Just a Note to Pray Over

[JojotheBeloved]

Hello to my fellow CF Adventists.

I just recently registered on this forum for the purpose of some degree of fellowship with other Christians and an outlet to listen and to speak about Jesus. I recently moved to a new area far away from my friends and family. I have made new friends in the area I now live, and my bf lives here as well, so I'm not completely alone and I'm generally very happy. But my bf and I are the only Adventists we know in the area and the other Adventists we've met at the local SDA Church are friendly, but very conservative thinking (I don't like to use labels in a derogatory way, this is just the best way I know to describe the mindset). We've visited the local church but the people we've talked to don't seem to need us for anything and they seem to want to debate and convert us to their way of thinking. We're not interested in that, and both of us have recently come out of conflict situations with Adventists who are like that. We're not giving up on our greater church family of SDA, we're just tired and need to recouperate and therefore have not returned to the local SDA church for several months and have no plans to in the near future. But I still feel the need to be a part of a church community, and that's why I've registered here.

If possible, I'd like to request that you would please take a short moment to pray for me and my bf. We're both having a year of great adventures, but also of difficulties and we could use all the help God may have for us.

Thank you.

 

[OldStudent]

Welcome aboard!

You don't say where you are geographicly. I am part of the Simple Church (SimpleChurchAtHome.com) network. There are a number of home churches in the states and several internationally. We could discuss that a little bit.

You see from the header I am a bit of an old timer and just might be game for some conversation. I know the debator type - been there and still taming the buzzard.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

Thank you!
I don't say where I am geographically, because I don't feel comfortable putting that information online. Especially in a forum where anyone could see it. Lets just say I'm generally in the Eastern USA. I grew up in the West.
Old timers can be great! I love people of all ages! lol I'm finding that most often the people I have met are not as much characterized by their age as by their beliefs and experiences. If a person has been taught that Adventists are THE RIGHT church and their theology is all buttoned up tightly, they tend to be more of the debator-type whether they are old or young or somewhere in between. Anyway, I'm game for conversation too. In fact I'd welcome it. And I don't need everyone to agree with me. I just need to be accepted for who I am, rather than try to be convinced otherwise.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

BTW, I've heard of Simple Church. I love the idea! However, I'm not sure I'm ready to start one at this point. Maybe I am, and I just don't know it, but what I saw on the website seemed more long-term and involved than I feel is responsible for me right now. I'm kind of in a transition period of life, and I don't know how long in terms of years I'll be at my current location. I would hate to start something that just dies before it gets solid enough to transition to a new leader. Feel free to straighten me out if I'm wrong.

 

[hownow]

No criticisms implied here; I'm just curious. Why do some people assume it their place to "straighten out" others, and others assume it their place to be "straightened out" by someone else? Do we not all have brains of our own? And are not all these brains -- both those of the ones who imagine themselves in a position to "straighten out" others AND those who imagine it is their duty or obligation to let someone else do so -- just that, human brains, each with their own perspective and each with their own blind spots and unexamined biases? That being the case what justification is there for ever subjecting one's mind to another mere human being, regardless whether he or she claims to "speak for God" or not?

Doesn't anyone ever read Jeremiah 31:33-34 or take it seriously any more?

 

[JojotheBeloved]

No criticisms implied here; I'm just curious. Why do some people assume it their place to "straighten out" others, and others assume it their place to be "straightened out" by someone else? Do we not all have brains of our own? And are not all these brains -- both those of the ones who imagine themselves in a position to "straighten out" others AND those who imagine it is their duty or obligation to let someone else do so -- just that, human brains, each with their own perspective and each with their own blind spots and unexamined biases? That being the case what justification is there for ever subjecting one's mind to another mere human being, regardless whether he or she claims to "speak for God" or not?

Doesn't anyone ever read Jeremiah 31:33-34 or take it seriously any more?

I'm not sure what you're getting at. Of course I use my brain to the best of my ability and don't blindly follow others. I was just saying that since I don't know a whole lot about the Simple Church idea that I would be open to better understanding, if i have misjudged it prematurely.