I really need advice on this, I am confused and still hurt. But also happy to move on. My father was an elder there for at least ten years, then he stepped down, along with two other elders. It was his own choice, and my families to go somewhere else. But God made my decision for me. I am hurt from what went on in my "former" church, things that people did and I don't know what I should do. I feel like I am just running away, but I can't stay because I can't. I feel bad for leaving them, and all the people are hurt and crying and probably feel abanonded. I know. I think we all need to deal with things on our own. I mean I will still visit, I just need to find a new church right now. Its not stable and I need stable. Anyone just tell me what you think. Thanks.
2006-11-13 02:18:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
AS human beings we need to learn that when we reach adulthood we can either become adults or still remain dependant on someone or something else to make decisions for us. People have to find strength within themselves as grown human beings and not rely on others to dictate where your life ought to be headed or how your life ought to be managed. If we cant do this as people, then becoming an adult is MEANINGLESS and you'll always be lost waiting for someone or something else to take the responsibility for your decisions or lack thereof. Oh and as a side note, you may be interested in knowing that "christian" has a relation to the word cretin- cre·tin Pronunciation (krtn)
n.
1. A person afflicted with cretinism.
2. Slang An idiot.
[French crétin, from French dialectal, deformed and mentally retarded person found in certain Alpine valleys, from Vulgar Latin *christinus, Christian, human being, poor fellow, from Latin Chrstinus, Christian; see Christian.]
2006-11-13 02:25:48 · answer #1 · answered by . S 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your former church co-members are crying and feel hurt and abandoned...? Why is it so important to them that you stay somewhere that is wrong for you?
You're not running away, you're walking away. From a place that no longer serves you and the faith in your heart. There is nothing wrong with this. It takes a good deal of moral courage to recognize something is wrong and act on it. By leaving, you're making a statement that what happened is not acceptable to you. If you stayed, you would be betraying yourself, your heart, your faith, and your God. You are turning from something that is not okay.
I say, good for you. And you know what? I haven't a doubt that you'll find a new place to settle, make new friends, and feel all right about it after you've had a chance to mourn what was.
And don't worry about your former co-members. They'll get on without you, and I bet your future co-members of your new church will be glad of the gifts your presence can bring them.
Remember that even if you change churches, you take your relationship with the Almighty with you. That will always be there.
Good luck, and you have my best wishes and admiration.
2006-11-13 02:31:22 · answer #2 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that you don't want to hear this but I think you should really consider trying to form a close relationship with God without the outside influences that a church cannot help but interject.
You need to decide what it is that you want. Do you want a relationship with God, or is it just fellowship that you are seeking.
If fellowship is your main goal then by all means go find a church.
If a close relationship with God is your primary goal then realize that any church that you find will be an impediment to what you are seeking due to the same types of things " That were going on" in your last church.
I made the break several years ago and my relationship with God is astonishingly better now than it ever was.
It all depends on what you want.
love and blessings Don
2006-11-13 02:29:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure exactly what's going through your mind. But I know that churches are sometimes (and should be) like families. It's HARD when they family splits up for whatever reason.
The thing is, you need to find the place God's calling you to. Be careful not to seek from others that which only God can give you - security and vitality. It sounds like your church is over-dependent on you and your family. They'll be OK on their own - everyone needs to lean on God, and if they're not doing that right now, they should take this opportunity to correct their thinking. In fact, this sounds like the best thing that could happen to them if they are a very dependent bunch!
My heart is with you - you'll be OK. Even the loneliest times are an opportunity to seek God's heart. Fast and pray and you will come out of this better than ever before.
