particular brand of whatever.
But that still leaves the question Why? Why do some people become swept away by things that are wrong? Why do some seem to have things figured out right away?
I think it has something to do with the way each person is raised, something to do with their education, something to do with their personality, and something to do with the fact that both good and evil abound in this world, and the devil is still allowed to work.
I'm thankful that God is still stronger than the devil and is drawing all men to Himself! I'm glad that He has promesed that he will hear our prayers.
A good reason to pray earnestly for ourselves and for the planet!
helovesme2
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Helovesme2
Registered user
Username: Helovesme2
Post Number: 12
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 2:18 pm: | |
As I reread what I just wrote, I'm reminded of something Colleen often says and had to add it. I'm thankful God redeems even the bad experiences in our lives as we surrender to Him!
Helovesme2 |
Yossariana
Registered user
Username: Yossariana
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 1:28 am: | |
I couldnt come here for a while, I had to do some work here in Romania. The Sda church is very nice to me now, because they are afraid I wont come to the church anymore. I am confused a little about churches and what the truth is....but I know God looks into my heart...and I really want to serve Him.
Tnx for ur support!
God bless,
Andreea |
Sabra
Registered user
Username: Sabra
Post Number: 192
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 5:15 am: | |
Andreea,
The Truth is Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No substitutions, no add-ons, nothing else. Church buildings are man made, denominations are man made. Follow Jesus, not a religion.  Then find a church that doesn't think they have it all figured out and leaves room to hear from God. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 730
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 10:20 am: | |
Andreea, I'm glad to hear from you again. I've been praying for you.
Keep studying the Bible, Andreea, and pray always for the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth. He will never deceive you or lead you astray. Anything that does not agree with the gospel of God as taught in the Bible (including the epsitles!) is a false gospel.
Ask God to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Colleen |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 588
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 5:39 pm: | |
Andreea,
Welcome back. I second everything Colleen says above. Keep studying the Bible. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth and ANYTHING THAT DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE GOSPEL AS TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE IS A FALSE GOSPEL.
I will continue to pray for you.
God is awesome.
Diana |
Yossariana
Registered user
Username: Yossariana
Post Number: 9
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:56 am: | |
I had a discussion again with my pastor. I was honest with him and I told him that some things I found out made me not to consider EGW a prophet anymore. Also, suddenly I have lots of sda 'friends' who offered themselves to pray with me, because Satan is fighting for me, they say.Soon I will be leaving Romania, and almost everyday I meet sda in town.I feel they are trying to make me feel guilty, but I dont feel...and when I tell them I dont feel..they say it's because I dont have a good relationship with my Lord. Somehow, is true that I dont read so much as I did before (when I was a true sda), because Im scared to read anything else than the Bible...and Im confused. But deep in my heart I cry for the Lord...I need Him to guide my life...I just want to know that this is a normal process of coming out from sectarianism and Im not on the wrong way.
My pastor tried to underline that EGW is a prophet because she wrote about ecumenism...and this is what is happening today in the cristian world. I would like to know what do you think about this matter and also I would like to ask you to pray for my flight again (Im going to be with my husband in the uk) on Friday afternoon. Lots of thanks for your support and Im really happy that soon I will have the possibility to be online more often))))
PS: Dd, I must answer to your questions. I had to come to Romania to apply for UK residence. I had to leave Sweden, because I havent got the citizenship there yet, so I had to apply for UK residence here in Romania. To start with, we were thinking to live in England. Steven finishes his school in May or June next year. After that we were thinking to ask God if He needs us somewhere else, because we want to serve Him.
And thank you all for praying for us It is really comforting!
God bless,
Andreea. |
33ad
Registered user
Username: 33ad
Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 4:23 am: | |
Dear Andreea, Never doubt that the Holy Spirit will lead you to where he wants you to be. Just keep your mind open when He speaks to you. I live in about the same time zone as you, but very much more South in Yushnia Afrika.(South Africa)Because my wife was learning the Russian Language, and I was praying to God to show me the original christian church, I was led out of the SDA cult and into the Russian Orthodox Church. Because of this I am getting a lot of persecution from my ex-SDA friends and family. I am not pushing any christian church above another here. All I am saying is that one must be true to your consience. It was making me smile to read about the immigrants to the USA getting confused by the cults there, and here I am worshipping with the immigrants to this country from Russia who made sure that they brought their Christian Home and values with them. God never leaves us Andreea, we leave Him. Leaving the SDA's is a VERY confusing time, realising you were being deceived all the time. I know exactly how it feels. Jesus, our Lord and Savior will be with us to the end. Always trust Him, and study your bible faithfully. The truth in it will be revealed to you.
