| Author | Message | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 248 Registered: 10-2005 |
So I just wonder if I'm the only one feeling this way? I left the church 4 yrs ago,the 1st yr I wandered,the 2nd yr I found a church,went for about a year,but havent been there in a year now this December. Sometimes I wonder if I was better off being a SDA at least I had faith,sometimes I dont know what I beleive anymore. I want to beleive in God and when I look at nature I think how else can this come about? But honestly I really have to wonder about His plan,it doesnt make sense to me,we have had some issues with finance,because of failing health,and people will say "well its all in the Lords hands" really? because if it is it sucks,I think He dropped us. Or some will say we will be praying harder,really because if you pray harder God will make things better? and here is a classic my MIL told me I am not the same person as I was when I was in the church,at first I scoffed at the thought but shes right,I am not.I didnt ask to be born into this world and yet I somehow have a choice to make? well not really,I either can make a choice to live in heaven or hell,kinda of a no brainer there,although because of my doubt and lack of faith and realationship with God as of lately, I guess heaven is out of the question,I dont want to burn in hell,oh thats right I didnt ask to be born,but because of my choice I have too? All the suffering of the childeren and abuse,murder goes on,good ppl like us having to go through hell on earth is not making sense to me,and I told and asked God to save us before we hit this point,I seen this coming four yrs ago,when we left the church and my husbands health was going in the toliet. Im happy with most things,but feel duped with God. Curious to see your comments. Dawn Dawn | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 8990 Registered: 12-2003  |
Dawn, I actually understand how you feel. You are asking important questions. First, it's not a matter of praying "harder". We don't pray, like the priests of Baal, to manipulate God into blessing us. Second, following Jesus doesn't mean that life's problems disappear. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 that he had been in prison frequently, flogged severely, exposed to death again and again, receive the forty lashes minus one five time, beaten with rods three times, stoned, shipwrecked three times, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, bandits, from his own countrymen, from Gentiles, in danger in the city, the country, and at sea; in danger from false brothers. He had labored and toiled and had gone without sleep; he had been hungry and thirsty and had no food; had been cold, naked, and had faced the daily pressure of concern for all the churches. "Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do no inwardly burn," he asks. Then he says this: "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying." And then in the next chapter he tells of the thorn in his side given to him to keep him from boasting after being shown heaven and things he was not permitted to tell. Three time he begged God to take it away from him, but God's answer was this: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Dawn, God is not a god who is like us. He is sovereign. His value, His weight of glory is greater than the physical life of a human. He is sovereign over all things—and He wastes NOTHING that comes into our lives, redeeming EVERYTHING we submit to Him. Only He can transform your deep suffering into victory and peace. He never promises that He will necessarily bring us physical healing or financial security. What He DOES promise is Himself. He asks us to trust Him, and He is faithful to keep His promises. He has promised to give us what we need to live (Read Matthew 6:25-34). It is not possible to explain HOW this works, but when we throw ourselves on His mercy and surrender our control and frustration and anger to Him—and He is more than big enough to handle it—He places His own calmness into our hearts. He comforts us, provides for our needs, teaches us truth and plants us in reality. He LOVES us. Dawn, read Psalm 23 and recite it to yourself today when you feel frantic or angry. Ask Him to show you what is real and true, to keep you planted in reality and to be more real to you than your fear. And praise God—out of sheer obedience, thank Him for saving you, for drawing you out of a cult, for what He is doing that you cannot see. Ask Him to help you trust Him, and ask Him to provide for you according to His own promises. And ask Him to help you act in obedience to Jesus and in faith. Pick up the Bible and read, and ask God to teach you and reveal Himself to you. Dear Father, You know Dawn's struggle and her family's pain. You know the issues with her husband's health and their finances. Please be close to Dawn; hold her close to Your heart, and reveal Yourself to her as her true Father. Please help her to know you in a new way. Please put a song in her heart and renew Her courage and strength. Thank You for Your faiothfulness. I entrust Dawn to you—and I entrust this whole forum to You. We need You, and we want to serve You. Please be among us, and open our hearts to know You and Your truth in our lives today. Thank you, Father. In Jesus name, Amen. Colleen | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 223 Registered: 4-2007 |
Dawn, you are not alone! I’m guessing you left because of the despair created by the Adventist gospel of no hope. The Adventist gospel teaches that God only smiles on good Adventists, you know, those who ‘keep’ the Sabbath and are basically sinless, conversely, God frowns at those who fail to meet the standard. In essence, Adventists ‘do’ stuff to appease the ANGRY God and when they fail, God punishes them and bad things happen. Unfortunately when we reject the Adventist false gospel, we carry with us this horribly distorted Adventist picture of the angry God who looks for excuses to punish those who are sinful. This is NOT what God’s word teaches. To paraphrase: John 3:16 "For God so loves YOU, that He gave His only begotten Son, that YOU who believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Former Adventist Fellowship is here to support you, PLEASE keep posting, you’ll find many here who are having similar challenges and how they are coping. John Douglas | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2008 |
