IS there any other procedure to follow and be forgiven?

Question

I committed adultry in the year 2004 and reported myself to the elders of the church and my wife and I was escomminicated from the church. I repented before God and my wife, the elders too.It was really the worst moment in my christian life. Since 2004 I have been moving behind the elders to restore me in the body of Christ the church. It is a surprise that up till today I am not restored in the church. I know and believe that God has forgiven me, my wife on her part has confessed that she has forgiven me.You know that what is bind on earth is bind in heaven. I am really suffering but no one is listening. I donot want to go to a different church.If God was to treat us as I am being treated I don't know what will become of a christian life. I have repented and I am not living in sin. What shoulld I do?
Please don't answer if you know you are not God fearing.

Answer 1

I read your question and understand your situation. I am a Christian and feel from what you have stated that you have done everything right after you committed adultery. YOU WERE HONEST AND IT TAKES A LOT MORE COURAGE TO BE HONEST THAN KEEP THE MATTER QUIET. The church should have reinstated you as you went forward publicly and confessed. I know we had members in our Church from time to time who came forward and asked for forgiveness as they stated that they had committed a public sin and the Church voted always to forgive the member. We were not attempting to take the place of Christ but to let the member know that we still accepted them into the fold. It seems to me that if your Church has withheld the hand of fellowship then they are guilty of the greater sin and not you. Note here particularly the parable of the Prodigal Son, he found forgiveness with his father but his brother did not forgive him and yet it was not his brother he had sinned against. The Lord has forgiven you and so has your wife. many of the Bible "greats" did all sorts of terrible things and they found forgiveness with the Lord. It is important that you don't let this matter get on top of you as you have no right to dwell on any thing that the Lord has forgiven and forgotten. We have all done things which we wished we had not so you are not alone in this. If your Church has withheld forgiveness, Move on to another Church either the one you attend now and make an appointment with the pastor and fully explain your position and tell him that you desire to serve the Lord. I wish you well in this as no one has the right to hinder the minisrty of a person who has been forgiven.

Answer 2

1. Repentance is more than confession, it is completely turning away from the thing. Be sure you have done that.

2. Ask the elders to specify whether they will restore your membership, and if so what is the procedure that they need.

3. Keep in mind that they are humans too, and will also fall short.

4. Ultimately and most importantly, you state that you want to go to that Church...but you did not state what God wants. Keep in mind that this isn't about you, nor is it about how you are being treated. If you are God's, then you are purchased at a price and he may do as He pleases with you. God sent the Israelites into captivity in Egypt for 400 years, and by so doing, saved them as a people. He sent Moses into the wilderness for 40 years alone and then again for 40 more with a bunch of complainers. You need to wait on God's time, and be obedient to God's call.

Do you attend the Church or have they barred you from attending? I realize you are excommunicated, but membership and attendance are not the same thing.

So, is He calling you to stay at that church, or to move on? Does that church agree with you about what God is saying? Do you trust God to work through those elders? If so, you must accept their judgment.

Pray. Wait. Obey.

He is Lord. It's about what He wants. It's not about what you want.

May the Lord and you and your church be restored in your relationships. If not, may you grow and go for the Lord.

Answer 3

Dear friend,
God is compassionate, but the pastors are not. God will forgive, but the pastors will not.

If you have the courage to stand alone, there is no harm in staying away from church or group. I am doing it for more than ten years. And I have the confidence that I keep a better relation with God today. But, from your question it seems you are yet with a wavering mind and you need some association of believers.

If the elders of the Church are still adamant about you, try to be close with God through meditation and reading scriptures. I am sure, there will open a way for you.

Answer 4

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Why do those elders insist on still punishing you. You have repented before God, and your wife has forgiven you. Do you show tendencies of doing the same thing again? If you have fully repented and been forgiven, maybe you should consider looking at different churches. Christ ate with the sinners and took them into his fold. Maybe the elders should study this. Maybe you should ask them to biblically show you why they are doing what they are doing. I know there is biblical discipline in the church. Check that out to see what it says.

Answer 5

If no one is reinstating you back into the body, you need to find a church that will open loving arms to you. The adulery happened two years ago. Obviously they are holding a grudge against you and not forgiving towards you. They see you as an adulterer and that's all they see. They are not forgiven you for what has happened two years ago. It's time to move on and find a new church home.

Answer 6

Go to a diffrent church. It is my beliefe that you should repent to no other than GOD! You need a "personal walk with him" You don't need some gothic minister holding you down. This is your life and God allowed you to make a mistack to learn from it. You have been forgiven. Now you need to forgive your self.

P.S.
I hate the term "God fearing"
He is the most forgiving loving presince that there ever was and ever will be. He is every thing! Breath and it is him. Life without him is like life without air. And that is somthing to be afride of. Just reminde your self that God isin't the leaving kind.

Answer 7

A year ago i did the same to my husband and i repented and ask God to forgive me and he did but there was so much judgemental in our church cause of what i have done that we had to move to a new church and the one we are going to I love it more than i love my past one so just hang in there remember God ponder the heart and man ponder the flesh May God Bless you and hold your head high cause all things confess to God will be forgiven and forgotten

Answer 8

I believe that you have gone through this as a way for God to show you that this is probably the time for you to break contact with this church. Trust that He has other and BETTER plans for your life.
Remember, the house of worship is man made and there are so many of them.
If God and your wife forgive you, that's all that matters.
Let go and let God handle it.

Answer 9

The only procedure is the following:
I John 1:9

If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.

You are restored through Christ not Dogma,Doctrine or fellowship with the church. If they have not restored you, by all means you should leave. God is your judge and you are no longer under condemnation(Read Romans!!) Those who continue to condemn you must first ask themselves if they are without sin, for none of us are not!! It is Christ who forgives and the enemy who condems continually to make you feel as if you are not worthy of the Love of God!! YOU ARE!! and believe me HE HAS FORGIVEN "YOU, IT IS YOU THAT MUST FORGIVE YOURSELF. ASK the holy Spirit to Lead you to a Church that is teaching Gods Forgiveness. Luv Another Sister in His Service

Answer 10

If you've repented and asked for forgiveness you're right where you need to be. If others aren't listening, pray for them. Personally, I think if people at your own church are rejecting you because of sin, you should find a different church, because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. You need people to help you through your problems and not judge you. I don't believe in asking God for forgiveness through other people. He wants you alone to confess to Him, and get your life back on track. Keep praying, and I'll pray for you too.
God bless