Has anyone been pressured to join or stay with a church that you felt you had outgrown?

Question

I remained due to loyalty, but I this stage in my life I prefer to learn about the Lord on my own. I feel sometimes everything is taught about how God wants us to live, but not necessary establishing a strong relationship with God through Jesus Christ. One on one conversations (praise), prayer, scripture and exploration* free of the interpretations of others. Just asking God to set you free from the strongholds of others and the guilt associated with detachment from them. * Exploring other ministries like Joyce Meyer, Joel Olsteen, TD Jakes, and other visit other churches without joining/committing to a particular church.

***apologies for the typos***

Answer 1

No, I believe that you should be in the place where the Holy Spirit is. You should be in the church where God wants you, and not be influenced by men.
It is important to be part of the body of Christ, and fellowship. The Bible says that we need to meet together and to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Answer 2

All the time. I've been a Baha'i for 38 years, and people are still trying to show me the error of my ways.

I've been reading the Holy Bible all my life, and have read it, even, more fervently since becoming a Baha'i; in addition to reading the Bhagavad-gita, the ZendaVesta, the Qu'ran and the Baha'i Writings.

Having read only the Holy Bible, themselves, they expect me to throw everything else I've learned out, and confine myself to the Old and New Testaments.

That's like skipping the first four chapters of a book, reading the next two, ignoring the last three, and claiming you understand the book.

Each of God's Religions (all the Great World Religions come from the One God) constitutes a chapter in the complete book of God's One Religion.

The Baha'i Faith claims not to be the best, the greatest, the only, or the last--it claims to be only the most recent in the evolution of God's One Religion. There will be future chapters in the One Holy Book of God.

They expect me to somehow throw my knowledge away, when they won't even read any more of the book.

If their faith is so strong, why are they afraid to read the rest of the book? Do they doubt God's ability to protect them from untruth? Why don't they pray while they're investigating truth? If there is no truth to be found, they can simply continue on their way. Or, if they've found enough of the truth to satisfy them, at least leave me to my truth, and pray for my soul, if they're concerned about me.

One of the many things I love about the Baha'i Faith is that we are encouraged, for every Baha'i book we read, to read 12 other books. Baha'u'llah isn't afraid that we will find a different or better truth, because the Baha'i Faith contains all truth.

Answer 3

In my case the answer is yes, and it is for anyone who has ever been a part of the religion that I grew up in. I was a Jehovah's Witness until I turned 21, a religion that my entire family belonged to at the time, and most still do. In this religion one is required to forsake all other relationships and friendships with those outside of this group, until other Witnesses are all you know. The pressure comes if you misbehave and are kicked out of the group, in which case all other JWs are requires to shun you completely, even family members can have nothing to do with you.

About 25 years ago the rules were changed so that any person leaving the religion voluntarily is to be treated just like someone who has been cast out (disfellowshipped in their terminology). Because of this regulation, leaving the group cost me my whole family. If this is not pressure to stay in, I don't know what is.

Answer 4

I was recently pressured to stay at a church that I felt I had outgrown. I began to visit another church more and more. I did not want to change if it was not what God wanted. So, I prayed and waited for an answer. It finally came one day when my Pastor asked where I had been and I told him I had been visiting another church. He made the comment that I should not be visiting because this was how the devil gets you. This comment was the deciding factor for me to leave. You should ask for Gods guidance and do what ever he directs you to do regardless of what others think.

Answer 5

I left the church I had been raised in because I couldn't deal with the judgmental attitudes of a majority of the members. I can't say I was pressured to stay, but when I visited a couple of years later, they weren't very friendly, even though members of my family still go there. I probably put more pressure on myself for awhile, because I felt guilty for being a part of the division of the church that was happening at hte time. But I needed to be a part of a church that reflected my beliefs, amd I found one where I felt totally accepted and loved.

Answer 6

Yes, but I was only eight at the time and as the son of a military chaplain you don't have much choice if you want your allowance. It was horrible. I even ran away one time but went back for my allowance and after I was told that I wouldn't get it if I ran away, I stayed. It's been like that my whole life, acquiescing to please others just for the money.
I have some relief, however. Now that I have found Answers, I only do things for points.
I wonder how many points I will need to get into heaven.
I hope God isn't too picky.

Answer 7

I stayed with one that fit very badly with me for a few months longer than I should have, an Assemblies of God one, because of friends I'd made there and the idea that maybe God would make things clearer to me.

Answer 8

I used to be in a doomsday cult and I finally woke and got the hell out of there. Now I am a Lutheran its much nicer and there is little pressure to drink poison Kool aid. Seriously, You are free to choose what ever you wish. You should not feel pressured to believe in something if it not YOUR choice.

Answer 9

I feel I've outgrown modern christianity altogether. I'm such a gnostic. At work, I have a mormon missionary who is always trying to challenge me to come over to his side. It never works though as he has not been able to proove anything he believes is based on anything besides a book, which is always how I challenge him, to show me "the truth" in his life and where it lies.

Answer 10

Of course. First of all, when I was young (under 21) and very vulnerable and impressionable. Later, in my thirties I was enamored with the pastor who asked me to help with alot of things that I did have the ability to do, and I'd see him often if I did them. THAT was the hardest! He simply couldn't "understand" why I wanted to go....eyes filled with tears...woebegone look...the whole treatment. I'm sure he held all the women on staff that way.

STAY STRONG. PRAY AND DO GOD'S BIDDING