As I was coming out of Adventism, I started reading a book called "He Loves Me" by Wayne Jacobsen. You can get it on Amazon.com. It is very good. | ||
| Larry Registered user Username: Larry Post Number: 664 Registered: 5-2007 |
Neither was Saul, turned Paul, the same after that little incident in the middle of the road! Is your MIL sda? Could be that it is not a primary or secondary sort of put-down, faith destroying comment, but more of a tertiary / tangential. Be saved just like this, it is so simple: Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50 That one confounds my JW friend. He denies it is that easy. | ||
| Akweavers Registered user Username: Akweavers Post Number: 70 Registered: 8-2008 |
I'm not sure I am far enough distanced from being an SDA to make any good comments but, I do know what you mean. Several times I have thought like you, maybe we were better off in SDA. Then I know I am just still being affected by that system of brainwashing they have down so very well. It is insidious. You don't even know they are doing it you. When I was studying all the falsehoods of SDA I remember reading something that Canwright wrote ( I think it was him). He said, Adventism has created more atheists then could be imagined. He said they do such a good job of showing you what is wrong in every other church that when you find out the SDA is wrong too, people feel like there is nothing that is right and it's all a lie. (my memory trying to quote him so not exact but what was meant) I think he is right on the money about this. What we have to do is see that the whole thing is part of satan's evil plans. He hopes that is what will happen to us. So, don't put your faith in any "church" because they are all full of sinners who satan will use to get you convinced it is all useless. Going to church is fine, just know you will find imperfection there. Keep God , Jesus , Bible as your focus and let the rest of the stuff go. Like Colleen said, we are not promised wealth , perfect health or any of the things we consider important in an earthly sense. My husband is in bed now, has had three strokes and needs to be in the hospital. We are three hundred fifty miles from Anchorage and no money to get there right now. So, I know what is like to have a sick husband. I will be praying for your situation. Remember, if you fall for satan's lies he has made the SDA scam come full circle and accomplish what he intends for it to do. Beat him, with Jesus at his pitiful attempt. | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 249 Registered: 10-2005 |
and the flood gates of tears open for me with all your beautiful comments and prayers,yes Larry my MIL is a SDA. Maybe thats my problem I feel that if I dont go to church I might as well just give everything up.I can actually understand why some ex-SDA go atheist. I will try baby steps again,even mother Teresa had doubts sometimes right? and while Im far from being her,I'll read and re-read Pslam 23. and keep it real,keep it simple,thanks,friends | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 592 Registered: 6-2005  |
Hi Dawn, Good to see you again. Before I found a church, I attended CBS. CBS (community Bible Study) and BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) are iternational Bible studies, usually held year round. Google for one in your area, you can start mid-stream. It is well worth it for the fellowship and strict study of the WORD only--no commentary of any sort. Any other Bible study at a local church would be good. I like Kay Arthur and Beth Moore studies as well. I made amazing friends. You NEED the fellowship. Get to a church and get involved in some outreach of some sort, feeding the hungry, or childrens ministry or something, anything, that will get you connected to the greater body of Christ. I also loved Alpha Course for its answers to basic faith questions, who is God, why suffering, how to pray, how to fight temptation, how to study the Bible etc. It's generally a 10 week course, and lots of different churches sponsor it. You can google that as well. It is free. Im not really a big program person, I prefer to be alone in my search for God, but God says we do it best in fellowship with other believers, so I stretch myself, and I have found that God is right.  . We need each other. We need others who can mentor us and teach us. I will pray for you, and I echo what was said above. It gets much, much, much, better than what we knew in Adventism. Pray specifically this prayer: Pray for the Spirit of Adventism and a false, weak gospel to be removed from you, and Ask God to replace that evil Spirit with His Holy Spirit and His true Gospel. He will do that. I still have to pray that when I get "slimed" by contact with those who innocently or not so innocently preach a different gospel at me. Love and Hugs, Lori | ||
| Snowboardingmom Registered user Username: Snowboardingmom Post Number: 509 Registered: 11-2005 |
Dawn, I have so been there! I SO KNOW what you're going through. When I was first processing out of Adventism, I actually became quite angry with God. I really felt as if my world was falling apart, and all my questions about Adventism suddenly began turning towards questions about God. From His mere existence, to His goodness, to His faithfulness--everything I doubted. At the time, yes, it did seem as if my life was a lot less tumultuous and more figured out when I was still SDA. But it only seemed that way, because that "dysfunction" was so normal to me. But God is so faithful to teach us what true normal is--what He intended for our lives to be. Over the years, I have begun to understand what it means to worship a sovereign God. As Adventists, we had NO idea was sovereignty looked like. And as I began to understand His sovereignty, my trust in His care during the "unknown" began to deepen. Hang in there Dawn. It will get better. God hasn't abandoned you. He's there, and He's holding your heart even among the disappointment, the anger, and the frustration. There is a book called "Disappointment with God" by Philip Yancey that was really helpful to me when I was going through the phase you're going through. I haven't read it from "this side of things", so I'm not sure how I would like it now. But, back then, it was helpful. Praying for you, Grace |
