Free Christian
Puritan Board Sophomore
Hi Peter, and anyone else who reads this. This is a discussion on being in or leaving churches or speaking up when things go wrong or are wrong continued from another thread.
I know exactly, sort of how you feel Peter.
Often I was told that I should keep going, to not neglect the means of grace. But as I kept attending I kept feeling more and more alienated. It was so often hard to not say anything and then at times I felt I had spoken the truth out of season. It was the truth, but should I have said it when I did. Perhaps those times were my own conscience telling me that I should not have, perhaps prayed more about it and said something when I felt it was 100% time to. As opposed to when I felt annoyed at what was going on. All part of growing I guess, and iv still got a lot to in that regard.
I too burnt bridges and would say that I should have many times waited. Perhaps been more of a witness for the truth for longer than I had been. I do at times have regrets at doing so and should have left on more amicable terms than I did. Crossed the bridge, but not burnt it as I did at times. Again all part of learning and growing. There were some that were burnt and I have no regrets at those.
But it is hard without a doubt being somewhere where they blatantly ignore God's Word, not when they are in ignorance, but knowingly turn their backs on what is written and outlined for us to do.
In one church, the one I was originally saved at it was charismatic. When I raised the questions of why they do all the things they did when they do not appear anywhere in the Bible. The tongues, the slaying in the spirit, the demon possession of simple sins, not that any sin is simple but I hope you know what I mean (they said almost every sin like smoking, bad language, drinking etc were all demon possession) I was outright labelled a heretic, fooled by Satan, demonic. The Pastor told me I was going to go to hell for what I said. All my friends there turned their backs on me, hating me and seeing me as going to the dark side turning my back on God.
Then there have been ones where they seemed ok, but under it all still refused to do what God outlines in the Bible.
One place went form being ok to pandering to the world by changing from singing Hymns to singing chorus's, one or two sentences of happy tunes. Not saying that singing that Jesus is Lord and that we love Him is wrong but that is all they would sing over and over. The doctrine and lessons were taken away. They then had nights (Sunday worship) where they would play semi rock type music and songs for the young. All things to make the people happy. Another I went to the Pastor said "Today it is going to be different, this couple got married so the service today will centre on them" that's the closest I can recall the words he spoke but they were to that effect and Im about 100% there in conveying what was meant/said. I was dumbfounded at that one! We quietly left about half way through. Another seemed ok till a woman got up and started preaching. Some you would finish the service and outside after would go to talk to the people or Pastor about God and things and they would look at you almost stupid. The service was over what are you on about? Another they never sang Psalms and after asking the Pastor why when the Bible says to he actually tried to introduce them, good on him for that, but the people didn't like it at all and made it go back to just hymns.
I wouldn't not go just because they only sang hymns, I would go still but there were other serious issues there too.
To me its the blatant disregard for what they know, not what they don't know. Knowing something and choosing not to do it consciously that gets me.
If I could give advice in any way at all from my own personal experiences it would be to pray a bit longer about the decisions we make, to leave if you do as amicable as is possible for one to do so if you decide to leave, to wait until you know/feel 100% in your heart after prayer till you speak and when you do so use the Word of God and be as humble as you can muster yourself to be.
Im no great person, no teacher to anyone. I stumble all the time, kick myself often and wish I was better than I am.
I do try though to be sure I am following the truth.
Peter, the thing I wrote is in bits all over the place. I don't know what was the first or what was the last draft. It was just on the simple, though nothing is simple in regards to the truth, things on singing Psalms, Church order, Prayer, reverence for God ( I have heard ministers use His name in vain), Bible versions, Images of Angels and Christ (that's a big pet one of mine) things like that and some more. Its simple and no way any literary masterpiece or great doctrinal writing in the vein of anyone known. Just a simple put together by myself thing on truth.
I will though Peter go about getting it together again and sending one to you. Im not great on computers so it will take a while and I want to make sure I send the right one. Give around three weeks.
