| Author | Message | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2004 |
I am new to this forum. I recently stumbled across it 5 years after leaving the Adventist church. It was reassuring to read stories of others who have left due to beliefs. I thought I was the only one! My entire family is SDA. My main reason for leaving was that the purpose of the SDA church was to convert people to SDAs instead of going into all the world and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I guess I didn't consider myself a non SDA until I changed beliefs about the Sabbath. I took off my Adventist glasses and read the word of God in a new light. I have found a great church home that is very different from how I grew up. My husband and I are involved in our new church and our children have never gone to an SDA church. I have a few questions. How do you handle family? My family said what they had to say awhile ago and we don't talk about our belief differences. When my family visits they pretty much avoid being around on Sundays. When they visit on Saturday they often go to church or do Sabbathy things. I try and make it easy on them. When we visit them they want us to go to church with them. We have gone to church on Sunday when visiting them. It is very hard on them that I wouldn't let my young children go to Sabbath school with them. I don't want to set a precedent. I don't want my children going to a place where they teach that we are lost and are the false prophet. I sometimes watch 3ABN and have heard them refer to what I believe as garbage. Am I being unreasonable? Do you change how you or your family act when around SDA relatives? It's just great to know that I am not alone. I made the journey out on my own. My husband was not an SDA, but I wouldn't listen to his concerns about the SDA church. He stopped talking about it and let SDAs talk for him. How do you handle the cultural differences? I barely knew any non-SDAs until I was in my 20s. I am still a vegetarian and wish I wasn't. I don't know how to go about eating meat at this point though. It was hard just to learn how to touch it and cook it. I praise God that I am free! I thank God that I made it out! It's good to be here. I hope I can contribute some. | ||
| 33ad Registered user Username: 33ad Post Number: 101 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hi U2bsda, Welcome to the forum. I recon you seem to be doing a good job with family relations. I believe they must respect your beliefs as much as you do theirs. You don't believe what they're doing is right, and they think you're wrong! My sister is the same. After we talked it out, we don't talk church any more. Nobody can convince their family to their set of values and beliefs. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. On the topic of meat, I was always a meat eater, even when I was an SDA. There was no text that said it was wrong, and so I never stopped. My problem was accepting Pork and Sea Food. But to be honest, I know eating meat is not healthy, so if I eat meat more than twice a month, that's a lot. Most of the rest of the time I eat fish or I'm a Vegan. I don't eat dairy products (OK, I do have a pizza now and then, yes)and I can't remember when last I ate egg.(Except if it's baked into something.) I wouln't force myself to eat meat. If it's not to your liking, leave it. We live in the 21st century and we've got plenty other choices. God bless Loren | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 417 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hey Loren, did you get my private email and have you contacted my friend in Johannesburg? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 912 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dear U2bsda, Welcome to the forum! We're glad you're here and look forward to hearing more from you. The family differences are not easy to handle sometimes. We have taken a pretty firm stance, though, that we do not visit the SDA church when we are with SDA family. Visiting, it seems, either seems to offer false hope to them that we might come back, or it seems like a way to keep up appearances so the reality of what we've done can be ignored. Bedsides, going to an Adventist church feels like going to a place of darkness to us! I realize that many families arrive at different ways to deal with these problems--the family's attitudes and one's own have a lot to do with these decisions! I believe that asking God to give you great wisdom and discernmenet and integrity is the way to know the best way to handle your family. He is faithful, and He will help you know what to do. Colleen | ||
| 33ad Registered user Username: 33ad Post Number: 103 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hi Pheeki, Yes, I got your email. I was off work Friday due to a tummy bug, and had a bit of catching up to do yesterday (Monday). I'm at work and it's Tuesday morning. I'll send your friend an email today and see if he calls me. Thanks Pheeki, Loren | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 421 Registered: 1-2003 |
Yes, please let me know...I really like him and I know you will encourage each other. | ||
| 33ad Registered user Username: 33ad Post Number: 108 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hi Pheek, Chris emailed me yesterday. He lives in Durban, a port city about 450 miles from me. But I'll get his tel # and call him. Thanks again Pheeki. Loren |
