Just came out to my parents as Reformed/Trinitarian (they are Oneness Pentecostal)

[RJNavarrete]

I was raised in a Oneness church for the better part of my life and have faithfully attended for the past 15 years. My parents are the pastors there and I have served as the Worship Pastor and Director. I also preach and teach about 3-4x a month there (services are Tuesday [Bible Study], Friday [Worship Service], Sunday [Worship Service).

As I began to get more and more serious about Scripture, I started seeing that the theology that was passed down to me did not exactly fit the Biblical testimony evident on every page of the New Testament. Are there some difficult passages? Absolutely. But we interpret the difficult with the clear, not backwards. Doing so led me to understand and believe that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally, something the Oneness Pentecostal faith denies. It really shook me to the core of my being when I started seeing this in Scripture. I was upset, I was in denial... but the more I searched the more I saw it.

Then came the Reformers and ruined me. I started reading Romans and couldn't get away from the depravity of man. I kept reading Romans and fell in love with God's effectual calling and irresistible grace. I went back to John and not only saw all of those things, but read the testimony from Christ Himself that her preserves and upholds His sheep... and well, TULIP, then, became undeniable.

Fast forward three years from that "great awakening" in my soul, and you find my wife and I in my parents living room last night delivering the news that we could no longer continue to be part of the church and fellowship there due to our differences in fundamental beliefs about who God is, the gospel, our mode of worship and motive for worship, and a few other church administration issues that I didn't agree with.

It was an incredibly difficult conversation, but by the grace of God I was able to share my primary reasons for leaving based on the Scriptures alone. We were going back and forth quoting scripture to one another (re: Trinity vs. Modalism), and my mother kept reverting to "so you believe in three gods!?" while my dad was seemingly trying to have the honest conversation. In the end, he ended up saying something out of left field and pretty hurtful to me, so my wife and I decided it was best to leave at that point.

On the way out my wife said, "if you'd like to dismiss us from the church in good standing, please let us know. We'd be glad to be there." But so far, the only text is from my mom telling me to "think long and hard about what [we're] doing" and how the church was going to be mine to pastor soon since my dad has been having health issues. If I wanted that, I'd stay... but that is honestly not what I want. I don't want to lead a church that I don't fundamentally share beliefs with. It's disingenuous. It's fake. It's nigh-reprehensible.

So we'll be starting something new in my city in Spanish in the Reformed faith. Your prayers are much appreciated as we strive to work for the LORD and get this off the ground. I think we have a promising start -- about 5 couples, all within 5-7 years old of each other are getting together to form the launch team and invite unbelievers or "de-churched" folks to an intimate Sunday bible study -- and could definitely use your prayers. If it isn't too much to ask, also please pray for my parents, that they may not hold this decision against my wife and I and remember that we are family forever. I love them unconditionally, and know they love us too, but I know this will be a tough thing to get over for a good long while.

Thanks for reading.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Now that took some courage. Admirable and well done.

 

[RC1970]

I was raised in a Oneness church for the better part of my life and have faithfully attended for the past 15 years. My parents are the pastors there and I have served as the Worship Pastor and Director. I also preach and teach about 3-4x a month there (services are Tuesday [Bible Study], Friday [Worship Service], Sunday [Worship Service).

As I began to get more and more serious about Scripture, I started seeing that the theology that was passed down to me did not exactly fit the Biblical testimony evident on every page of the New Testament. Are there some difficult passages? Absolutely. But we interpret the difficult with the clear, not backwards. Doing so led me to understand and believe that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally, something the Oneness Pentecostal faith denies. It really shook me to the core of my being when I started seeing this in Scripture. I was upset, I was in denial... but the more I searched the more I saw it.

Then came the Reformers and ruined me. I started reading Romans and couldn't get away from the depravity of man. I kept reading Romans and fell in love with God's effectual calling and irresistible grace. I went back to John and not only saw all of those things, but read the testimony from Christ Himself that her preserves and upholds His sheep... and well, TULIP, then, became undeniable.

Fast forward three years from that "great awakening" in my soul, and you find my wife and I in my parents living room last night delivering the news that we could no longer continue to be part of the church and fellowship there due to our differences in fundamental beliefs about who God is, the gospel, our mode of worship and motive for worship, and a few other church administration issues that I didn't agree with.

