New Messianic Believer!

NealOFA

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Feb 22, 2012
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My name is Neal Ocampo creator of OUR FATHER ABRAHAM'S FORUM (the link is on my signature). I was born and raised in the Catholic faith, joined in a famous local Christian Prayer Partners Fellowship called El-Shaddai since I was just a preschool kid, and taught Catechism and Christian Ethics in high school and elementary. I’ve read different versions of the Christian Bible including Gnostic gospels. But I’ve also read parts of the Upanishads of the Hindus and the Koran of the Muslims. I’ve read the lives of Siddhartha Gauttama, who founded Buddhism, and of the works of Gerard Gardner and Aleister Crowley. Therefore, I was really confused about my faith. And I was for a time. I didn’t know what to believe anymore. It’s hard for me to tell what’s real and what isn’t about my beliefs.

Because I was continuously seeking about what faith should I follow, I stumbled upon Paganism and eventually embraced its practices but of course, my parents are horribly opposed to anything pagan so I must have to stay a closet pagan. I respect my parents decision however I tried to educate my parents about paganism and address their concerns and objections. But of course, anything I said to them didn't impress them, they still not let me be free to choose what religion I prefer to align myself to.

Until one day, I had given an opportunity to converse with an Unitarian Universalist and New Age Philosopher and that day opened me to a whole new path. I went beyond the limitations of Catholic and Pagan religion. I made my own synthesis of my own beliefs and systems, which is true for me and which I can accept and defend to myself, not to others, because others may not agree with me.

And at that stage I was comfortable with the teachings of Jesus Christ as he originally taught them, not necessarily as interpreted by the clergies, but I’m also comfortable with Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shamanism, Paganism and Gnosticism. I saw no essential difference among these religious beliefs. I did not represent a single or universal set of beliefs. In fact, I had various beliefs, some even contradicting one another. But there was a common thread or philosophy that ran through these multiplicity of beliefs. I sought knowledge and wisdom from many different cultures and traditions, and I accepted insight wherever it could be found. I was able to see the value in all faiths clearly, and embrace the lessons in all of them.

However, inwards more I went. I started to read Wicca and Witchcraft. And at 16 I was full on into all things magical found Crafts and Occult. Because of these wiccan persuasive teachings -- I thought Wicca and Witchcraft is the right path that can help my soul develop and reach perfection. And also, I thought a lot of it incorporates exactly what as a whole I may be looking for -- Balance, Earth and Cosmic energies, unity and so forth, without realizing that wiccan practices are expressly forbidden in the Torah.

Then April 18 2011 came, My Ninang Weng Jomok invited me to attend the Passover Celebration. I sought answers there and got a bunch. While the pastor in front of me was teaching what Passover truly is-- It was then I knew, to my great horror and complete disappointment, that I do not really know what my path consists of. I don't know why I am following many religions and accepting all their truths yet I don't have any assurance about these paths. And that realization is, to say the least, very embarrassing and frustrating. But as the pastor said that he was once a Catholic and my Ninang Weng told me that she also struggle with her faith before then I grasped that this journey was all a part of life lesson that came to make me whom I am now.

In that celebration, Messianic Faith helped me to learn my own spirituality and made me realized that Yeshua is real and that Catholic warped version of Jesus is what is not real. I'm glad that I am coming back to Yeshua and develop a real relationship with Him again.

I realized that perhaps, I struggle with my faith last time because I am following blindly what Church authorities tell me, and accept only their interpretation of the scriptures, as if theirs is the only correct and valid interpretation. And at the same time Paganism influenced me because it mainly tolerates freedom, divergence and independence which Christian Community don't recognize since as we all know, Church authorities were not pleased with such freedom and independence.

Yeshua Apostolic Torah Community opens my eyes to the real truth I am seeking for. They merely cited historical facts (which I really want to know) that Catholic Church never did because its beliefs has remained nailed to the thinking of the Medieval Era. And out of tune with modern reality. Probably, Messianic and Torah Community beliefs did not agree with the establishment of a hierarchical structure of Catholic deacons, priests and bishops who declared themselves to be the only source of revelation however this Torah Community's teachings are the one that Adonai really wanted us to abide for us to discover true spirituality.

While I am writing this, I have always had the feeling that something very important is existing in the Messianic Hebrew Faith that Catholic Church lacks. You know what is it? Torah Community have a soul while Catholic Church dont have. Catholics are purely intellectual. They do not grow like a soul does. Their beliefs is static, dogmatic and uncompromising.

For many centuries, we knew almost nothing of the real teachings of the Torah, fortunately this congregation was established and is always prepared to educate people on the history of the true faith, and equip every people with the right and truthful knowledge of the Torah and to walk a Life that our Messiah Yeshua had set before us.

Now, as part of my walk with Messiah I choose to follow His Torah. In doing this I choose to imitate Yeshua, because He is the living Word of God. He is the Living Torah!


Shalom!
 
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Welcome prodical child of the Lord... with outstretched arms your Heavenly Father is welcoming you home, all the while preparing the feast in honor of your return to Him. He loves you and like many of us, you will fell a sense of home, and an amazing eye opening secret that has been there all along...May you be blessed with His Presence and His Instructions on His Way, His Truth, and His Life in you.. amen
 
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This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums