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Message |
Benevento
Registered user
Username: Benevento
Post Number: 85
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |     |
This morning I went to a study and prayer group in the evangical Covenant Church I have been attending and the leader asked us if any of us
had left another church for this one. One lady spoke up about how thay had been Lutherans for years but couldn't accept some of the new changes and leaving was like a divorce. That struck a chord!! She spoke about how hard it was about being shunned and insulted and it was very difficult. Several others had similiar experiences, so I thought I would tell about it
here since we sometimes feel like we are the only ones who make a change and it turns out to be a
wrenching experience. I told a little bit about
the SDA church and it was true they didn't realize it was so cult like, with a prophet and
unBiblical beliefs (I couldn't possibly mention all of them!!)But it was interesting to me that while people don't make such drastic changes to change churches, they sometimes do suffer a great deal of pain also.I don't know if this is encouraging or not- it was to me, I didn't feel quite so alone!! Peggy |
Violet
Registered user
Username: Violet
Post Number: 338
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 1:25 pm: | |
Peggy,
Thanks for the post. I use to feel all alone also until I heard stories of people coming out of Catholosism. They have stories much like ours. I could see how anyone who parts ways with a group that they have been so intimatley involved in would be very painful.
V |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 3589
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 7:40 pm: | |
Yes, VioletóI taught under a principal who said he was raised Catholic. When he left Catholoicism for evangelical Christianity, he experienced things much like what we experienced when we left Adventism.
Colleen |
Michelled
Registered user
Username: Michelled
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 2:31 am: | |
I am new to this forum, and am very experiencing this 'divorce' right now! My husband was raised as a generation adventist, I joined him when we were married 9 years ago. All was OK, as I accepted their ways. Recently in fellowshiping with some non-adventist, my friend encouraged me to study baptism into the Holy Spirit thru Jesus Christ. We prayed for this baptism back in Dec. Since then I have prayed for Spiritual Wisdom in reading His word. And boy has He given it. It started in Galations, and I have choosen to be the free woman by Gods grace. These new revelations are not sitting well with my husband. He has said since our friends have come around they have placed a cloud of darkness over our home. I say the cloud was there and Jesus has come to bring light thru His Holy Spirit!!!My husband so fears for me and his children, he has asked me to not talk to our friends anymore about spiritual things, and they can not come over for study (They say things that can not be truth - it goes against adventism), although my husband can not come up with anything they've said against scripture! Now this Thurs. night I am meeting with our adventist Pastor to discuss this discord, and on Sat. night, I am meeting with our old Pastor. I feel like David must have felt before coming before the great giant Goliath. Please pray for me, and if anyone has a word of encouragement, I will gladly hear. May God be my Strength!!! MichelleD |
Helovesme2
Registered user
Username: Helovesme2
Post Number: 455
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 4:55 am: | |
Michelled,
Welcome to the forum! I can identify so well with what's happening to you (and with what Jason mentions on another thread). God will be your strength. I am praying that God will make good His promise to give you words when you must speak before examiners. That He will keep you in reality and unashamed of the gospel of Christ. That He will carry you thru this and keep you close to His heart.
Blessings,
Mary |
Thomas1
Registered user
Username: Thomas1
Post Number: 191
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 7:24 am: | |
Michelled,
Welcome. Remember to keep Jesus and ONLY Jesus as your rule and guide. Never let anyone take your conversation from Jesus. When they want to get into legalistic issues, bring them back to the cross and show them Jesus. He will be with you.
Oh yes, one more thing, remember what happened to Goliath when he tangled with "Gods little boy."
stay In His Grip
<><
Thomas |
Pheeki
Registered user
Username: Pheeki
Post Number: 769
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 7:52 am: | |
Michelled. I know what you are going through...my SDA preacher brother cornered me for 4 hours at Christmas, trying to "win" me back into the fold. I was terrified because I was really enjoying my new found freedom and was afraid he would pull me back into bondage.
Anyway...about 3 and a half hours into it, I told him he had to stop using Ellen and could only use the bible...he ended it pretty quick after that. I left elated! I felt the Holy Spirit with me so strongly...it was amazing...the Holy Spirit gave me victory and I wasn't back in bondage...in fact...it served to solidify what the HS had been teaching me.
Stand strong...when I informed my pastor of my new found beliefs...he really didn't want to dig too deep into them. I suspect they will keep things superficial...but be aware, the conversation will inevitibly return to the Sabbath...like a dog returning to it's vomit! Why? Because the Sabbath is the entire reason the SDA exist...it has replaced Jesus as their focus.
It is so refreshing to worship in the church I have now...the focus is 100% Jesus. When I was an SDA, the very first thing you hear on Sabbath morning is "Happy Sabbath" and you hear long prayers thanking God for His Sabbath and one preacher even said we would self destruct with out the Sabbath! They are giving the glory due our Lord to a day of the week and the glory due the Holy Spirit to a woman. It's no better than idol worship if you asked me. With that said...are there Christians in the SDA church? Yes...but I believe they will be shaken out eventually in God's time. Didn't Ellen predict that?!? hahaha! |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 3596
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 11:00 am: | |
MichelleD, I'm really glad to see you here. Thomas is rightókeep your focus and conversation on Jesus; don't allow them to embroil you in a doctrinal battle. Bible only, talk about Jesus... Pheeki's experience is telling.