God bless
Loren |
Melissa
Registered user
Username: Melissa
Post Number: 521
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 7:16 am: | |
Andreea, I'm not sure what resources you have as far as study aides, but look at Jesus' own words...he wanted his followers to be unified. I think SDAs "fear" of "ecumenism" is kindof interesting given the New Testament's overwhelming consistent teaching of "being one", breaking down dividing lines so there is neither male nor female, Greek nor Jew,... etc. God wants us to be one body regardless of the name over the door of the structure we worship in. Trust God to lead you. Rom 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - by his good, pleasing and perfect will." |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 988
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 8:33 am: | |
I posted this a long time ago but I will put it in once more. Awhile back the minister gave a sermon titled, "What Is The Church?". He told us The Church is made up of five parts, each one important. They are: 1: the Cristian Church. This is all Christians worldwide. No denomination in this catagory. All Christians. 2: The denominations. Such as Catholic, Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, etc. 3: The breakdown of the larger church denominations. For instance the Lutherans are borken up into regional entites called Synods, some church denominations call their regional areas confrenences, etc. 4: The individual congreation. Community Baptist, St. Timothy's Lutheran, etc. and 5: the individual person who has Jesus is his/her heart. I really did like this answer to What Is The Church? So, as Christians the various groups can and should work together. All are Christian. All have Jesus as their focus. So, they can and should not squabble about denominational differences and need to work together for the greater good. Which now gets me to the local SDA chuch. The commnity ministers meet once per month for breakfast at a local restruant and have prayer and discuss local concerns, always at the start of the month. I asked the Lutheran pastor once if the SDA pastor came to these meetings. He told me th community ministers have been doing this monthly for 14 years and the SDA pastor does not come. Several times many years ago one SDA minister did come several times but that was it. Then he told me the group still will always phone and invite the SDA minister to these meetings. I asked him since he knows the SDA minister will not show up then how come someone from the group bothers to call and invite the SDA. He told me they phone monthly and will continue to do so beause it is the right thing to do. I was very impressed. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 775
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 10:50 am: | |
Andreea, I'm so glad to see you here again. What you are experiencing is COMPLETELY NORMAL when one leaves a church such as the SDA church. You need to stay immersed in the Bible and prayer. Right now, you are right not to want to read anything but the Bible. When one is struggling to know truth, one must ground himself in absolute reality. That is found in the Bible.
One technique that can be very helpful at times of great distress and emotional confusion is simply to journal Scripture. In a notebook, literally copy passages from the Bible, praying for God to nourish you through His word. The entire books of Ephesians and Galatians would be excellent journalling material. Just do a few verses or a chapter at a time, and allow the Spirit of God to reveal the truth to you that He knows you need to know at that moment.
Jesus will never deceive you. You may find yourself opposed by many people you know and love, but in Christ there is freedom and truth and hope and eternity.
With prayers for you,
Colleen |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:50 am: | |
Andreea,
If a person happens to get one prediction/prohecy correct, that does not make that person a true prophet. A true prophet of God has to get it right one hundred percent of the time. None of their predictions can fail. And also, they have to agree with Scripture one hundred percent. Ellen G. White simply does not pass these tests. She fails miserably, therefore she is a false prophet, and you don't have to be ashamed to tell them that.
Also, you don't have to read anything else besides the Bible in order to have a good relationship with the Lord. There is absolutely nothing wrong with just reading the Bible. And don't let them try to make you think that you should be reading a false prophet's writings (EGW), or any other SDA writings. You have no obligation to anyone to read deception and heresy!
God bless,
Jeremy |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 629
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 5:26 pm: | |
Andreea,
I second everything everyone above has written. All you need to read is the Bible. You do not need the false prophet. Satan is using those SDAs to try to make you feel guilty about leaving the SDA church. Just keep you hand in Jesus hand your eyes on Him and continue to build your relationship with him. God has led you this far and He will continue to lead you. He will not drop you.
I will continue to pray for you.
We truly have an awesome God.
Diana |
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