It was an incredibly difficult conversation, but by the grace of God I was able to share my primary reasons for leaving based on the Scriptures alone. We were going back and forth quoting scripture to one another (re: Trinity vs. Modalism), and my mother kept reverting to "so you believe in three gods!?" while my dad was seemingly trying to have the honest conversation. In the end, he ended up saying something out of left field and pretty hurtful to me, so my wife and I decided it was best to leave at that point.

On the way out my wife said, "if you'd like to dismiss us from the church in good standing, please let us know. We'd be glad to be there." But so far, the only text is from my mom telling me to "think long and hard about what [we're] doing" and how the church was going to be mine to pastor soon since my dad has been having health issues. If I wanted that, I'd stay... but that is honestly not what I want. I don't want to lead a church that I don't fundamentally share beliefs with. It's disingenuous. It's fake. It's nigh-reprehensible.

So we'll be starting something new in my city in Spanish in the Reformed faith. Your prayers are much appreciated as we strive to work for the LORD and get this off the ground. I think we have a promising start -- about 5 couples, all within 5-7 years old of each other are getting together to form the launch team and invite unbelievers or "de-churched" folks to an intimate Sunday bible study -- and could definitely use your prayers. If it isn't too much to ask, also please pray for my parents, that they may not hold this decision against my wife and I and remember that we are family forever. I love them unconditionally, and know they love us too, but I know this will be a tough thing to get over for a good long while.

Thanks for reading.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." ~ Matthew 10:34

I was raised Roman Catholic. You might be able to guess how my family reacted when I told them I was a Calvinist? Yikes!

 

[RJNavarrete]

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." ~ Matthew 10:34

I was raised Roman Catholic. You might be able to guess how my family reacted when I told them I was a Calvinist? Yikes!

Yes, that verse has been on my mind the entire time through this situation. Also, this quote from Spurgeon: "Whenever God means to use a man for big things, he breaks him into little pieces first."

Also, I'd love to hear your story sometime! I tried looking for someone like you on YouTube, but all I find is the reverse. Methinks the catholics are doing a massive propaganda campaign, but who knows, haha.

And note: I was born "Catholic," but my parents converted to Protestantism when I was a wee lad (age 7 or so).

 

[redleghunter]

I was raised in a Oneness church for the better part of my life and have faithfully attended for the past 15 years. My parents are the pastors there and I have served as the Worship Pastor and Director. I also preach and teach about 3-4x a month there (services are Tuesday [Bible Study], Friday [Worship Service], Sunday [Worship Service).

As I began to get more and more serious about Scripture, I started seeing that the theology that was passed down to me did not exactly fit the Biblical testimony evident on every page of the New Testament. Are there some difficult passages? Absolutely. But we interpret the difficult with the clear, not backwards. Doing so led me to understand and believe that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally, something the Oneness Pentecostal faith denies. It really shook me to the core of my being when I started seeing this in Scripture. I was upset, I was in denial... but the more I searched the more I saw it.

Then came the Reformers and ruined me. I started reading Romans and couldn't get away from the depravity of man. I kept reading Romans and fell in love with God's effectual calling and irresistible grace. I went back to John and not only saw all of those things, but read the testimony from Christ Himself that her preserves and upholds His sheep... and well, TULIP, then, became undeniable.

Fast forward three years from that "great awakening" in my soul, and you find my wife and I in my parents living room last night delivering the news that we could no longer continue to be part of the church and fellowship there due to our differences in fundamental beliefs about who God is, the gospel, our mode of worship and motive for worship, and a few other church administration issues that I didn't agree with.

It was an incredibly difficult conversation, but by the grace of God I was able to share my primary reasons for leaving based on the Scriptures alone. We were going back and forth quoting scripture to one another (re: Trinity vs. Modalism), and my mother kept reverting to "so you believe in three gods!?" while my dad was seemingly trying to have the honest conversation. In the end, he ended up saying something out of left field and pretty hurtful to me, so my wife and I decided it was best to leave at that point.

On the way out my wife said, "if you'd like to dismiss us from the church in good standing, please let us know. We'd be glad to be there." But so far, the only text is from my mom telling me to "think long and hard about what [we're] doing" and how the church was going to be mine to pastor soon since my dad has been having health issues. If I wanted that, I'd stay... but that is honestly not what I want. I don't want to lead a church that I don't fundamentally share beliefs with. It's disingenuous. It's fake. It's nigh-reprehensible.

