I came to faith rather late, was Baptized and attended an Episcopal church. Within a year I found that to me what was usually preached was not in line with the Gospel. I started attending an LCMS congregation , meeting privately with the pastor weekly as there was no formal formaruon class at the time. I abruptly stopped going, in part or even mainly due to feeling a bit awkward at times being the only Black family, I'm a single father. Also I had association with a predominantly African American RC Church and began going to formation classes there RCIA. oddly it was good in that it deepened my faith in Jesus but honestly I didn't get a good grasp of the RC rules/beliefs about thier church until after I'd been recieved into the church and confirmed.
When I did see the level of authority that was supposed, particularly in regards to the annulment process, i had to really ask myself if I believed in the authority the church claims i.e. if i dug up my past and paid the money involved, and was told not to seek marriage would I accept that? Thecanswer was no so i didnt bother. There were other things too, this was the most personal though. Ive continued since then in reading Luther's small catechism and whatever i could get my hands on. My brother gave me advice saying not to worry about friends etc, that would come in time. He said go where you will hear the truth. For me that is LCMS , im nervous though in approaching the pastor at the church because of all ive done and the way i just left.
When I did see the level of authority that was supposed, particularly in regards to the annulment process, i had to really ask myself if I believed in the authority the church claims i.e. if i dug up my past and paid the money involved, and was told not to seek marriage would I accept that? Thecanswer was no so i didnt bother. There were other things too, this was the most personal though. Ive continued since then in reading Luther's small catechism and whatever i could get my hands on. My brother gave me advice saying not to worry about friends etc, that would come in time. He said go where you will hear the truth. For me that is LCMS , im nervous though in approaching the pastor at the church because of all ive done and the way i just left.
