When I got married I became a seventh-day adventist, though I was brought up as a baptist. Through the years my wife and I stopped going to church. We still concider ourself christians. My mother-in-law died last year and my siter-in-law started gojng back to the church. She has started to say if we don't go to church we won't see "mom" when Christ returns, we are only christions if we attend chruch. Last thing is that we found this week our 8 year was molested, and my two daughters had to be voluntarily taken away from us because the molester lives near by. She said "if you had God in your life this would not happen." What do you think?. I feel all this is not biblical and feel very hurt by these comments.
2007-02-17 14:27:43 · 38 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
* That is just controlling attitude. God doesn't work that way. *
2007-02-17 14:30:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
"The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath". Christ has freed you from the law. So don't go to church in order to fullfill the law. Go to church to encourage other and be encouraged by other bible believing Christians. The biblical problem with 7 day adventism is that they sneak in the law as if your works could buy you a place in heaven. A cult of christianity will always put something between you and Jesus. "oh you need Jesus AND go to church". That is a lie. Jesus completed all the work on the cross so you could be forgiven. You should go to Church so that God could speak to you in a new powerful way through his people, but DO NOT go to an adventist church where they teach you the legalistic lies that your mother in law has been cheated by. Go back to a Baptist church because they stay on the word and teach the word.
2007-02-17 14:41:01 · answer #2 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Revelation and other books of the bible such discusses judgement day that occurs, known as armagadon. This is when the rightious will live on the earth forever, Psalms 37:29. Earth will become a new heaven and people will be resurectted. Depending on how you live the rest of your life you may see your mom again. Jesus did die for our sins and those seeking forgiveness and living by bible priciples will be resurrectted. The bible also teaches that accidents occur. I think that the molestation was an accident, ie you were lived at the wrong place at the wrong time. The bible also teaches that angels exist along with the holy spirt which can provide protection when we pray and request for this. I pray regularly that God's (Jehovah) spirit and angles protect my family from evil.
2007-02-17 14:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by heartache 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bad things happen, even to good people. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH. I hope you do not every let her make you think this. While you may find yourself more spiritually uplifted or finding answers to tough questions if you become involved in church again, bad things don't happen because you stop going. God understands our fickleness and forgives us. If you have asked Christ into your heart, you are truely a Christian and nothing can take that away from you. While I encourage you to find a church that can support and uplift you, not going to church does not mean bad things will keep happening to you. I'm am so sorry about this horrible situation you are going through an I will pray for you and your family. I hope things work out for you and life can get straightened back around.
2007-02-17 14:34:01 · answer #4 · answered by blue_girl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Those are all very legalistic views of Christianity, meaning that in some way if we follow the law, we can earn a better life and a way into heaven. All of this will fall short of the one true way to salvation and that is through Christ himself. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen world, there is no good explanation for what happened to you. We see things in three dimensions and time. God sees all in a way we can't understand and shouldn't try to. Just try to know God and seek his heart. Being involved with other christians is very important in our walk so I would encourage you to find a church to join, but not tell you it is going to improve your life immediately. God bless you and may your life become a joy to yourself and to God.
2007-02-17 14:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by rolanduzer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ouch.. your sister in law means well but is probably being a little too proactive in her remarks to you. God does not make bad things happen to us. He wants only the best for us, true. God gave us free will though. So for Him to be able to pour out his blessings in our life we must ask for them.
I don't know about you, but I don't like to ask for something from someone that I don't know. So, if I have a relationship with someone and I need something then I will ask for their help if I need it. Do you see where I am going with that? If we know God and we walk and talk with Him.. have a relationship with Him that is.. then we have every right in the world to expect Him to protect us and guide us.
BUT, even when we are having that one on one closeness with God it is important to remember that this is still Earth.. and this is still NOT heaven. This world has sin and is imperfect and until we are physically dead to this world we are still in the world and it can and will affect us. The beauty of God though, is that He is there to love us along the way and to give us strength and courage and hope to get through whatever happens.
Regarding going to church.. you can have a relationship with Christ without church.. but it would be a difficult way to go. If you have a church home, then you have fellowship with other people who believe as you and you have a time and place where you publicly declare your love for God. Having a church home gives you more resources for the tough times as well.
I just started going back to church three weeks ago tomorrow after being out for years. I am sooooo glad I went back and can not believe how I did without it for so long. God is there. And everyone in the room knows it and enjoys it and allows Him to do what he needs to do. I hope and pray that your relationship with your sister in law can survive. I also hope and pray that you, your wife, your beautiful 8 year old, and other two children do not blame God or the lack of church attendance for this unfortunate experience that happens because of sin. God loves all of you and wants to heal your pains and your family. May God truly bless you as you look for your answers. Amen!
2007-02-17 14:43:41 · answer #6 · answered by riptidesareblue 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apologies for editing - SIL not wife said nasty things.
Last thing is that we found this week our 8 year was molested, and my two daughters had to be voluntarily taken away from us because the molester lives near by.
Why were your daughters removed and not the molester?
That does not sound right to me.
She said "if you had God in your life this would not happen."
Typical christian arrogant reaction.
What do you think?. I feel all this is not biblical and feel very hurt by these comments.
I agree with you.
2007-02-17 14:42:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
One of my best friends in college was christian. Given I am an atheist, we used to have talks all the time. I consider him one of the most devout christians I know, and he did not attend a church at all. Basically, he was his own pastor. I had a lot of respect for him because he actually studied the bible and interpretted it for himself. He wasn't spoonfed his beliefs like the masses out there.
So, no, you're not going to church has nothing to with the terrible thing that happened to your child. Ignore your sister in law. That is the best advice I can give you. Tell her to contact me. Even as an atheist, I feel, from all the reading I have done, I have a better understanding of her religion than she does. Which, when you think about it is sad.
Sorry about your eight year old. I hope everything works out for you and your family. You can have the child molestor contact me as well. I will take care of that person as well if you like.
2007-02-17 14:40:56 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God is only testing you in life. He always has a reason for everything and he is only watching you. Just because you dont go to church dosnt mean your not a christian. If you read the bible and worship the Lord you are a christian. You should look at going back to church. God will allways love you no matter what. Read the bible an a daly basis and worship the Lord. He will put you through hard and bad times but he is only testing you.
2007-02-17 14:39:44 · answer #9 · answered by arcticcode13 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is people like her and statements like that that lead people away from God and the church.
You do what you feel is right. Church is a great way to heal your soul and be around others to worship God.
Those things did NOT happen because you don't go to church!!!
Just keep praying and I will say a prayer for you too.
Goodluck and God Bless!
2007-02-17 14:32:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Those things did not happen to you because you don't attend church.
According to the Bible, God gave man free will, which means that child molester did not attack your daughter because God forced him to in order to punish you for not attending church, he did it because he chose to.
I am not very religious, but I believe that if you are a good person God will not punish you for not attending church anymore than he would reward a bad person just for showing up every Sunday.
I am so sorry for everything that has happened to you and your family.
2007-02-17 14:33:57 · answer #11 · answered by Ashley 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