Praying for you!
Colleen |
Lisa_boyldavis
Registered user
Username: Lisa_boyldavis
Post Number: 182
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 2:19 pm: | |
Dear Michelle,
From experience, I can say that God's Spirit will give you, if you ask for it, BOLDNESS like you've never experienced before, and words you never have had before to say what you must to those working to bring you back. I will pray for your marriage and for true love between you and your family as you say yes to Jesus.
Your journey is our journey; we are walking alongside you and are helping to carry your burdens through love and prayer.
Lisa B-D
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Randyg
Registered user
Username: Randyg
Post Number: 144
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:31 am: | |
Welcome Michelle,
I am praying for you as this is a troubling time for you and your husband. Isn't it sad that you cannot study and grow spiritually without condemnation and interference from the SDA clergy. I don't have any great words of wisdom, but would suggest that you DO NOT let anybody bully you into a situation you are not comfortable in.
I have spoken to several Adventist clergy(friends and aquaintances) regarding the theological paradigm shift in my life over the last several months. Many are struggling with the same spiritual issues, and recognize that many Adventist claims just can't be supported Scripturally. There is a major discontent among the clergy that will not go away. Many of the thinkers are leaving as they too cannot reconcile Adventism with Scripture.
You can be assured that your new found freedom is from God. This is what we are promised in the Epistles of Paul. Romans,Galatians, and all the others are very clear on this. Don't let anybody take that away from you. If the situation with your Pastors degenerates into a debate, end it, and go home. As I have said to some, "You don't argue about good news, you share it!!"
In Titus 3:9 Paul says " Avoid all foolish diputes, genealogies, contentions,and striving about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless."(NKJV)
The NLT reads "Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees, or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These are useless and a waste of time."
My prayers are with you,
Randy |
Michelled
Registered user
Username: Michelled
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 7:53 am: | |
Thank you all for all your encouragement. Tonight the Pastor is coming to our home. However, it was last night that I felt crucified. This came from my husband. He is so afraid and full of out rage. He has asked for their to be no more contact with our friends who have 'tainted' me! I assure this came from God, not man!!! I am not afraid, just hurt, and wish God would show my husband what He has shown me. I know anything I say, my husband will dispute to defend 'his' beliefs that he says is his conviction and not that of the church. Oh God please help! I just ask that anyone willing will pray for the darkness to become light! That God will prevail! This is such a spiritual battle we are dealing with. I beleive God has me where He wants me. In the meantime I will not move unless God tells me. Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle |
Belvalew
Registered user
Username: Belvalew
Post Number: 1001
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 8:17 am: | |
Dear Michelle,
What time is the meeting tonight, and what time zone are you in. Give us some specifics, and we will be in prayer specifically for you, to bear you up and give you the strength you will need. Thank you for entering into our fellowship, and we praise God for his love for you, and yours for Him. Visualize that he is holding you in his arms. Visualize that he has completely surrounded you with a shield of love. All of that is very true, but sometimes we forget it. Seeing it to be true in our minds helps us to deal with situations in our day-to-day.
This is one of those events that hold the potential to be pivotal in your life. Jesus will not bring you to this without giving you the strenth to get through this. Remember that what we see will soon pass away, but what is unseen is eternal. Holy Spirit, we ask today, and in the hour of testing that you will fill Michelle with peace and assurance. Give her the Heart of God, the Peace that passes understanding. Place the proper words in her mouth, and the knowledge of when to speak or remain silent. Lord of All, you are the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, our Counselor and Guide. I pray you will give Michelle an awareness of your presence as she faces this new challenge tonight. We know, Lord, that wherever two or three are met in your name, you are there in the midst. On this board we have so many times experienced your presence, so I am asking that you will manifest once again. All praise to the only worthy Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
Pheeki
Registered user
Username: Pheeki
Post Number: 778
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:17 am: | |
Michelled...I have every bit of confidence that you will emerge tonight victorious in Jesus. Darkness (even twilight-as I believe SDA aren't in total darkness) cannot stand up to the LIGHT of Jesus and His truth.
Some pointers...when they quote Ellen...respectfull request they use only the bible. Remember the important texts...All of Galatians...Colossians 2...You could even start the conversation with Paul's opening line...
1I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. But that might sound smug...you know they refer to themselves as Laodocia...it's like they know something is wrong but can't wrap their minds around it!
Anyway...Here are some texts that helped me in my battle with my SDA preacher brother....
Colossians 2:13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Tell them about the transfiguration...you know, the one Ellen got totally wrong...she said they were there to comfort Jesus. You will find 3 accounts of it...that is how important the event was.
Matthew 17, Mark and Luke 9.
Tell them that the apostles were trying to put Jesus on the same level and the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) and and God said "Listen to my Son!" And then they disappeared and only Christ was left standing...which confirms what Luke said that "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
There is so much more...just know I am praying for you!!!!!
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Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 452
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:57 am: | |
Thanks Pheeki for reminding me of those scriptures, each time I read them they are more precious to me.
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
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