I Need to Know I'm Not Alone...

[Kajiki]

I just did something and I suddenly feel like I've betrayed my church The Savation Army as a whole and my girlfriend a fellow salvationist. I haven't had spiritual guidance in months. The people I trusted within TSA have not spoken with me since Labor Day weekend. I know I need spiritual guidance at my age, 20. I was praying all weekend and today I sent a message to an Orthodox Church semiclose. I'm a soldier I'm on a track to become a minister in the Salvation Army as is my girlfriend. Well a member of that church emailed me back in less than three hours...I was so happy I immediately accepted the book he offered for me for free. My girlfriend says she understands and she would come with me if I ever left TSA as long as I was following Him. But I still feel wrong for what I've done...

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

What does your heart tell you? Betrayal of it may have the effect of quelching the spirit.

 

[Kajiki]

What does your heart tell you?

I'll do anything go anywhere that He calls me. but the Army is a great organization why would I feel this tug at my heart to leave almost everything I know...my family friends. I have always pushed the Army as an awesome organization...My mind is telling me to simply return the book if and when it arrives and forget this craziness...but my heart is MUCH more curious...

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I'll do anything go anywhere that He calls me. but the Army is a great organization why would I feel this tug at my heart to leave almost everything I know...my family friends. I have always pushed the Army as an awesome organization...My mind is telling me to simply return the book if and when it arrives and forget this craziness...but my heart is MUCH more curious...

I misunderstood. I thought you had signed for seminar training with another religion because it would get you into the field faster. Prayers the yoke isn't lagging behind or moving ahead. God bless ..

 

[Kajiki]

I misunderstood. I thought you had signed for seminar training with another religion because it would get you into the field faster. Prayers the yoke isn't lagging behind or moving ahead. God bless ..

No no I'm not that far with the army. I'm on that track with them but I'm not there yet and I of course didn't sign up for any other seminary.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

No no I'm not that far with the army. I'm on that track with them but I'm not there yet and I of course didn't sign up for any other seminary.

Well either way if your walking with Him then your not alone. Sorry I wasn't more help.

 

[All4Christ]

Fifteen years ago, I started reading my first book about Orthodoxy. A few years later, I contacted a nearby Church and found some people who had some resources about Orthodoxy. Incidentally, The Ancient Way on Christian Forums was actually pretty instrumental in helping my find some people at my current parish.

I was the only one in my family to explore the Orthodox Church - and I had gone to a Pentecostal Church for over 20 years - so I understand how difficult it is to make those first steps.

What I can tell you is that I am so thankful for my journey and for following God’s direction. I still am very thankful for my past and for my experiences in my previous church (Assemblies of God). It helped me become who I am today. I do, however, know that I am where God wants me to be.

Seeking God is good and right no matter what. I personally believe it is important to try to find where you believe God wants you to be before ordination - so it is a good time for you to find that out

Pray, Read, Learn, Experience...those are all important and good things to do. God will guide you to where He wants you to be.

 

[drjean]

You are very young yet. I know that isn't what you think, and isn't what you want to hear... but trust me, as a believer and servant of God for 50 years now, slow down.

God's timing is always perfect. Don't push. Don't let anyone else push you either as that NEVER works out. It is good that you are "moving" in some direction for God, because that makes it easier for you to follow the path He wants...rather than not moving at all...

I'll share how I find God's will when I am conflicted (mind you, God is never conflicted, it's always me battling the devil's ideas vs is it God or?) What I think God really wants me to do... I ask God to remove and rebuke any of the evil one's ideas... and then I don't act on what I think God wants me to do but say no, I'll wait. IF it IS GOD then He lights a fire back under me and I get it!

What I'm saying is indecision will kill a good soldier--- no matter what type of battle we're in. If you're conflicted, then don't...and wait upon the Lord. HE will light that fire when HE is ready for you.

 

[Sketcher]

I'm not familiar with the inner workings of the Salvation Army, but . . . you feel you betrayed them by contacting a member of another denomination and accepting a book from them?

 

[Kajiki]

Fifteen years ago, I started reading my first book about Orthodoxy. A few years later, I contacted a nearby Church and found some people who had some resources about Orthodoxy. Incidentally, The Ancient Way on Christian Forums was actually pretty instrumental in helping my find some people at my current parish.

I was the only one in my family to explore the Orthodox Church - and I had gone to a Pentecostal Church for over 20 years - so I understand how difficult it is to make those first steps.

What I can tell you is that I am so thankful for my journey and for following God’s direction. I still am very thankful for my past and for my experiences in my previous church (Assemblies of God). It helped me become who I am today. I do, however, know that I am where God wants me to be.

Seeking God is good and right no matter what. I personally believe it is important to try to find where you believe God wants you to be before ordination - so it is a good time for you to find that out

Pray, Read, Learn, Experience...those are all important and good things to do. God will guide you to where He wants you to be.

Thank you for the warm words. For a long time I was putting TSA first before God I fear. Now I'm seeing that.

You are very young yet. I know that isn't what you think, and isn't what you want to hear... but trust me, as a believer and servant of God for 50 years now, slow down.

God's timing is always perfect. Don't push. Don't let anyone else push you either as that NEVER works out. It is good that you are "moving" in some direction for God, because that makes it easier for you to follow the path He wants...rather than not moving at all...

I'll share how I find God's will when I am conflicted (mind you, God is never conflicted, it's always me battling the devil's ideas vs is it God or?) What I think God really wants me to do... I ask God to remove and rebuke any of the evil one's ideas... and then I don't act on what I think God wants me to do but say no, I'll wait. IF it IS GOD then He lights a fire back under me and I get it!

What I'm saying is indecision will kill a good soldier--- no matter what type of battle we're in. If you're conflicted, then don't...and wait upon the Lord. HE will light that fire when HE is ready for you.

I certainly understand I am young and thank you for the well placed advice. I do know however that even at my young age I need a spiritual guidance on Earth that I don't currently have.

I'm not familiar with the inner workings of the Salvation Army, but . . . you feel you betrayed them by contacting a member of another denomination and accepting a book from them?

I know it sounds silly but it truly is my life at this point. I'm in what they call 730 Club which means I'm accepting a call to ministry within TSA and messaging another church looking for guidance in the moment my mind said I was betraying...

 

[Sketcher]

I know it sounds silly but it truly is my life at this point. I'm in what they call 730 Club which means I'm accepting a call to ministry within TSA and messaging another church looking for guidance in the moment my mind said I was betraying...

Is that going against a code of conduct you are supposed to follow in the 730 Club or something?

 

[drjean]

I would think that if the TSA is the religious organization it is known to be, it won't fear you contacting anyone else in God's work, for advice, right?

Sometimes God moves us along a certain part of a path just to get us to the fork in the road... even if we are on the "wrong" path at present time, as long as we are moving, He will guide us to the right one. Indeed, sometimes the only way we hear Him is by finding ourselves on the wrong path! He'll let us travel to learn, but then redirects us away from what we know---He wants us to follow Him by faith, not by what we know we could do.

 

[Kajiki]

Is that going against a code of conduct you are supposed to follow in the 730 Club or something?

Not technically. It's just you're expected to move towards commiting your life to Christ but with them.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I just did something and I suddenly feel like I've betrayed my church The Savation Army as a whole and my girlfriend a fellow salvationist. I haven't had spiritual guidance in months. The people I trusted within TSA have not spoken with me since Labor Day weekend. I know I need spiritual guidance at my age, 20. I was praying all weekend and today I sent a message to an Orthodox Church semiclose. I'm a soldier I'm on a track to become a minister in the Salvation Army as is my girlfriend. Well a member of that church emailed me back in less than three hours...I was so happy I immediately accepted the book he offered for me for free. My girlfriend says she understands and she would come with me if I ever left TSA as long as I was following Him. But I still feel wrong for what I've done...

Hello Kajiki, and welcome to CF!

If you are looking for advice, I'd say to take your time, pray, study, and go where God leads you. I'm afraid I don't understand either why accepting the book would be betrayal of TSA, but then that's a denomination I'm not really familiar with.

I do think it's important to sort things out before pursuing ministry. It likely would be more difficult if you found yourself convinced of another Church if you are already ministering. I know some in that position and it can create conflict.

