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Suffering and Need Help

AJB4

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Hey everyone. Long story short, I've been raised my whole life in the hard-line 'Church of Christ', which claims to be the one and only church that can save you. I've been thinking of leaving, but so far haven't. I've been enquiring into Eastern Orthodoxy (their unbroken lineage to the original church intrigues me), but everytime I think of leaving I feel sick. I've become obsessed with my thoughts of leaving, and the thoughts that pull me back to stay all the time. Religion is all I can ever think about. All day long I feel a feeling of dread and fear in the pit of my stomach. I pray, and that's the only time I can ever feel any relief, and I've made a rather unusual and extraordinary request to God tonight: I've asked him to speak to me in a dream and tell me what to do. I really need a miracle. I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown, or depression. Please pray for me.:(
 
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rita727

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It sounds like fear of losing your salvation is keeping you in a church that is wrong for you. My only advice is to keep pushing against the fear...each time you try it'll get a little easier.
I agree.

It sounds like you feel guilty about thinking of leaving your church. And guilt doesn't come from God.

Do you read the Bible often? Any church who claims to be the one and only way for salvation, IMO, needs more
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Rita
 
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madison1101

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Immerse yourself in God's Word and pray about your relationship with Christ. Ask Him to speak to you concerning your salvation, and give you His perfect peace. He will honor that.

Church does not save you. Jesus' blood does save. That is the only thing that can save you, the blood of Christ.

Hugs,
Trish
 
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heymikey80

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It is very easy to become obsessed about this decision in your life. It seems to have eternal consequences, and when a church organization decides they hold the power of eternity, it can really play on your mind.

I feel deeply for your situation. If they're right, then you've got a problem if you leave. But if they're wrong, it doesn't mean they're all condemned. It means more outside are saved than they think.

Ultimately, Who makes this this choice between saved and unsaved is God, not a church organization. Jesus started churches in Samaritan areas, and among people His disciples ... well, didn't like.
John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you." Lk 9:49-50
Here's a guy preaching out from under Jesus' own disciples, and Jesus is saying, "Don't stop him." This is what impressed me, and what early on led me away from churches claiming to be the right church or the only church.

There are reasons why churches construct barriers like this, too. All churches have error. Not all churches can grow you up in the love and grace and discipline of the Lord. But I can't get past that to people asserting something in their theology that directly contradicts Jesus' own statements.

There are criteria for who's saved and who's not. But church membership and being part of the "right" church doesn't appear to be one of those criteria. Breathe easy. God is far greater than our puny organizations and splits. He's greater than we can imagine.
 
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Johnnz

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Anyone who has been in a church that says "We are the only ones to guarantee your salvation" experienecs great guilt and confusion if ever they think about leaving.

That environment is actually cultish. You might like to look up some sites on cults. Some of them have good resources available to help people wanting out of such an envoronment.

Just remeber, no one can put God in a can and say "We have got Him. No one else has."

John
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rita727

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Immerse yourself in God's Word and pray about your relationship with Christ. Ask Him to speak to you concerning your salvation, and give you His perfect peace. He will honor that.

Church does not save you. Jesus' blood does save. That is the only thing that can save you, the blood of Christ.

Hugs,
Trish

VERY well said. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Anyone who has been in a church that says "We are the only ones to guarantee your salvation" experienecs great guilt and confusion if ever they think about leaving.

That environment is actually cultish. You might like to look up some sites on cults. Some of them have good resources available to help people wanting out of such an envoronment.

Just remeber, no one can put God in a can and say "We have got Him. No one else has."

John
NZ

Agreed.

Many 'Christian' churches underhandedly do this. Mostly, I think, to scare their members not leaving their church.

-Rita
 
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AJB4

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It is very easy to become obsessed about this decision in your life. It seems to have eternal consequences, and when a church organization decides they hold the power of eternity, it can really play on your mind.

