Do you belong in the Adventist Church?

[reddogs]

or are you a 'accidental Christian'?.....................................................................
There are many people that join a church or are in a church but dont care to belong to it or share any beliefs that church is based on. I call them the 'accidental Christians' as they join or put the name on but dont really accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the Bible. They join for other reasons such as to socialize, are preasured into it, are born into it (mother or father are in the church), or did join for the right reasons but let "something" sour them or anger them enough to turn against it.

In Mark Finley's booklet They're Coming Home about reaching former members who no longer attend church he lists several reasons why some people leave church.

• A conflict with another church member or the pastor.
• Discouragement over personal problems and a growing guilt because of an inability to live up to biblical ideals.
• A growing disinterest in spiritual things because of a neglected devotional and prayer life.
• A perception that the church is no longer relevant to life and does not meet felt needs.

Then when they get angry or frustrated you start to see them reacting or doing things like:

1. Irregular church attendance
2. Getting critical or a ambivalent attitude toward the church and its leadership.
3. A change in habit patterns--or a return to old ones.
4. Increasing withdrawal from the fellowship of the church.

My feeling is their are many of people in the Adventist church who know about Gods Truth and the Gospel of Jesus Christ but dont actually believe it or were born into it and never accepted it. There are also some people who fixate on a certain thing that they know is wrong so they start to find ways to excuse it and basically excuse themselves all they way out of the church so they can have a affair, go to Friday football games, or engage in a shady business deal with a big monetary reward. Others let little minor issues bother them then start to nit pick or choose what they want to accept from the Bible and build up to the point where they accuse the SDA church is very legalistic (lack of understanding and application of grace). Other people sit in the pew but let pride or envy destroy them and become loud naysayers who spend their spiritual energy tearing down their pastors, or they get frustrated because they can't "control" things and they have all the answers. They believe leadership has too much "power" and so they perceive their role to be one of "reigning in" leadership. If they get "their way" in the church then the pastoral staff and leadership changes. If they don't get "their way" then they leave. Typically, most members of the congregation who view things in this adversarial type of relationship, really have very little spiritual depth in their lives. They could even have been on church leadership boards for years, not because they are spiritually qualified, but because they have the stamp of longevity within a particular congregation so that years of service = power!

My question is what can be done for these 'accidental Christians', can they be brought to the truth and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ or do we do as it says in the Bible.

Mat 10:14 whoever will not receive you, nor will hear your words, having gone out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

I think the Bible sets limits as some people have turned against God or are fighting against him and cannot or are not ready to accept his truths. I think it tells me I am to tell people about my beliefs but not try to force my religious veiws or values on other people that dont want them.

How does everyone feel on this issue?

 

[Jimlarmore]

I think you are right about this last statement. We are to witness with love and let God do the rest as far as convicting the soul. The Bible tells us that the wheat and the tares are to be allowed to grow up together until He comes. I've seen the actions of a few or even one cause some to leave the church family. It's a sad thing to see. I feel the main focus of church should be about worship and praising our creator, not on what our brother or sister has said or done.

The bottom line is our relatonship with Jesus Christ and His good news and gospel.

God Bless
Jim Larmore

 

[Sophia7]

As many of you know, I have had some struggles with a few traditional Adventist beliefs over the past few months, but not with my faith in God. Even though I have come to a point where I disagree with a few of our fundamental beliefs because I don't believe that the Bible supports them, I still believe that I belong in the Adventist Church.

 

[reddogs]

Sophia7,

It pains me to see you have struggled too, men rarely see the spiritual and intellectual battles that women also must face in their faith. If you cant post what has tested your faith, email me so we can share and gain strenght in going over some of the issues which we sometimes face as Adventist.

Your brother in Christ
Red

 

[Sophia7]

Red, I have posted on many of my issues here in the Adventist forum, but I'll e-mail you when I get a chance.

 

[g85]

I find that no1 leaves the Adventist church because of believes... But usually it is because they have conflicts with other church members ... or the leadership of the church.

I believe the best thing to do is to make sure we ARE a family... and show we care for others in our churchl... Greet new people, at least smile and say how are you to people we know come to our church...

I gotta say... in the U.S is very different than it is in most argentinian sda church... you go to a new church... and many times NO1 makes you feel welcome... People NEED to feel welcome and part of the church... if not, they will start leaving the church... and not only that, but critizicing the church (not the believes... but the church itself, the people)

 

[Sophia7]

I find that no1 leaves the Adventist church because of believes... But usually it is because they have conflicts with other church members ... or the leadership of the church.

I believe the best thing to do is to make sure we ARE a family... and show we care for others in our churchl... Greet new people, at least smile and say how are you to people we know come to our church...

I gotta say... in the U.S is very different than it is in most argentinian sda church... you go to a new church... and many times NO1 makes you feel welcome... People NEED to feel welcome and part of the church... if not, they will start leaving the church... and not only that, but critizicing the church (not the believes... but the church itself, the people)

People leave for many reasons, and one of them is doctrine. Many people leave the Adventist Church because of beliefs. I have considered leaving myself because of certain teachings that I can't accept anymore and not for any other reason. As a pastor's wife, though, I have obligations that keep me in the church, so unless I can see a clear leading from God to go somewhere else, I won't leave.

 

[g85]

People leave for many reasons, and one of them is doctrine. Many people leave the Adventist Church because of beliefs. I have considered leaving myself because of certain teachings that I can't accept anymore and not for any other reason. As a pastor's wife, though, I have obligations that keep me in the church, so unless I can see a clear leading from God to go somewhere else, I won't leave.

I meant that I didnt know any1 leaving the church because of doctrine... I know people who left the sda church... and none of them joined another church.

May I ask which doctrines made you consider leaving the sda church?

 

[reddogs]

Well, ask at the "Why I left the Church" websites which I have gone through as they will give you a list of "laws" and "church doctrines" that they dont believe in so had to leave.......

But saying that let me go get my list of "grievances" that I picked up at those sites and post it a little later in the morning as breakfast is calling and I am not really big into fasting.........

 

[g85]

thanks, I will

 

[g85]

Now Ive been reading some testimonies and stuff on the internet... (thanks for the advice).

I read some testimonies, and I feel sorry for these people, in the sense that they thought they needed WORKS to be saved... I dont think the SDA church teaches that. I'm an sda, and I always undestood that... I'm saved by faith (ONLY by faith in Jesus Christ's blood shed for me in calvary), out of gratitude I want to make God the Lord of my life and live a life according to his teachings... But I know that I cant do anything to be saved (just accept God's grace).

Baptism is just a symbol of what went through in my heart. (they count that as WORK!) I count that more as... I want to show people God died for me and I am therefore saved the moment I accept that sacrifice. Out of gratitude I decide to persue holiness... not alone, but that doesnt HELP in the salvation process... it ONLY makes lets me live a happier life.

The couple of testimonies I could read dealt with legalism (mostly)... and they went on how it was with them in their house when they were little, etc...
I grew up in a SDA home, loved it... I never felt I had to DO stuff in order to EARN salvation... (BUT I guess some parents seem to not understand that placing burdens on their children is not biblical...)

My testimony is... that it has been a blessing growing up in a SDA home with loving parents that always encouraged me to search the scriptures on my own to find out whether what I was being taught in church and by them was true. I praise God!

By the way...
Happy sabbath everyone, enjoy it!