Do you belong in the Adventist Church?

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?

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

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.........