So we'll be starting something new in my city in Spanish in the Reformed faith. Your prayers are much appreciated as we strive to work for the LORD and get this off the ground. I think we have a promising start -- about 5 couples, all within 5-7 years old of each other are getting together to form the launch team and invite unbelievers or "de-churched" folks to an intimate Sunday bible study -- and could definitely use your prayers. If it isn't too much to ask, also please pray for my parents, that they may not hold this decision against my wife and I and remember that we are family forever. I love them unconditionally, and know they love us too, but I know this will be a tough thing to get over for a good long while.

Thanks for reading.

Offered a prayer for peace in your family and for your church start up. It sounds like you have church planting experience. If not or if you want another set of eyes on setting up your church send me a PM and I can share some contacts.

God Bless you brother and welcome aboard to our Reformed group.

 

[redleghunter]

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." ~ Matthew 10:34

I was raised Roman Catholic. You might be able to guess how my family reacted when I told them I was a Calvinist? Yikes!

Yeah been there too as a former RC.

 

[redleghunter]

Yes, that verse has been on my mind the entire time through this situation. Also, this quote from Spurgeon: "Whenever God means to use a man for big things, he breaks him into little pieces first."

Also, I'd love to hear your story sometime! I tried looking for someone like you on YouTube, but all I find is the reverse. Methinks the catholics are doing a massive propaganda campaign, but who knows, haha.

And note: I was born "Catholic," but my parents converted to Protestantism when I was a wee lad (age 7 or so).

Have to say you may just be the first Pentecostal Calvinist we have here.

We do have one or two Fundamentalist Calvinists who post here from time to time.

 

[Sovereign Grace]

I was raised in a Oneness church for the better part of my life and have faithfully attended for the past 15 years. My parents are the pastors there and I have served as the Worship Pastor and Director. I also preach and teach about 3-4x a month there (services are Tuesday [Bible Study], Friday [Worship Service], Sunday [Worship Service).

As I began to get more and more serious about Scripture, I started seeing that the theology that was passed down to me did not exactly fit the Biblical testimony evident on every page of the New Testament. Are there some difficult passages? Absolutely. But we interpret the difficult with the clear, not backwards. Doing so led me to understand and believe that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally, something the Oneness Pentecostal faith denies. It really shook me to the core of my being when I started seeing this in Scripture. I was upset, I was in denial... but the more I searched the more I saw it.

Then came the Reformers and ruined me. I started reading Romans and couldn't get away from the depravity of man. I kept reading Romans and fell in love with God's effectual calling and irresistible grace. I went back to John and not only saw all of those things, but read the testimony from Christ Himself that her preserves and upholds His sheep... and well, TULIP, then, became undeniable.

Fast forward three years from that "great awakening" in my soul, and you find my wife and I in my parents living room last night delivering the news that we could no longer continue to be part of the church and fellowship there due to our differences in fundamental beliefs about who God is, the gospel, our mode of worship and motive for worship, and a few other church administration issues that I didn't agree with.

It was an incredibly difficult conversation, but by the grace of God I was able to share my primary reasons for leaving based on the Scriptures alone. We were going back and forth quoting scripture to one another (re: Trinity vs. Modalism), and my mother kept reverting to "so you believe in three gods!?" while my dad was seemingly trying to have the honest conversation. In the end, he ended up saying something out of left field and pretty hurtful to me, so my wife and I decided it was best to leave at that point.

On the way out my wife said, "if you'd like to dismiss us from the church in good standing, please let us know. We'd be glad to be there." But so far, the only text is from my mom telling me to "think long and hard about what [we're] doing" and how the church was going to be mine to pastor soon since my dad has been having health issues. If I wanted that, I'd stay... but that is honestly not what I want. I don't want to lead a church that I don't fundamentally share beliefs with. It's disingenuous. It's fake. It's nigh-reprehensible.

So we'll be starting something new in my city in Spanish in the Reformed faith. Your prayers are much appreciated as we strive to work for the LORD and get this off the ground. I think we have a promising start -- about 5 couples, all within 5-7 years old of each other are getting together to form the launch team and invite unbelievers or "de-churched" folks to an intimate Sunday bible study -- and could definitely use your prayers. If it isn't too much to ask, also please pray for my parents, that they may not hold this decision against my wife and I and remember that we are family forever. I love them unconditionally, and know they love us too, but I know this will be a tough thing to get over for a good long while.

Thanks for reading.

Ohhhhhhhhhh snapppp!!!!

 

[Sovereign Grace]

I was raised in a Oneness church for the better part of my life and have faithfully attended for the past 15 years. My parents are the pastors there and I have served as the Worship Pastor and Director. I also preach and teach about 3-4x a month there (services are Tuesday [Bible Study], Friday [Worship Service], Sunday [Worship Service).