I feel deeply for your situation. If they're right, then you've got a problem if you leave. But if they're wrong, it doesn't mean they're all condemned. It means more outside are saved than they think.

Ultimately, Who makes this this choice between saved and unsaved is God, not a church organization. Jesus started churches in Samaritan areas, and among people His disciples ... well, didn't like.
John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you." Lk 9:49-50
Here's a guy preaching out from under Jesus' own disciples, and Jesus is saying, "Don't stop him." This is what impressed me, and what early on led me away from churches claiming to be the right church or the only church.

There are reasons why churches construct barriers like this, too. All churches have error. Not all churches can grow you up in the love and grace and discipline of the Lord. But I can't get past that to people asserting something in their theology that directly contradicts Jesus' own statements.

There are criteria for who's saved and who's not. But church membership and being part of the "right" church doesn't appear to be one of those criteria. Breathe easy. God is far greater than our puny organizations and splits. He's greater than we can imagine.
Thanks. I had never actually read that verse before. Interesting. That, to me, indicates that being either 'for him or against him' is not as black and white as people may think. The "Church of Christ" always may say "They're not one of us, so they're against us", but Jesus will look down on them and think "If they're not against you, then they're for you."
 
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Johnnz

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In 1 Corinthians Ch 1-4 Paul deals with groups forming within the Christian community. He gave four principles:

1. Is Christ divided, giving a part of Himself exclusively to each group? )1:13)

2. A call to personal humility (1:26-31)

3. Any true understanding we have comes from God revealing it to us, not because we are wise (2:10)

4. Spiritual immaturity (3:1)

Paul then concludes with these verses: 1 Cor 3:16-17 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. NIV

We most often hear about a very similar verse 1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, which is made with reference to sexula immorality. But in Ch 3 this verse suggests that God may become our enemy if we contribute towards any division of His Body. Tearing down each other carries its risks it would seem.

John
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BigToe

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Instead of an immediate change, is there perhaps another Church of Christ in town that might be different and a step towards leaving? Sort of weening yourself out so you don't feel so guilty over a change? God will lead you to whichever Church he knows is best for you, so if you feel like you need a change, it is most likely a good idea to check out something new. Big changes can be pretty major in your life.

God lets you choose your individual steps, but if you make a mistake He will let you know and show you how to correct it.
 
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Akathist

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Thanks. I had never actually read that verse before. Interesting. That, to me, indicates that being either 'for him or against him' is not as black and white as people may think. The "Church of Christ" always may say "They're not one of us, so they're against us", but Jesus will look down on them and think "If they're not against you, then they're for you."

I have helped a couple people in real life that came from a type of church that said if you leave this church you are doomed. It is not an easy process to break free from them. The thing I suggest you focus on is this idea that no one but the people in that church can be saved. If that is true, then how do they explain all of the people in the world who are Christian and what do they think will become of them? (ask that of yourself, as I am not suggesting a debate in this area of CF where debating is not appropriate.)

Consider the Christians you know who are not in that church and ask yourself if you really truely believe that they can not have salvation.

If you do not truely believe that others can have salvation, then I think it will help you to break away. If others can be saved outside that church, why can't you? (There are many many churches and expressions of faith within Christianity that does not teach that the only way to salvation is through their church, the EO church is one of them but so is many protestant denominations. I would encourage a move to a church that puts ultimate trust (faith) in God to determine the salvation of His creations.)

Of course you know I think the Orthodox Church is the way to go. ;) I converted to this faith after 40 years of being protestant and many of those years I was pentecostal. I lost friends because of my conversion to the EO Church.

I think it can be helpful to distance yourself from the friends you have in the old church while you are trying to think about making a change. Try not to have someone's friendship or fear of losing it play a role in something so much more important: your spiritual growth.

What ever choice you make about what church to be in, I hope that you can use something other then emotions and that includes guilt to make your choice. I hope that you use reason and faith instead.
 
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