I don't think you're looking for me to tell you simply that Orthodoxy is the ancient Church which has maintained the faith handed down to the Apostles for two millennia, and as you can see that was where I ended up after deciding to examine the theologies of many different churches. It can be quite a challenge, confronting things that may at first seem unfamiliar (though now Scripture opens up in a way I never experienced before, since some of the missing information has been filled in for me). But I would say to give yourself time, follow God. He knows what He's doing, and what you are ready for. Strive to be honest with yourself in your search for truth.

The thing I can say to you though is that spiritual formation and guidance are extremely important to Orthodox Christians. We have a wonderful set of tools, spiritual disciplines, and the wisdom of centuries upon centuries of people who dedicated themselves to pursuing God using them, to great success, and who likewise have shared their wisdom. I pray that perhaps you can be blessed by all of this that we have to offer. You can even seek to receive some guidance in spiritual matters, even not being Orthodox yourself.

I'm not sure what book he is sending, but I do pray you are blessed.

And I see All4Christ already mentioned TAW (The Ancient Way) on this site. You would be very welcome if you have any questions. We don't tend to push folks either, we trust God's work in people. You'd be welcome to fellowship and ask any questions you like.

The Ancient Way - Eastern Orthodox

Again, welcome to CF. Prayers for you, and may God be with you!

 

[Sketcher]

Not technically. It's just you're expected to move towards commiting your life to Christ but with them.

If it's not against a code of conduct that you are supposed to be under or a vow they had you take, then I'm not seeing a sin in what you did. Your first allegiance is to God, not any group of people. And if you're going to be a leader, you need to know that Christian thought exists outside of the Salvation Army's organization. If you stay, you'll be better for knowing a thing or two about how the Orthodox approach things, and probably also the Baptists, the Pentecostal traditions, and the Catholics as well. I'm not going to call the Salvation Army a cult, but you're treating it like a cult.

 

[Kajiki]

If it's not against a code of conduct that you are supposed to be under or a vow they had you take, then I'm not seeing a sin in what you did. Your first allegiance is to God, not any group of people. And if you're going to be a leader, you need to know that Christian thought exists outside of the Salvation Army's organization. If you stay, you'll be better for knowing a thing or two about how the Orthodox approach things, and probably also the Baptists, the Pentecostal traditions, and the Catholics as well. I'm not going to call the Salvation Army a cult, but you're treating it like a cult.

You are right. TSA's seminary even has you visit other denominations. I just got scared and my anxiety sparked.

 

[~Anastasia~]

You are right. TSA's seminary even has you visit other denominations.

That's good. I have found it invaluable to know the theologies and ways of speaking of many different denominations. We can misunderstand each other quite a bit if we aren't aware that our words don't even always mean the same things to someone else.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I don't really understand your circumstances; but daily prayerful Bible reading is essential exercise; good to keep the Scripture reading consistent.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

I just did something and I suddenly feel like I've betrayed my church The Savation Army as a whole and my girlfriend a fellow salvationist. I haven't had spiritual guidance in months. The people I trusted within TSA have not spoken with me since Labor Day weekend. I know I need spiritual guidance at my age, 20. I was praying all weekend and today I sent a message to an Orthodox Church semiclose. I'm a soldier I'm on a track to become a minister in the Salvation Army as is my girlfriend. Well a member of that church emailed me back in less than three hours...I was so happy I immediately accepted the book he offered for me for free. My girlfriend says she understands and she would come with me if I ever left TSA as long as I was following Him. But I still feel wrong for what I've done...

If there's a breakdown in communication between you and TSA, make a
point of going in and talking with another leader/salvationist at TSA about
the communication lapse.

 

[Anhelyna]

Kajiki

up the thread a little way you said

<<You are right. TSA's seminary even has you visit other denominations. I just got scared and my anxiety sparked.>>

It is a necessary part in your spiritual development and growth to be aware of other denominations/Churches.

Don't fear this - look with an open mind . Read plenty , make some visits .

Obviously I'm biased towards Orthodoxy - but it's taken me a long time to find my 'home' and there have been several stops on the way.

There is nothing wrong with asking questions and thinking about the answers.

Be at peace - you have done nothing wrong