As I began to get more and more serious about Scripture, I started seeing that the theology that was passed down to me did not exactly fit the Biblical testimony evident on every page of the New Testament. Are there some difficult passages? Absolutely. But we interpret the difficult with the clear, not backwards. Doing so led me to understand and believe that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally, something the Oneness Pentecostal faith denies. It really shook me to the core of my being when I started seeing this in Scripture. I was upset, I was in denial... but the more I searched the more I saw it.

Then came the Reformers and ruined me. I started reading Romans and couldn't get away from the depravity of man. I kept reading Romans and fell in love with God's effectual calling and irresistible grace. I went back to John and not only saw all of those things, but read the testimony from Christ Himself that her preserves and upholds His sheep... and well, TULIP, then, became undeniable.

Fast forward three years from that "great awakening" in my soul, and you find my wife and I in my parents living room last night delivering the news that we could no longer continue to be part of the church and fellowship there due to our differences in fundamental beliefs about who God is, the gospel, our mode of worship and motive for worship, and a few other church administration issues that I didn't agree with.

It was an incredibly difficult conversation, but by the grace of God I was able to share my primary reasons for leaving based on the Scriptures alone. We were going back and forth quoting scripture to one another (re: Trinity vs. Modalism), and my mother kept reverting to "so you believe in three gods!?" while my dad was seemingly trying to have the honest conversation. In the end, he ended up saying something out of left field and pretty hurtful to me, so my wife and I decided it was best to leave at that point.

On the way out my wife said, "if you'd like to dismiss us from the church in good standing, please let us know. We'd be glad to be there." But so far, the only text is from my mom telling me to "think long and hard about what [we're] doing" and how the church was going to be mine to pastor soon since my dad has been having health issues. If I wanted that, I'd stay... but that is honestly not what I want. I don't want to lead a church that I don't fundamentally share beliefs with. It's disingenuous. It's fake. It's nigh-reprehensible.

So we'll be starting something new in my city in Spanish in the Reformed faith. Your prayers are much appreciated as we strive to work for the LORD and get this off the ground. I think we have a promising start -- about 5 couples, all within 5-7 years old of each other are getting together to form the launch team and invite unbelievers or "de-churched" folks to an intimate Sunday bible study -- and could definitely use your prayers. If it isn't too much to ask, also please pray for my parents, that they may not hold this decision against my wife and I and remember that we are family forever. I love them unconditionally, and know they love us too, but I know this will be a tough thing to get over for a good long while.

Thanks for reading.

So, what are your views on sign gifts? I am a cessationist.

 

[RJNavarrete]

So, what are your views on sign gifts? I am a cessationist.

Cessationist here, too. God still does miracles, but Apostolic signs and wonders, which signified the beginning of the church age, have ceased.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Cessationist here, too. God still does miracles, but Apostolic signs and wonders, which signified the beginning of the church age, have ceased.

Took me a long time to come to the same conclusion, even after I had become a Calvinist. Though my mom attended a Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) growing up, she say's she was not saved until her and my dad attended a Baptist Church. My dad grew up with Pentecostal parents, and he has always been a Pentecostal in all of his years as a Christian and he still is. Growing up they took me and my brother to Baptist and Pentecostal Churches (AoG). They still attend Pentecostal Churches. I came to Christ at eight years old and baptized in an AoG Church our family attended for many years. As a teenager I seriously rebelled against everything my parents taught me and for the most part suppressed what little knowledge I had acquired through Church. After high school, I got in with the "wrong crowd" and rebelled even more for a couple of long years. At the age of twenty, deep in sins, God called me, it is at this age, where I can say that I really know that God has saved me...from darkness into light. I held onto the AoG faith of my parents until around the age of twenty eight, when I came to embrace the Doctrines of Grace, which is amazing when consider all things especially the tenets of Wesleyan doctrines in contrast to the Doctrines of Grace. For a time I was sorting out many things, whether I would agree with Gordon Clark or Van Til, whether I would be a Calvinistic Baptist or Presbyterian, just all sorts of learning was necessary to really make informed decisions. It was Dr. Van Til whom was instrumental in God flipping the script in bringing me to a God centered interpretation of Scripture, to helping open mine eyes to just how often and far and influencing the theological presuppositions I had influenced my interpretation of Scripture. Before Van Til, I had been all but shattered into a million pieces in my heart and mind so far as defending the faith was concerned. And everything else along with it, just came to a crossroad, where I had to make a choice, a difficult one.