2006-11-13 02:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by candypants 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is not easy to say, but you must examine how this situation has affected you PERSONALLY. Are you still being spiritually fed from the pastor's messages? Are you still filled with joy in worship there? Do you have aught against a brother there that is unresolved? There are lots of things that make it easy for a person to "quit" church that really have no bearing on them personally. I do understand hurt feelings though, for I was forced to make a similar choice about a decade ago. But now, I'm happy where I'm going and enjoy myself as freely in the worship as I ever have. If the problems that caused you to separate yourself from your present church DO NOT affect you PERSONALLY as far as bringing reproach is concerned, then the Devil has accomplished what he wanted to do! If the separation was caused by a apostate change in spiritual direction, then you did the right thing, for we are supposed to "shake the dust off our feet as a testimony against them" as the Scripture says. Weigh these thoughts carefully and good luck!
2006-11-13 04:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mav understand. Leaving the people who have been such a huge part of your life is hard.
Search your heart. Why did your father step down? What was going on?
A church is a building, the Church is all people who follow Christ. There are a great many wonderful churches.
It'll hurt until you can forgive all involved.
2006-11-13 02:33:01 · answer #6 · answered by Mav here! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AS YOU KNOW, YOU MUST FORGIVE. Otherwise this thing will eat you up like a cancer.
Next, you must remember, that Satan is the real enemy, not the people you have problems with.
Thirdly, you must recognize that many in the churches are doing the work of Satan. Most likely, some of the people that hurt you are hypocrites in thechurch. Also, many think they are saved in the churches, but are not. There is a real "mission field" right in most churches.
Lastly,you must seek te guidance of the Hoy Spirit in your decisions on church attenance. He knows everything and knows exactly how to guide you in this.
God bless.
Resist Satan, and he will flee from you!
2006-11-13 02:50:08 · answer #7 · answered by delmaanna67 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two aspects to your case. One is the resolve to stand up for truth and what is right. Your pangs of conscience are an indication of weakness. Whatever is bad is simply bad. Do away with it with dispatch.
The second point is about church. Those bad things happen in the church because most of the time, evil men, or agents of Satan run some churches. That is the truth. There are many bad things going on in the church. Almost in all cases, the main interest is money. The salvation of your soul does not count. What Jesus Christ desires for you is a one-on-one relationship with GOD. I refer you to John 17:20-23. This should be the aim of the church too as the Bible says in Ephesians 4:11-13.
Apparently, you go to church to worship GOD. The teaching of Jesus Christ is that GOD is Spirit, and we should worship Him in spirit and in truth. If your baptism is in order, then it should unite you with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. Then you are born of water. This restores you to the status of Adam before he was banished from spiritual life with GOD in Paradise, in the Garden of Eden. Your spirit nature has been reconciled with GOD. Your spirit can now be born of Spirit, John 3:6, and be led to do the will of GOD. You have been born of water and the Spirit. You are born again the Christ's way.
Give your life to Christ is not in the Bible. It is not the teaching of Jesus. It is a design of Satan and his agents to mislead innocent Christians. It achieves nothing. My advice to you is that you follow the teaching of Jesus and worship the Father in spirit.
2006-11-13 03:58:15 · answer #8 · answered by Cab302 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a second I thought you had made the jump to rational thought, but I was wrong. Until you realize that god/gods are inventions of man and that religion is just a colossal pile of crap constructed to service the big lie, you will remain a delusional supertitionist. Think a little deeper and you may be able to crack this egg open and experience reality.
2006-11-13 02:45:14 · answer #9 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's natural to become attached to our church family. That is what Christian fellowship is about. Just remember however, your belief system, your faith, your foundation for accepting Christianity is NOT based on people or a building. If you know tht it was God's will for you to come out of the church then he will direct you to where you need to be. Keep in mind whenever we put our faith in our fellow man, we are subject to be hurt and our faith might suffer. Your faith should be in diety alone and not people who are but flesh and blood. Please take this time to think seriously about your own beliefs and what it is you are looking for in a church and not what someone tells you that you need to find in a church. God will lead you into all truth if you will be obedient to him. God bless.
2006-11-13 02:27:37 · answer #10 · answered by Catie 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