Hang in there Peter. Hoping and praying the best for you in the Lord.
Brett.
I know exactly, sort of how you feel Peter.
Often I was told that I should keep going, to not neglect the means of grace. But as I kept attending I kept feeling more and more alienated. It was so often hard to not say anything and then at times I felt I had spoken the truth out of season. It was the truth, but should I have said it when I did. Perhaps those times were my own conscience telling me that I should not have, perhaps prayed more about it and said something when I felt it was 100% time to. As opposed to when I felt annoyed at what was going on. All part of growing I guess, and iv still got a lot to in that regard.
I too burnt bridges and would say that I should have many times waited. Perhaps been more of a witness for the truth for longer than I had been. I do at times have regrets at doing so and should have left on more amicable terms than I did. Crossed the bridge, but not burnt it as I did at times. Again all part of learning and growing. There were some that were burnt and I have no regrets at those.
But it is hard without a doubt being somewhere where they blatantly ignore God's Word, not when they are in ignorance, but knowingly turn their backs on what is written and outlined for us to do.
In one church, the one I was originally saved at it was charismatic. When I raised the questions of why they do all the things they did when they do not appear anywhere in the Bible. The tongues, the slaying in the spirit, the demon possession of simple sins, not that any sin is simple but I hope you know what I mean (they said almost every sin like smoking, bad language, drinking etc were all demon possession) I was outright labelled a heretic, fooled by Satan, demonic. The Pastor told me I was going to go to hell for what I said. All my friends there turned their backs on me, hating me and seeing me as going to the dark side turning my back on God.
Then there have been ones where they seemed ok, but under it all still refused to do what God outlines in the Bible.
One place went form being ok to pandering to the world by changing from singing Hymns to singing chorus's, one or two sentences of happy tunes. Not saying that singing that Jesus is Lord and that we love Him is wrong but that is all they would sing over and over. The doctrine and lessons were taken away. They then had nights (Sunday worship) where they would play semi rock type music and songs for the young. All things to make the people happy. Another I went to the Pastor said "Today it is going to be different, this couple got married so the service today will centre on them" that's the closest I can recall the words he spoke but they were to that effect and Im about 100% there in conveying what was meant/said. I was dumbfounded at that one! We quietly left about half way through. Another seemed ok till a woman got up and started preaching. Some you would finish the service and outside after would go to talk to the people or Pastor about God and things and they would look at you almost stupid. The service was over what are you on about? Another they never sang Psalms and after asking the Pastor why when the Bible says to he actually tried to introduce them, good on him for that, but the people didn't like it at all and made it go back to just hymns.
I wouldn't not go just because they only sang hymns, I would go still but there were other serious issues there too.
To me its the blatant disregard for what they know, not what they don't know. Knowing something and choosing not to do it consciously that gets me.
If I could give advice in any way at all from my own personal experiences it would be to pray a bit longer about the decisions we make, to leave if you do as amicable as is possible for one to do so if you decide to leave, to wait until you know/feel 100% in your heart after prayer till you speak and when you do so use the Word of God and be as humble as you can muster yourself to be.
Im no great person, no teacher to anyone. I stumble all the time, kick myself often and wish I was better than I am.
I do try though to be sure I am following the truth.
Peter, the thing I wrote is in bits all over the place. I don't know what was the first or what was the last draft. It was just on the simple, though nothing is simple in regards to the truth, things on singing Psalms, Church order, Prayer, reverence for God ( I have heard ministers use His name in vain), Bible versions, Images of Angels and Christ (that's a big pet one of mine) things like that and some more. Its simple and no way any literary masterpiece or great doctrinal writing in the vein of anyone known. Just a simple put together by myself thing on truth.
I will though Peter go about getting it together again and sending one to you. Im not great on computers so it will take a while and I want to make sure I send the right one. Give around three weeks.
Hang in there Peter. Hoping and praying the best for you in the Lord.
Brett.