| Author | Message | ||
| Goldenbear Registered user Username: Goldenbear Post Number: 124 Registered: 12-2004 |
Greetings all. I don't post often, but my wife keeps me updated on what is being discussed on different threads. My wife and I haven't attended a SDA church for almost 2 years (we did go with friends who were in town as a hospitality issue, once!). No great shock, during this time no one has asked why we don't attend any more. I work with the head elder! We (my wife and I) are considering just sitting down and talking to the main leaders of the church and explaining what is happening (we aren't members of the church locally - it is only a company) When we are around these folk, there is a sense of the proverbial pink elephant in the room. As I have mentioned in other posts, we are attending a CMA church and really being blessed. We are involved (I teach youth Sunday School, and my wife and I head up the Operation Christmas Child for our area). We are attending a Bible study with three other couples and our pastor and are studying the book of Col. We have been meeting for almost 2 months and we just finished the first chapter! No other books, just the Word. You know there is something that is so wonderful about studying God's word and just reveling in the Grace that flows from the pen of Paul, John, Peter, and most significantly the Savior. Praise God, we are FREE! This Thursday evening the others in the study group were unable to attend and the pastor & wife and us were talking and I suggested that we watch "The Spirit Behind the Church". (I had loaned it to him some time ago.) I had given him my loaner copy and was hoping he would place it in the church library so that others who wished could hear what a false religion, Adventism is. As we watched the video, it was apparent that he was having a change in his perception (He had interactions with Adventists in the 70's when he was in New Guinea as a missionary. Thought they were more of odd ducks, than a cult) As he and his wife watched, they stopped the tape and said: "We are heathens?!" "It isn't that we don't understand the doctrine, we are lost and have the mark of the beast!" They don't believe in hell? And the thing that alarmed them the most was that the Adventist have their own bible! I had told them before we watched that I was hoping them to understand where we were coming from in our walk and how wonderful the precious words of Grace are! As soon as the tape was over, he prayed for us, Adventist still caught in the web of legalism, and those who were sincerely seeking Christ but have been seeking him through works. Before he prayed and we had been watching the video, there was a sense of foreboding and darkness that I felt, until he prayed and again I was struck with the fact that WE ARE FREE! FREE TO WORSHIP, PRAISE, ADORE HIM! This morning the phone rang and the pastor asked if we would be willing to participate in the service next Sunday. He is getting several different people in the church to testify to their thankfulness to God. He specifically wants us to speak to how God has changed our focus, lives and faith walk in just one short year. He feels that people need to hear that God can change circumstances and situations for His glory. Pray that God will lead in this effort and allow us to testify to what HE is doing in and through us. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2024 Registered: 3-2004  |
Goldenbear, You are on my prayer list and I will pray that God give you the words to say. God will not let you down. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2946 Registered: 12-2003  |
Goldenbear, God arranged for you and your wife to meet with just the pastor last Thursday. It was time, and he needed to know the truth. Praise God that they "got it"! With prayers for your talk next Sunday, Colleen | ||
| Lisa_boyldavis Registered user Username: Lisa_boyldavis Post Number: 118 Registered: 3-2005 |
Goldenbear, The fact that he got it is miraculous and very rare. I would love for my church family to get it but have stopped trying to explain. Our pastor understands the New Covenant very well preaches the truth... but is a peacemaker. Which is good. God Bless you in your whiteness for him. Lisa | ||
| Lisa_boyldavis Registered user Username: Lisa_boyldavis Post Number: 119 Registered: 3-2005 |
OOPS... DID YOU SEE THAT... WHITENESS, NOT WITNESS... WELL, I'VE BEEN IN THE SDA CHURCH TOO LONG! LISA | ||
| Dennisrainwater Registered user Username: Dennisrainwater Post Number: 124 Registered: 8-2000 |
Amen, Goldenbear!! What a blessed opportunity! I too shared that video with my (Southern Baptist) pastor a while back, and he asked me to take a couple of Sunday evening services to educate our church on the errors of Adventism... I am so glad that your pastor "got it" -- that is so rare! I am praying for the impact of your witness against the 'whiteness'! LOL!! ;-) Thank you Jesus for Grace, and the FREE GIFT of Salvation, Den <>< |
